In this episode of Science in Real Time, host Carli Reyes sits down with Dr. Timothy P. Spicer, Director of Assay Development & Screening at the The Herbert Wertheim UF Scripps Institute for Biomedical Innovation & Technology, to explore how high-content screening, phenotypic discovery, and advanced imaging are reshaping modern drug discovery. Drawing on decades of experience at the forefront of translational science, Dr. Spicer shares how the field has evolved beyond traditional screening toward data-rich, image-driven approaches that unlock deeper biological understanding.

What You’ll Hear:

• From Screening to Systems-Level Insight – Dr. Spicer’s journey through the evolution of assay development and how high-content approaches have transformed discovery.
• Defining High-Content Today – what “high-content screening” really means now—and how it’s changed over the last decade.
• Phenotypes as Decision Drivers – why phenotypic screening is resurging and how imaging enables teams to embrace biological complexity.
• AI, Automation & Reality vs Hype – where machine learning is truly impactful in imaging workflows—and where expectations still outpace reality.
• Collaboration as a Catalyst – how partnerships between academia, biotech, and technology platforms accelerate innovation.
• The Next Inflection Point – Dr. Spicer’s perspective on what the next 5–10 years of high-content screening will unlock.

🌐 Explore & Connect
Learn more about Dr. Tim Spicer’s work at UF Scripps and how advances in high-content screening and imaging are accelerating phenotypic discovery.

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Connect with us on the ScienceIRT website or on LinkedIn: Araceli Biosciences.

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🔗 Links

• Science in Real Time: https://www.aracelibio.com/science-irt-podcast-biology-big-data/
• Araceli Biosciences LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/araceli-biosciences/
• Dr. Tim Spicer’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/timothy-spicer-5786943/ 
• UF Scripps Institute: https://wertheim.scripps.ufl.edu/
• Dr. Tim Spicer's Contact Information: https://wertheim.scripps.ufl.edu/profile/spicer-timothy/ 
• Dr. Tim Spicer's publications: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/?term=Spicer+TP&cauthor_id=39159824 

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