Beyond the Lab: Charles Castano on AI, Automation, and the Future of Clinical Trials

Technology should simplify science, not complicate it.

In this conversation, Charles Castano, Chief Technology Officer at LabConnect, shares how his experience at Microsoft, Amazon, Roche, and Sanofi shapes LabConnect’s mission to make clinical trials faster, smarter, and globally connected through AI and automation.

How has your experience at Roche, Sanofi, Amazon, and Microsoft shaped your approach as CTO at LabConnect?

My experience across companies like Roche, Sanofi, Microsoft, and Amazon has been pivotal in shaping how I lead as CTO at LabConnect. At Microsoft and Amazon, I learned to scale technology and manage global digital products, which taught me the value of strong technology foundations. My time at Sanofi and Roche provided me with varying exposure to different aspects of medicine development and commercialization. LabConnect allows me to combine all those lessons by working across multiple pharma and biotech companies to solve industry-wide challenges with practical digital and AI-driven solutions. It’s about taking a broad, real-world view to build technology that truly advances medicine.

How does LabConnect use automation and data management to streamline clinical trials and deliver submission-ready datasets?

LabConnect transforms clinical trial data management by eliminating fragmentation and enabling real-time data flow between sponsors and labs worldwide. Our LabConnector platform revolutionizes lab data exchange by converting diverse formats into a unified standard, enabling seamless integration with labs worldwide and faster, more reliable data access for sponsors. Alongside that, our LIMSConnect system centralizes and automates complex sample workflows, reducing manual errors and improving data integrity.

We also collaborate with OmniScience to bring AI-driven insights into clinical trial lab data. This partnership helps us move beyond just data flow, empowering us to detect meaningful trends and flag potential issues early, giving sponsors proactive, actionable information. By combining these technologies and partnerships, we’re building a scalable, flexible digital infrastructure that accelerates clinical trials and helps bring therapies to patients faster.

What measurable improvements in workflow efficiency and data accuracy have you seen with AI in clinical trial lab services?

LabConnect is actively expanding its use of AI to improve workflow efficiency and data accuracy throughout the clinical trial process. Our approach focuses on using intelligent automation to streamline tasks that were previously manual and often labor-intensive, such as interpreting study protocols and monitoring lab data. By integrating AI, our scientific teams are increasingly able to prioritize exceptions and validation while automating routine work, helping us lay the foundation for streamlined trial setups and more scalable data management.

By partnering with OmniScience and using their Vivo platform, we’re starting to bring real-time intelligence to lab data, enabling proactive oversight that flags site-level discrepancies and sample issues as they happen. This means faster detection and resolution of risks, which reduces costly delays and improves data reliability.

Overall, AI supports greater consistency across our global operations by reducing transcription errors, improving data traceability, and giving sponsors actionable insights early in the trial. These efficiencies accelerate timelines and also enhance the quality and confidence in submission-ready datasets that drive smarter decision-making.

How do strategic partnerships and emerging technologies enable faster, more flexible execution of complex trials at LabConnect?

Strategic partnerships and emerging technologies drive LabConnect’s ability to execute complex trials faster and with greater flexibility. Collaborations with regional leaders such as Cleveland Clinic, Wisplinghoff, Australian Clinical Labs’ Specialised Trials, and Teddy Laboratory in China extend our global reach and enhance localized expertise. These partnerships create a complementary model, combining local knowledge with LabConnect’s broad international network to ensure seamless support and regulatory compliance worldwide.

Technologically, platforms like LabConnector and LIMSConnect automate and integrate complex laboratory workflows and data streams, reducing manual effort and increasing data reliability. This foundation allows LabConnect to adapt quickly to the diverse and evolving needs of complex trials, whether in immuno-oncology, rare diseases, or emerging therapies, while maintaining high operational agility and quality standards.

Together, these partnerships and technological innovations accelerate trial milestones, simplify logistics, and help deliver therapies to patients around the globe more efficiently.

How can healthcare organizations apply machine learning for measurable impact in both business and clinical outcomes?

Healthcare organizations can apply machine learning to create a measurable impact by automating complex workflows and extracting insights from large clinical and operational datasets. For instance, ML can speed up the interpretation of clinical trial protocols, reducing the time and effort required for study setup. It also helps flag potential risks and anomalies much earlier in the process, allowing proactive interventions that lower delays and improve data quality.

Machine learning supports both clinical and business outcomes by improving diagnostic accuracy, predicting patient risk earlier, optimizing resource usage, and reducing operational costs. Applied thoughtfully, it leads to faster decision-making, enhanced patient care, and streamlined clinical trial operations.

At LabConnect, we are embedding AI and ML capabilities into our digital platforms to help scientists and operational teams manage data more efficiently and deliver higher quality datasets, which are all contributing to quicker development of new therapies.

How do you ensure compliance and data integrity while managing complex, multi-country clinical trials?

We utilize a comprehensive, technology-agnostic approach to manage sample tracking, lab workflows, and data integration across diverse geographies and regulatory environments. Our flexible sample tracking solutions, including digital pens and QR codes, enable sites to capture accurate data in a timely fashion, minimizing disruption and supporting protocol and regulatory compliance.

We maintain rigorous validation and quality control processes, including automated data reconciliation against clinical trial management systems and electronic case report forms. Beyond technology, LabConnect provides tailored consulting services and global regulatory expertise to navigate cross-border compliance challenges, continuously monitor for discrepancies, and proactively resolve issues before they impact trial outcomes. This comprehensive approach safeguards data integrity, keeps trials on track, builds sponsor confidence, and supports the delivery of high-quality datasets globally.

Which unmet needs in clinical trial operations do you believe technology is best positioned to address in the coming years?

From my experience and what we're seeing at LabConnect, one of the biggest unmet needs technology can address is true end-to-end digitization and integration of clinical trial workflows. Right now, many processes are still manual or fragmented, especially around coordinating multiple lab partners and sites globally. Building technology platforms that unify data streams and enable seamless, real-time data exchange is critical.

Additionally, improving patient recruitment and retention is key. Technologies that can better identify high-potential sites and engage patients remotely will change the game for trial timelines and diversity.

Another area ripe for innovation is enhanced data quality and scientific insights. Automated data cleaning and AI-driven analytics that provide early signals can help sponsors act faster and with higher confidence, avoiding costly delays.

Finally, I see a need for more flexible, interoperable platforms that bring all stakeholders into a shared, transparent environment to support increasingly complex and adaptive trial designs. That kind of integrated ecosystem, focused on workflows, data, and patient centricity, is where I believe technology will have the greatest impact in the coming years.

What upcoming initiatives is LabConnect planning to further enhance clinical trial efficiency and data quality?

While I can’t share specifics, LabConnect is deeply focused on advancing several key areas to enhance clinical trial efficiency and data quality. LabConnect is a lab like no other; it doesn’t own any physical labs but orchestrates a powerful global network of specialized laboratories, providing unparalleled flexibility and reach. This model allows us to unify and digitize complex workflows across global sites, making processes faster and reducing manual steps. We're also investing in technologies that improve sample tracking and logistics transparency, which are critical for timely, high-quality data.

Another priority is building smarter data integration and cleaning capabilities that give sponsors rapid access to reliable, submission-ready datasets. We see ongoing opportunities in applying machine learning and automation to help our teams and clients get earlier, actionable insights from trial data.

We're committed to creating flexible, scalable platforms that support increasingly complex trial designs, from immuno-oncology to cell and gene therapies. This will enable faster decisions, improve patient experience, and accelerate bringing transformative medicines to market.