1. A method comprising: performing cell culture experiments comprising multiple stages of cell culture in succession on each sample from a large number of samples to obtain cell culture results, where each stage represents a cell culture treatment having a particular set of conditions, such that each sample follows a protocol specified by the identity and order of the treatments applied to the cell culture; specifying a subset of the samples that yielded a desired cell culture outcome; performing, by computer, an analysis of the results from the samples in the subset to produce an ordering or grouping of the results, wherein the analysis for producing the ordering or grouping utilises information on similarities between different protocols; based at least in part on said ordering or grouping, identifying one or more protocols that are effective for obtaining the desired cell culture outcome; and performing further cell culture experiments in which each sample follows a respective protocol selected from the one or more identified protocols that are effective for obtaining the desired cell culture outcome, such that cell culture treatments are applied to each sample in accordance with the identity and order of the cell culture treatments specified by the respective protocol selected for that sample.