Thermo Fisher Scientific

More than 100,000 people in the United States alone lose their lives to drug overdoses every year. To support communities in the fight against the illicit drug trade and help remove dangerous substances from neighborhoods around the world, we have introduced the Thermo Scientific™ TruNarc™ Delta and Tau Handheld Narcotics Analyzers. With touchless technology and the ability to identify more than 1,200 substances such fentanyl and methamphetamine in seconds while accurately differentiating other-high risk materials, our next generation TruNarc devices can help officials test substances from a safe-distance. This helps to stop the flow of illicit drugs across borders and keep them off the streets. Since its initial launch in 2012, the TruNarc analyzer has been adopted by law enforcement agencies in all 50 states and more than 50 countries.

On #WorldPreeclampsiaDay, we join the global community to raise awareness about preeclampsia, a serious pregnancy complication that affects hundreds of thousands of women each year. To aid clinicians in making decisions that can help improve outcomes for both expectant mothers and their babies, we launched the first ever FDA-cleared blood test to assess the risk of severe preeclampsia. This breakthrough, backed by the largest U.S. study on preeclampsia biomarkers, can help safely prolong pregnancies and help prevent possible adverse outcomes.

In its ongoing effort to address the U.S. water crisis, the Nalgene Water Fund (NWF) is now extending its support to Appalachia. A $50,000 donation to DigDeep’s Appalachia Water Project (AWP) aims to bring clean and reliable water to communities in need in this region, which faces significant water access challenges. To highlight the beauty of Appalachia and encourage outdoor enthusiasts to support the region’s pressing water crisis, Nalgene Outdoor designed a special bottle featuring the region’s iconic blue ridgelines and rivers. For each bottle purchased, a portion of the proceeds will support DigDeep’s work in providing long-term water solutions. Since its inception in 2019, the NWF has contributed to grassroots partners working to improve water access in various U.S. communities, including Flint, MI and Navajo Nation. These efforts are part of a broader mission to address the urgent needs of the 2.2 million people in the U.S. still living without running water or basic plumbing.

A lot relies on the honeybee – migrating colonies pollinate a third of the American food supply. That's why, when University of Minnesota researchers harnessed next-generation lab automation to break through the bottleneck of manual sample processing they were buzzing with its potential for further understanding diseases, like deformed wing virus, that threaten the health of these indispensable pollinators. "It was an eye-opener for us that not only does automation technology allow us to go through things faster – it actually allows us to apply whole genome sequencing technologies to gain a fuller picture," said virologist Dr. Declan Schroeder. On #WorldBeeDay, learn more about this breakthrough research and its impact on our environment.

How can we use the power of AI to support the future of scientific discovery? By embedding AI in our solutions and services, we help our customers boost productivity, gain novel insights, and automate workflows, says Thermo Fisher CIO Ryan Snyder. Our AI-driven cell counters improve accuracy and reduce guesswork for scientists, while our advanced software streamlines data analysis and accelerates clinical trials. These applications, and many others, support scientific advancements and improve outcomes.

Scientists at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), in collaboration with Thermo Fisher Scientific, have discovered a new, efficient way to scale up manufacturing of nickel-rich lithium-ion batteries. By harnessing lithium oxide (Li2O) vapor, they have demonstrated a way to accelerate a chemical reaction that forms single-crystal battery materials, which is thought to help batteries last longer. Our Thermo Scientific Helios 5 UX played a crucial role in this discovery, allowing researchers to observe, for the first time, the Li2O sublimation reaction in real-time. The discovery is now pushing the research team to refine the process further for commercial applications. Video courtesy of the PNNL/Sara Levine

We recently celebrated the opening of our new Cell and Gene Therapy (CGT) Vision Center in South Korea. The center is part of our growing global network dedicated to supporting our customers and accelerating the development of personalized treatments. “The CGT field is driving breakthroughs in treating rare and intractable diseases, advancing personalized medicine and shaping the future of regenerative medicine,” said Thermo Fisher’s Soo Jin Seok. “These innovations require highly specialized support from discovery through commercialization. With the launch of the CGT Vision Center, we will empower our customers with access to cutting-edge technologies, regulatory expertise and end-to-end workflow solutions – strengthening their ability to innovate and scale.”

Lidia de Los Rios experienced a life-threatening allergic reaction to a hot dog at age 10, leading to years of anaphylaxis, emergency room visits, and a severely restricted diet that affected her health and well-being. After a decade of uncertainty, a doctor used Thermo Fisher’s ImmunoCAP test to pinpoint her allergy to lipid transfer protein – quickly ending her medical odyssey. This crucial diagnosis led to a new treatment plan that enabled Lidia to safely eat foods that once threatened her life and transformed her physical and mental health. During Food Allergy Awareness Week, Lidia’s story highlights the power of precise diagnosis and tailored treatment to change lives.

The journey to an accurate diagnosis for patients with autoimmune disease can be one of frustration due to inconsistent symptoms and cycles of flare-ups. But advancements in diagnostic tools are changing that, says Thermo Fisher's Santhosh Nair. Clinicians can gain deeper insights into a patient's disease through new tools that combine medical history, symptom analysis, test results and advanced diagnostic hardware—leading to quicker diagnoses and more efficient treatment plans.

We were honored to host Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers and 2024 Thermo Fisher Scientific Junior Innovators Challenge semifinalist Adenike "Precious" Olowu at our Fitchburg site for the Schools Make Madison Summit. Hosted in partnership with the Madison Public Schools Foundation, this annual event focuses on improving students' academic outcomes and shaping their sense of belonging. Rising leaders like Precious—whose passion for STEM inspired her to create a kid-friendly water filtration solution—embody the talent and passion that drive leaders in STEM. Supporting future innovators like Precious is central to our mission and we are committed to nurturing their potential and amplifying their voices to inspire others.