Thermo Fisher Announces $59 Million Lab Expansion In Kentucky, Reveals AI Deal With Genoox

Medical device maker Thermo Fisher Scientific is investing $59 million to expand its research laboratory in Highland Heights, Kentucky. 

Earlier in the day, the company separately announced a new partnership with genomic data company Genoox to access Genoox’s cloud-based AI platform, Franklin, for quicker data analysis. 

Related Article: Research and Development Partnership Between Agilent and Monash University Malaysia Announced

Upgrading A 30-Year-Old Facility

The current 71,600 sq. ft. Kentucky facility, which supports central lab and biomarker operations, will grow to 114,000 sqft. The expansion will add sample management and testing capacity to support new therapeutic products such as vaccines and cell and gene therapies. 

The Highland Heights lab has been in operation since 1988 and offers safety and biomarker testing, clinical sample preparation and management, processing and storage, and kit design among other services. 

The upsizing will be completed in stages by the end of 2024, Thermo Fisher said, adding that 200 new jobs will be created over the next five years. The current operation bankrolls nearly 650 Ph.D.-level scientists, analytical laboratory staff, and other scientific and support professionals. 

The plant’s expansion has received the blessing of local politicians. 

“Thermo Fisher’s expanding footprint and the accompanying creation of more than 200 total jobs is a major win for Kentucky. We are pleased to extend our partnership with this world-class organization and look forward to seeing many more years of successful operations in our state,” said Kentucky governor Andy Beshear in a statement. 

“I’m happy to see a current Kentucky facility and operation expand and invest in our Commonwealth. Their business will not only create more jobs in Kentucky but also help patients across the nation,” added US senator Rand Paul of Kentucky. 

AI Collaboration With Genoox

Under the collaboration with Genoox, Thermo Fisher has upgraded its Applied Biosystems Chromosome Analysis Suite (ChAS) software with Genoox’s cloud-based AI platform, Franklin. 

With the launch of CytoScan Automated Interpretation and Reporting (AIR) solution, analysts can obtain accurate, consistent, and reproducible data results for cytogenetic such as SNP and SV cases within seconds where manual interpretation could take hours, the companies said. 

“We developed ChAS software with input from leading cytogeneticists and continue to work with our customers to make data simpler and more intuitive,” said Chad Carter, vice president and general manager, microarrays genetic solutions, Thermo Fisher Scientific. 

“By collaborating with Genoox, we can make data interpretation even easier so our customers can focus on their research,” he said. 

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Joy Lin

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