The PPD clinical research business of Thermo Fisher Scientific has unveiled plans to invest $59 million to significantly expand its laboratory operations in Highland Heights, Kentucky, USA over the next two years.
The current facility, which includes central laboratory and biomarker operations, provides biopharma customers with high-quality laboratory services to accelerate drug development. Much of the expansion involves adding to the business’ sample management and testing capacity to support new therapeutics, including vaccines and cell and gene therapy products.
The current 71,600-square-foot operation will grow to 114,000 square feet and be completed in stages by the end of 2024, creating 200 new jobs over the next five years. The current operation employs nearly 650 PhD-level scientists, analytical laboratory staff and other scientific and support professionals.
“The expansion of our world-class laboratory in Highland Heights is a key component of our global strategy to provide our customers high-quality central laboratory and biomarker services to advance their clinical research programs,” said David M Johnston, PhD, SVP and President, clinical research, Thermo Fisher Scientific. “We are thankful our expansion has been welcomed and supported by state and local government leaders, as we continue to hire talented new colleagues to join us and help our customers deliver new therapies for patients.”
The Highland Heights central laboratory, elements of which have been operating since 1988, offers safety testing including automated chemistry, urinalysis and haematology, anatomic pathology, flow cytometry, microbiology and molecular assays. The central laboratory also offers a wide variety of other services, such as clinical sample management, processing and storage, kit design and preparation for collection of clinical samples, and sample testing services. The biomarker laboratory provides support for regulated biomarkers with immunoassays, flow cytometry and molecular assays.
