Thermo Fisher Scientific has joined Microsoft in the BioIT Alliance, an organisation of more than 40 companies working together to realise the potential of personalised medicine
Thermo Fisher's informatics business will participate in this effort, working collaboratively to develop industry-wide conventions for sharing data using Microsoft technology.
The alliance, formed in April 2006, explores new ways to share complex biomedical data and to collaborate among multi-disciplinary teams to speed the pace of discovery in the life sciences, shortening the time between discovery of new biological data and the application of that knowledge to human health.
It brings together science and technology leaders to consider innovative ways to address the challenges of integration, collaboration and knowledge management that aren't likely to be solved by any single company.
Members use Microsoft technologies to reduce costs and streamline research by providing standard IT solutions and market their products more effectively.
"Our partnership in the Alliance aligns with our strategy on open standards," said Dave Champagne, vice president and general manager of Thermo Fisher's informatics business.
"As software providers, we know the importance of working toward open, industry standards so that laboratories benefit from true integration of their instruments, equipment and software".
"The alliance, while focused on data sharing to enhance life sciences research, aligns perfectly with our strategy for standardization and interoperability.
"By participating in the alliance, we'll help drive standards that enable end-to-end workflows for our customers, regardless of their industry.
"Customers count on us to show this leadership and be innovative with our technology".
"We are thrilled to welcome Thermo Fisher to the BioIT Alliance," said Don Rule, platform strategy advisor, Microsoft, and director of the Alliance.
"Its involvement adds unique, practical working knowledge and expertise that can have a real impact on the Alliance.
"We rely on member companies to advance the state-of-the-art in BioIT by coordinating proof-of-concept applications that illustrate the use of Microsoft IT technology in solving problems that are critical to the life sciences industry.
"We look forward to Thermo Fisher's contributions to this effort".
Thermo Fisher Scientific markets its leading laboratory software and related services, including purpose-built laboratory information management systems (Lims) for the pharmaceutical industry, under the Thermo Scientific brand.
Thermo Scientific Lims and CDS facilitate laboratory data in the world's leading pharmaceutical companies, petrochemical and chemical plants, food and beverage manufacturers, and other major industries.
To support its global installations, Thermo Fisher Scientific provides implementation, validation, training, maintenance and support from the industry's largest worldwide informatics services network.
