Thermo Scientific Recognized by Computerworld as a 2011 Honors Laureate for Visionary Application of Information Technology

Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc., has announced that IDG’s Computerworld Honors Program has selected it as a 2011 Laureate. The annual award program honors organizations that create and use information technology to promote and advance public welfare, contribute to the greater good of society and change the world for the better.

The 2011 Laureates Chairmen’s Committee Advisors, comprised of the senior leadership of the world’s foremost information technology companies and Computerworld editorial staff, awarded Thermo Fisher for its work with The HUNT Research Centre, part of the Faculty of Medicine at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology, helping it implement a next-generation laboratory information management system (LIMS) to automate their processes from the clinic to the laboratory.

The HUNT Research Center is an integrated family and personal database of approximately 100,000 people in Norway - one of the largest population-based health studies ever performed. Initiated 25 years ago to support epidemiological, clinical and preventative medicine research, HUNT has run three studies that offer valuable insight into disease status and progression, particularly in relation to quality of life measures including environment, education and occupation.

HUNT specifically required a comprehensive LIMS to facilitate their ability to gather, store, manage, track and retrieve data securely and yield real-time dependable analysis and reports. Key areas of research include studies on cardiovascular disease, diabetes and lung disorders, as well as thyroid, muscle skeletal and mental diseases and diseases distinctly occurring in men or women.

HUNT required a solution capable of delivering speed, efficiency and simplicity in one system. It selected Thermo Scientific Nautilus LIMS, which has enabled the Center to compile extensive medical, lifestyle and environmental data associated with each biological sample, comprising approximately 800 exposure variables and nearly 3000 different variables per individual. These datasets allow the Center to make prospective correlations between genetic, epigenetic, lifestyle, environmental and health/disease profiles.

“We are delighted to be awarded this prestigious honor by Computerworld as it recognizes how our innovative solutions turn laboratory data into valuable medical learnings that help researchers fight disease around the world,” said Dave Champagne, vice president and general manager for the Informatics business at Thermo Fisher Scientific.

Champagne continued, “This integrated deployment of Nautilus LIMS enabled secure storing, efficient management and real-time reporting of data while also ensuring uninterrupted, dependable transmission of information between HUNT and various national health registries. Nautilus enabled HUNT to begin to answer one of the most pressing questions of the 21st century: How can modern medicine improve our daily lives?”

Computerworld will publicly recognize the 2011 Laureates at the Laureate Medal Ceremony on June 20 in Washington, D.C. During the ceremony, it will formally induct case studies into the Program's International Archives and present honorees with a medallion inscribed with the Program's mission, "A Search for New Heroes."

“The number and quality of nominations this year were very inspiring and demonstrate how valuable IT is to community change,” said John Amato, publisher, Computerworld. “Computerworld is very proud to name the 2011 class of Laureates and showcase their initiatives benefitting society through innovative uses of IT.”