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The work also builds on Thermo Fisher’s broader role supporting biobank initiatives worldwide, including programs in the United Kingdom, Finland and the United States, collectively encompassing analyses of more than one million samples.

As part of the PRECISE-SG100K study, which is tracking the health of 100,000 volunteers, Thermo Fisher will apply an analytical model that combines large-scale protein discovery with population-level validation within a single national biobank. The study links blood samples with long-term health records across Singapore’s population, creating one of the most diverse health research datasets in the world.

Since protein levels change as disease develops, they can provide early signals of illness, called biomarkers. The model is designed to spot those biomarkers and identify which ones are consistent across large groups, helping turn scientific discoveries into reliable medical insights.

“By applying an integrated proteomics approach across our national cohort, we gain a dynamic view of disease biology within Singapore’s uniquely diverse population,” said John Chambers, Ph.D., chief scientific officer at PRECISE and the principal investigator of the PRECISE-SG100K study. “This model strengthens our ability to uncover early molecular signals of disease, understand risk across different global communities and generate insights that can inform the future of population health.”

Why proteins matter

Central to this effort is proteomics, the large-scale study of proteins, which carry out essential functions throughout the body, from immune response to communication between cells. Unlike genetic data, which remains largely fixed, protein activity shifts over time, giving researchers a more dynamic view of human health.
 

Scientists are now using new protein-analysis tools, like those developed by Thermo Fisher, to turn biobanks from sample repositories into powerful research resources, helping them study how diseases start and develop across large and diverse populations.

Researchers say such diversity is critical, as many existing global datasets are disproportionately weighted toward European populations, limiting how well new diagnostics and therapies translate across broader populations.

To support this approach, Thermo Fisher is deploying complementary tools. Its Thermo Scientific™ Orbitrap™ Astral™ Mass Spectrometer (MS) scans blood samples to identify thousands of proteins at once and uncover new patterns linked to disease. The company’s Olink® Proximity Extension Assay (PEA) platform measures specific proteins with high sensitivity across large cohorts. Together, these technologies, along with Seer’s Proteograph® Product Suite, deliver targeted protein measurements with deep, unbiased discovery proteomics.

From data to clinical insights

This work reflects a broader shift toward “multi-omics” analysis, in which scientists combine protein and genetic data with patient heath information using artificial intelligence to build a more complete, real-time picture of disease. Thermo Fisher’s technologies are designed to enable that integration within the biobank model. Researchers say this approach can reveal more complex risk patterns and improve how patients are stratified and treated.

“Proteomics at population scale represents one of the most powerful opportunities to understand disease in real time across the full continuum of health,” said Marc N. Casper, chairman and chief executive officer of Thermo Fisher. “By combining our deep scientific expertise with industry-leading technologies, we are helping national health leaders translate complex biological data into insights that can fundamentally transform human health.”