WASHINGTON, D.C. – Nina Dudnik watched as used but still useful lab equipment piled up in the hallways of a U.S.-based research institution. Meanwhile, halfway around the world, scientists in developing countries were in desperate need of some of the same lab equipment that was lying idle and considered obsolete.

“We knew that the unused testing equipment and laboratory supplies could advance research for scientists in other parts of the world, who had skills but no access to the resources they needed,” Dudnik, Seeding Labs Founder and Chief Executive Officer, said. “Our colleagues in Massachusetts hunted through our research labs for equipment they could donate, and once we realized we could enable scientists to conduct research in areas where these types of products may be unavailable, the movement quickly spread.”

Seeding Labs is a Boston-based nonprofit corporation providing talented scientists in developing countries with resources including lab equipment, training and professional connections.

Now, Seeding Labs is partnering with Thermo Fisher Scientific, which will donate the first Thermo Scientific NanoDrop 1000 spectrophotometer to an eligible lab under its “Upgrade with Reward$” program, which includes a provision for instruments traded in to be donated to Seeding Labs for use by a scientist in a qualified lab. The NanoDrop line of micro-sample analysis products allows scientists to quickly and easily quantify and assess purity of samples such as proteins and nucleic acids and is an essential instrument in any biological lab.

“With cooperation from companies like Thermo Fisher, we are creating awareness within the scientific community of the need for instruments, equipment and consumables to be made available to scientists and researchers around the world who may not have access to even the most basic supplies,” Dudnik said. “Thermo Fisher recognizes the potential for this program and while today marks the donation of a single instrument, this effort may eventually become a mainstay of their corporate social responsibility program.”

”The entire scientific community benefits each time a researcher is able to join the effort initiated by Thermo Fisher to enable its customers to make the world healthier, cleaner and safer,” said Elizabeth Guiney, Thermo Fisher Scientific. “Like us, Seeding Labs is committed to accelerating the pace of scientific discovery, and we’re pleased that our instruments are able to help make that happen in parts of the world that need it most.”

Thermo Fisher will also participate in the Seeding Labs Fellows Program, which connects emerging scientific leaders from the developing world with scientists in the U.S. to foster mutual understanding and collaboration to promote advances in academic science and research.

Seeding Labs is now assisting research and educational institutions in 17 different countries and has distributed more than $1 million in donations since its founding. More information about the program can be found at www.seedinglabs.org.

About Seeding Labs

Seeding Labs is a 501c3 nonprofit organization helping scientists in the developing world conduct life-changing research. We provide them with the resources they need but don’t have access to, including lab equipment, professional training and introductions to key influencers in their field. Since 2003, Seeding Labs has made advanced scientific training and over $1 million in lab equipment available to researchers in 17 countries. These scientific partners are providing hands-on science education to over 4000 students, have produced important discoveries, over 125 publications and a patent on such critical issues as tuberculosis, HIV, malaria, nutrition and water quality. By supporting talented individuals tackling their own communities’ problems, we ensure more appropriate solutions are found faster, foster education and job creation, and promote a truly global scientific community.

About Thermo Fisher Scientific

Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. (NYSE: TMO) is the world leader in serving science. Our mission is to enable our customers to make the world healthier, cleaner and safer. With revenues of nearly $11 billion, we have approximately 37,000 employees and serve customers within pharmaceutical and biotech companies, hospitals and clinical diagnostic labs, universities, research institutions and government agencies, as well as in environmental and process control industries. We create value for our key stakeholders through two premier brands, Thermo Scientific and Fisher Scientific, which offer a unique combination of continuous technology development and the most convenient purchasing options. Our products and services help accelerate the pace of scientific discovery, and solve analytical challenges ranging from complex research to routine testing to field applications. Visit www.thermofisher.com.