‘AI is evolving from a simple tool to a true partner in science,’ says Mark Casper, CEO of US medical equipment maker Thermo Fisher Scientific.
Mark Casper, chairman and CEO of US medical equipment maker Thermo Fisher Scientific, leads a company at the crossroads of science, technology and healthcare. In his interview with Kathimerini, he shares his thoughts on the present and future of healthcare, how innovation is transforming drug development, the ever-increasing importance of personalized diagnostics and the opportunities for countries like Greece to play a major role in the life sciences ecosystem.
Thermo Fisher Scientific has 120,000 employees and a turnover exceeding $42 billion. It is noteworthy that the company’s roots are traced to Greece: the synthetic “Thermo” in the company name comes from Thermo Electron Corporation, which was founded in 1956 by George Hatsopoulos and Peter Nomikos, both born in Athens. Decades later, Thermo Electron merged with Fisher Scientific, creating what is now Thermo Fisher Scientific.
What are the global trends that are influencing the shaping of health systems?
The demand for health services on a global scale is constantly increasing as the population ages – the number of people over 65 is expected to almost double in the next 25 years. As a result, we are seeing an increasing burden of disease and substantial unmet health needs. Developments in life sciences and personalized medicine are expanding treatment options, offering a substantial opportunity to improve diagnostic and therapeutic practice. At the same time, we must contribute to ensuring that our pharmaceutical customers make medicines accessible to patients faster and at lower cost.
What is the “secret ingredient” for better diagnostic tools and treatments?
In reality, innovation is the catalyst – in prevention, diagnosis, and the discovery and development of new drugs and treatments. Cutting-edge fields such as genomics and proteomics – the sciences that study our genetic makeup and the role of proteins in the body’s functioning – are transforming our ability to identify diseases and find treatments. In addition, artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming healthcare, accelerating diagnosis, personalizing treatment, and making processes more efficient.
Speaking of AI, how is it changing the healthcare landscape?
Patients benefit from earlier diagnosis of diseases, healthcare professionals are supported in decision-making by powerful algorithms, and healthcare systems are able to deliver care on a larger scale. As with any application of AI, we must ensure that it is used responsibly. We have a moral obligation to ensure that AI enhances human care and that its benefits are distributed equitably across the population.
Could AI revolutionize cancer research and the treatment of other life-threatening diseases?
Absolutely. AI is evolving from a simple tool to a true partner in science. In research, it helps scientists choose better drug targets, design molecules with a higher probability of success, and organize smarter experiments. A case in point is Alpha Fold 3, an extremely powerful artificial intelligence model that predicts protein structures and interactions, allowing scientists to conduct an unprecedented number of experiments in silico—that is, on computers instead of in a traditional lab. When you factor in how automation is transforming labs, the potential is clear: it could reduce the time it takes to design and execute experiments from months to just days.
Digital health is no longer a future scenario; it is a reality. Where are we today?
The progress is truly impressive. Over the past decade, we have seen a dramatic increase in the availability of data for training models, as well as advances in microsensor technology. These developments have given people the ability to take better control of their health. Tests that our grandparents used to do exclusively in hospitals are now available on wearables in our hands: electrocardiograms and blood glucose measurements are two typical examples. The interconnection of this data with data from large biobanks, population studies and electronic medical records, which are used by modern health systems, enables countries to significantly strengthen their healthcare and, ultimately, the health outcomes of patients. In fact, I believe that Greece has a significant opportunity to advance both in the fields of digital health and biobanking, strengthening its readiness to support the country’s aging population.
You met with the Greek Prime Minister. Do you see Greece emerging as a hub for healthcare investment?
I left the meeting very impressed. There is a real desire to move forward in data and research infrastructure in Greece. The country has the fundamentals: a strong clinical and scientific community, a digital vision, and biobanking networks – data to be leveraged. Greece has the opportunity to develop a national biobanking strategy with clearly defined consent, quality, and access frameworks, to create federated data based on Elixir-aligned standards, and to focus on talent training programs in AI for health. Greece can become a leader in this area.