The PPD clinical research business of Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc., has announced plans to invest $59 million to significantly expand its laboratory operations in Highland Heights, Kentucky, US helping customers deliver life-changing medicines to patients.

The current facility, which includes central lab and biomarker operations, provides biopharma customers with high-quality laboratory services to accelerate drug development. Much of the expansion involves adding to the business’ sample management and testing capacity to support new therapeutics, including vaccines and cell and gene therapy products.

The current 71,600-square-foot operation will grow to 114,000 square feet and be completed in stages by the end of 2024, creating 200 new jobs over the next five years. The current operation employs nearly 650 Ph.D.-level scientists, analytical laboratory staff and other scientific and support professionals.

The Highland Heights central lab, elements of which have been operating since 1988, offers safety testing including automated chemistry, urinalysis and hematology, anatomic pathology, flow cytometry, microbiology and molecular assays. The central lab also offers a wide variety of other services, such as clinical sample management, processing and storage, kit design and preparation for collection of clinical samples, and sample testing services. The biomarker lab provides support for regulated biomarkers with immunoassays, flow cytometry and molecular assays.