Thermo Fisher Scientific Launches Glacios 3 Cryo-TEM to Expand Access to Advanced Structural Biology

WALTHAM, Mass.​ – Thermo Fisher Scientific, the world leader in scientific services, today announced the launch of the Thermo Scientific™ Glacios™ 3 Cryo-Transmission Electron Microscope (Cryo-TEM). This next-generation 200 kV instrument is engineered to bring near-atomic resolution structural biology capabilities to a broader range of laboratories with unprecedented ease, empowering scientists to accelerate drug discovery and foundational life science research.

The Glacios 3 represents a strategic step forward in democratizing high-end cryo-EM. It is not merely an incremental update but a platform deeply optimized for "accessibility" and "productivity." Inheriting core technologies from the flagship Krios series, its integrated READY (Rapid Environmental Deployment sYstem) solution​ dramatically lowers installation barriers, enabling more academic institutions, biotech firms, and pharmaceutical companies to establish in-house, high-performance cryo-EM capabilities without prohibitive infrastructure investments.

1. Breaking Space Barriers: The READY System for "Plug-and-Play" Deployment

Traditional cryo-EM systems demand extremely stringent installation environments—vibration-free, acoustically quiet, and magnetically shielded—often requiring costly facility modifications that have historically limited adoption. The key innovation of the Glacios 3 is its built-in READY system.

• Environmental Resilience:​ This integrated system incorporates advanced vibration isolation and active magnetic shielding components. It effectively mitigates common lab-floor vibrations and ambient electromagnetic interference. Consequently, the Glacios 3 no longer mandates a specialized basement or a purpose-built room; it can be reliably installed in a standard laboratory with only modest preparation.

• Rapid Installation:​ Thermo Fisher reports that the READY system streamlines installation, reducing the typical timeline from several months to a matter of weeks. This significantly minimizes lab downtime and lowers the total cost of ownership (TCO).

"The Glacios 3 is designed to open the door for more researchers to harness the power of cryo-EM, helping them solve complex biological questions and accelerate therapeutic development." – Steve Reyntjens, VP and General Manager, Life Sciences Business, Thermo Fisher Scientific

2. Performance Leap: 200 kV Platform Achieving Near-Atomic Resolution

While positioned as an accessible platform, the Glacios 3 delivers a substantial leap in performance through advancements in its optics and detection ecosystem, rivaling the capabilities of earlier-generation 300 kV instruments.

• Optical Advancements:​ Featuring a new-generation C-Twin objective lens and an optimized column design, the system provides superior phase contrast and signal-to-noise ratio. Internal data shows ice thickness loss of less than 2% over 24 hours, ensuring stability for prolonged, unattended data collection sessions.

• Multimodal Functionality:​ The platform is a versatile workhorse, fully supporting Single-Particle Analysis (SPA), Cryo-Electron Tomography (cryo-ET), and Microcrystal Electron Diffraction (MicroED), covering the full spectrum from protein structure determination to in-situ cellular architecture.

3. The Intelligence Revolution: AI-Powered, End-to-End Workflow

The Glacios 3 is more than just hardware; it is the centerpiece of an integrated, intelligent workflow designed to simplify operation and maximize throughput for both experts and new users.

• Thermo Scientific™ EPU-D Software:​ This onboard software suite features enhanced automation and AI-assisted functions. Key capabilities include:

  • Smart EPU:​ Uses machine learning to automatically identify and target optimal areas on the grid, select ideal particles, and adjust imaging parameters in real-time.

  • Multi-Grid Atlas & Targeting:​ Allows for pre-screening and coordinate mapping of multiple grids, enabling fully automated, overnight data collection across samples.

• Seamless Data Pipeline:​ Data acquired on the Glacios 3 flows directly into Thermo Scientific™ Cryo-EM Software Solutions, including RELION​ and cryoSPARC​ live, for immediate processing, 2D classification, and 3D reconstruction. This tight integration creates a closed-loop feedback system, where processing results can inform subsequent data collection strategies.

4. Driving Research and Discovery: Broader Impact

By making high-end cryo-EM more accessible, the Glacios 3 is poised to accelerate breakthroughs across multiple fields:

• Drug Discovery:​ Enable rapid, iterative structure-based drug design (SBDD) for challenging targets like membrane proteins and large complexes.

• Infectious Disease Research:​ Facilitate the study of virus structures and host-pathogen interactions at high resolution.

• Neuroscience:​ Empower detailed analysis of synaptic complexes and neurodegenerative disease-related aggregates.

• Academia & Core Facilities:​ Allow universities to train the next generation of structural biologists and provide core facilities with a high-throughput, reliable instrument for service-based work.

About Thermo Fisher Scientific

Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. is the world leader in serving science, with annual revenue of approximately $40 billion. Our mission is to enable our customers to make the world healthier, cleaner, and safer. Whether our customers are accelerating life sciences research, solving complex analytical challenges, improving patient diagnostics and therapies, or increasing productivity in their laboratories, we are here to support them. Our global team of more than 130,000 colleagues delivers an unrivaled combination of innovative technologies, purchasing convenience, and pharmaceutical services through our industry-leading brands, including Thermo Scientific, Applied Biosystems, Invitrogen, Fisher Scientific, Unity Lab Services, and Patheon.

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