For 40 years, Revvity has supported newborn and prenatal screening programs around the world, from helping countries establish new programs to supporting some of the largest screening programs today.
Behind that work are people across product management, science, service, sales, and more. To mark this milestone, we’re sharing their perspectives on what the work means and the impact it can have on families.
We asked Mikael Hjort, Neonatal Business Leader, about his experience supporting newborn screening and the moments that have stayed with him.
1. Why do you work for Revvity’s reproductive health team?
There are two main reasons why I like to work for Revvity. The first is that I've been able to transition from one role to another. I worked in R&D, I worked as a customer support scientist, and then I wanted to move into product management.
Now I'm working as head of product management for reproductive health.
But really, the second and more important reason is the purpose that we have in the work that we do. When you can actually see the connection between our daily work and the impact that it has on families' lives, that makes the work meaningful to me. And that's why I like working for Revvity.
2. What's a moment that has stayed with you when you really felt the impact of your work?
One particular moment that has stayed with me was when I was a really junior product manager, and I was involved in a small event in Westminster Parliament that was advocating for SCID screening. At the event, I met a young couple describing how they had recently lost their baby to SCID. It was absolutely terrible.
It was a devastating story. I felt they were so brave to come up and talk about their experience. But on the other hand, it became so strongly evident that we could have changed the situation by introducing newborn screening. And this really stuck in my mind. It showed the impact of screening and the work that we do on an individual family level, and emphasized how big the impact is on an individual level.
3. Can you share a specific time when Revvity went further than expected for a customer?
So, I feel that in my work, there's a strong focus on always developing something new, taking things further. Once I was on a flight going from Cleveland to Boston, and I was thinking that we really need to simplify molecular newborn screening. The reason was that I wanted to make it accessible, really, to everyone. And the idea was to make it as simple as running immunoassays.
So, I wrote it down in my notebook and started calling it dry chemistry. Fast forward several years, and we have developed something that is really unique and one of a kind, a molecular newborn screening system called Eonis™ Q. This allows screening of SCID and SMA in a really, really simple way.
It's just an example where it's been really cool to see how things can develop from a fast sketch in a notebook into a full IVD system, and eventually roll it out to the field and see the impact that it can have on families' lives.
4. What do you think about for the next 40 years?
For me, it's the combination of scientific progress and global impact. More disorders are becoming actionable, which means newborn screening can deliver better outcomes for children and their families. On the other hand, there's huge potential to expand access to screening and that's what excites me most.
There's more to the story, discover 40 years of people, purpose, and progress.
For in vitro diagnostic use. This product is only available where licensed in accordance with the law. Please contact your local representative for availability.
Revvity Inc. does not endorse or make recommendations with respect to research, medication, or treatments. All information presented is for informational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. For country specific recommendations, please consult your local health care professionals.
