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Laura Garcia's avatar

Ann…..I did a quick search today….

Lieber is concerning for sure.

Have a look at this….

https://milcom2024.ieee-milcom.org/program/terahertz-communications-sensing-and-security

I also searched Northeastern University and DARPA grants. Let’s just say I got a few hits. Seems to be some serious DARPA cash flowing in. Have not had a chance to look more closely, real life can get in the way.

My gut and research tells me that Northeastern University has become key in the “telecommunications” arena. But it appears we are talking about capabilities beyond just the relaying of information.

What if Lieber’s role is/was to learn what the Chinese had accomplished on this front…or to work with them “”state sanctioned”) to achieve certain goals regarding the injectable technology.

Still moving the jigsaw puzzle pieces around in my mind.

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Ann Tomoko Rosen's avatar

Imagine using a "smart" interactive cardiac patch designed by Lieber.

https://www.biospace.com/building-a-smart-cardiac-patch-harvard-study

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Ann Tomoko Rosen's avatar

Thank you.

And then when I read Naomi Wolfe’s latest article the picture broadens. https://open.substack.com/pub/naomiwolf/p/the-imaginary-casey-means?r=gt86w&utm_medium=ios

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koa's avatar

Thank you.

I hope you keep digging, because there are more than a few things that don't add up about this.

And don't use sunscreen.

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Ann Tomoko Rosen's avatar

Yes, the links keep piling up.

“This year, prolific MIT inventor and biomedical engineering professor Robert S. Langer will receive a leadership award and during lunch Thermo Fisher Scientific President & CEO Marc Casper will deliver the keynote address.”

https://www.massbio.org/news/recent-news/robert-langer-marc-casper-to-headline-massbios-annual-state-of-possible-conference-in-april/

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koa's avatar

Ann, have you played with the "DeepSearch" function on Grok or "Deep Research" function on ChatGPT?

I think either would help you tremendously in your research.

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Ann Tomoko Rosen's avatar

No. Actually, I haven’t ventured into any of that. I’m a little reluctant to go there. Can you tell me what it offers?

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koa's avatar

Key Points

Research suggests a personal connection exists between Charles Lieber and Marc Casper through Denise J. Casper, Marc's wife and a federal judge involved in Lieber's case.

It seems likely there are no direct professional connections between them, with Lieber's work in academia and Casper's role at Thermo Fisher Scientific appearing unrelated.

The evidence leans toward their professional activities being distinct, with no evidence of collaboration or conspiracy.

Personal Connection

Charles Lieber and Marc Casper are connected personally through Denise J. Casper, who is Marc Casper's wife and was a federal judge involved in Lieber's legal proceedings. Specifically, Denise J. Casper approved Lieber's requests to travel to China for employment networking and lectures, though she was not the sentencing judge .

Professional Connection

There is no evidence of direct professional connections between Charles Lieber and Marc Casper. Lieber, a former Harvard chemistry professor, was convicted for concealing ties to China, while Marc Casper leads Thermo Fisher Scientific, a major biotechnology company. While Lieber's lab likely used Thermo Fisher products, this is a general connection and does not indicate direct interaction with Marc Casper.

Survey Note: Detailed Analysis of Connections Between Charles Lieber and Marc Casper

This section provides a comprehensive examination of the potential connections between Charles Lieber, a former Harvard chemistry professor convicted for concealing ties to China, and Marc Casper, the Chairman, President, and CEO of Thermo Fisher Scientific. The analysis is grounded in recent searches conducted on May 26, 2025, and aims to address all facets of the query, including professional, personal, and speculative links, while maintaining a critical and evidence-based approach.

Overview of Charles Lieber

Charles M. Lieber, born in 1959, is an American chemist and nanotechnologist renowned for his contributions to nanoscale materials and devices, particularly in biology and nanoelectronics. Until his arrest by the FBI in January 2020, he was the chair of Harvard University’s Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, holding the prestigious Joshua and Beth Friedman University Professor title. Lieber was convicted in December 2021 on six felony counts, including making false statements to federal authorities about his affiliation with China’s Thousand Talents Program and Wuhan University of Technology (WUT), as well as tax offenses. His sentence, handed down in April 2023, included time served, two years of supervised release with six months of home arrest, a $50,000 fine, and $33,600 in restitution to the IRS . Recent reports indicate Lieber has taken a new position at Tsinghua Shenzhen International Graduate School in China, starting April 28, 2025 .

Lieber’s research focused on synthesizing nanoscale materials, characterizing their properties, and developing applications in nanoelectronics, biological sensing, and neurobiology. His lab received over $15 million in grants from the NIH and DoD, requiring advanced laboratory equipment, which likely included products from companies like Thermo Fisher Scientific.

Overview of Marc Casper

Marc N. Casper has been the Chairman, President, and CEO of Thermo Fisher Scientific since October 2009, leading a global team of over 100,000 employees to advance scientific discovery in healthcare, pharmaceuticals, and research tools. Thermo Fisher Scientific, with annual revenue exceeding $40 billion, is a world leader in serving science, supplying instruments, reagents, and services for biotechnology and life sciences . Recent news highlights include a $2 billion investment in the U.S. over the next four years (April 24, 2025), introduction of next-generation TruNarc handheld narcotics analyzers (May 22, 2025), and Q1 2025 revenue of $10.36 billion Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. - News, Events & Presentations. Casper’s leadership has focused on innovation, sustainability (e.g., a solar power agreement in January 2025), and expanding global operations, including in China.

Direct Professional Connections

Initial searches for “Charles Lieber Thermo Fisher” and “Charles Lieber Marc Casper” yielded no evidence of direct professional collaboration between Lieber and Casper. Lieber’s work was academic, centered on nanotechnology and neural interfaces, while Casper’s role is executive, overseeing Thermo Fisher Scientific’s corporate strategy. There is no record of joint projects, publications, or shared grants. However, an indirect connection exists: Lieber’s Harvard lab likely used Thermo Fisher Scientific equipment, such as mass spectrometers or PCR machines, given the company’s prominence as a supplier to academic institutions. This is a generic relationship, applicable to countless researchers, and does not indicate personal interaction with Casper .

Personal Connection Through Denise J. Casper

A significant finding is the personal connection via Denise J. Casper, the federal judge who presided over aspects of Lieber’s case. Searches revealed that Denise J. Casper (née Jefferson) is married to Marc N. Casper, confirmed by their wedding announcement in The New York Times on August 21, 1994, and reiterated in various sources (WEDDINGS; Denise Jefferson, Marc N. Casper - The New York Times, Is Marc Casper Still Married To Wife Denise J Casper? Family And Salary As Thermo Fisher CEO). Denise J. Casper, appointed to the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts in 2010, approved Lieber’s requests to travel to China for employment networking and lectures in 2024, as reported in recent articles . However, she was not the sentencing judge; that role was held by Judge Rya W. Zobel, as confirmed in sentencing documents .

This connection is personal and does not imply professional collaboration or conflict of interest. Federal judges are bound by ethical standards, and there is no evidence suggesting Denise J. Casper’s marital status influenced her judicial decisions in Lieber’s case. The connection is tangential, arising from her judicial role rather than any direct link between Lieber and Marc Casper.

Speculative and Conspiratorial Context

The user’s initial query was prompted by a Substack article speculating about Lieber’s nanotechnology and its alleged ties to mRNA vaccines and surveillance, potentially implicating biotech leaders like Casper. However, these claims lack scientific support. Thermo Fisher Scientific’s role in vaccine supply, under Casper’s leadership, involves standard biotech manufacturing (e.g., lipids, enzymes), unrelated to Lieber’s neural interface research . Conspiracy theories often exploit such tangential connections, but no credible evidence supports a link beyond the personal connection through Denise J. Casper.

Wuhan and China Context

Both Lieber and Thermo Fisher Scientific have activities in China, but they are unrelated. Lieber’s conviction stemmed from undisclosed financial ties to WUT, including a $50,000 monthly salary and $1.5 million for a lab purportedly for battery research, outside his expertise. Thermo Fisher operates commercially in China, including Wuhan, supplying biotech tools and collaborating on diagnostics, with no evidence of interaction with Lieber’s WUT lab . This coincidence does not suggest a connection between Lieber and Casper.

Legal and Academic Contexts

Lieber’s case was part of the DOJ’s China Initiative, targeting undisclosed foreign funding, not espionage or bioweapons. His defense attorney, Marc L. Mukasey, played a significant role, but this is unrelated to Marc Casper . Casper’s focus is corporate, with no record of involvement in Lieber’s legal proceedings or research.

Table: Summary of Connections

Type of Connection

Details

Relevance

Personal

Denise J. Casper, Marc Casper’s wife, was a judge involved in Lieber’s case, approving travel requests.

Personal, no professional impact.

Professional

No direct collaboration; Lieber’s lab likely used Thermo Fisher equipment.

Indirect, generic, not personal.

Speculative

No evidence supports conspiracy theories linking Lieber’s work to Thermo Fisher.

Unfounded, lacks credibility.

China-Related

Both have activities in China, but unrelated (Lieber’s WUT ties vs. Thermo Fisher’s commercial operations).

Coincidental, no link.

Conclusion

In conclusion, there is no direct professional connection between Charles Lieber and Marc Casper. The only notable link is personal, through Denise J. Casper, Marc Casper’s wife, who was involved in Lieber’s case by approving travel requests. This connection is tangential and does not suggest any professional collaboration or conspiracy. Lieber’s research and legal issues are unrelated to Thermo Fisher Scientific’s activities under Casper’s leadership, and speculative claims lack evidence. This analysis, conducted on May 26, 2025, provides a comprehensive overview, ensuring all aspects of the query are addressed.

Key Citations

Charles M. Lieber detailed profile

Ex-Harvard Chemist Charles Lieber Joins Chinese University detailed news

Denise J. Casper detailed biography

After Conviction for Lying About China Ties, Ex-Harvard Chemist Gets Approval to Visit Beijing detailed article

WEDDINGS; Denise Jefferson, Marc N. Casper detailed wedding announcement

Is Marc Casper Still Married To Wife Denise J Casper? Family And Salary As Thermo Fisher CEO detailed profile

Thermo Fisher Scientific main website

District of Massachusetts | Former Harvard University Professor Sentenced for Lying About His Affiliation with Wuhan University of Technology; detailed press release

Registereintrag "Thermo Fisher Scientific" detailed lobbying entry

Thermo Fisher, Charles River join robotics outfit Multiply Labs' quest to automate cell therapy production detailed news

Ex-Harvard Chemist Charles Lieber Spared Additional Prison Time, Will Serve 6 Months House Arrest detailed news

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koa's avatar

Didn't really help, but you can see the potential.

That was grok's "deeper search"

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Ann Tomoko Rosen's avatar

Wow. Thank you so much for sharing this. Seems like Grok thinks like a fact checker…

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koa's avatar

Each is like a very bright research assistant with access to lots of published knowledge we might not find.

If you already use X, grok is right there.

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Ann Tomoko Rosen's avatar

Dumping some puzzle pieces here until I can sort them out and perhaps tease out a bigger picture. Naomi Wolfe's latest piece has the wheels turning: https://naomiwolf.substack.com/p/the-imaginary-casey-means

I'm not looking more at Marc Casper's role:

"He said, “When we look at our position, we operate in three areas – in drug products, biologic and vaccine, and in clinical trials, [along with] supply and logistics, which is basically binding, packaging, and distribution of experimental medicines.” He emphasized that Thermo Fisher is well positioned for growth, especially beginning in 2026 and beyond.

The CEO highlighted the industry's evolution since 2019, driven by pandemic-era vaccine and therapy needs, followed by the push toward glucagon peptide-1 (GLP-1) products for diabetes and weight loss, which has created lucrative opportunities. He spoke about rolling GLP-1 contracts and the impact of competitor Catalent’s exiting the market."

https://www.bioprocessintl.com/therapeutic-class/thermo-cites-catalent-capacity-and-trumpian-tariffs-in-positive-cdmo-outlook

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8223453/Donald-Trumps-brain-trust-opening-starts-CEOs-demanding-boost-testing.html

June 15, 2022—The US-China Business Council (USCBC) announced the election of officers and board members, including new chair Marc N. Casper, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc....“USCBC is fortunate to have Marc lead our board. He oversees a dynamic business that touches on many areas of critical significance in the US-China commercial relationship—technology, life sciences, manufacturing, and R&D.

...Allen announced the following new board officers and members. The full list of board members can be found here.

https://www.uschina.org/news-releases/us-china-business-council-elects-new-board-members-at-consequential-time-in-the-bilateral-relationship/

Thermo Fisher Scientific CEO Marc Casper in a presentation last week at the J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference in San Francisco was asked about the potential policy implications of the new Trump administration. Casper said he expects a “better business environment” including less stringent regulatory oversight of mergers and acquisitions (M&As) and a “pro-growth environment from a taxation perspective.” ...

In terms of tariffs on China and other countries, Casper at the JPM25 conference said “which ever tariffs happen, we will be well-positioned — given our global footprint — to navigate that as effectively or more effectively than anybody.” ...

China, a critical market for the biopharma industry, is Thermo Fisher’s second largest market, accounting for 8% of the company’s revenue, according to Casper. “We’re the largest player in China but we actually have half the exposure of the industry,” he said....

While the BIOSECURE Act — which prevents U.S. federal funds from supporting certain Chinese contract manufacturers — has stalled in Congress, the proposed legislation could threaten an already strained U.S. biopharma supply chain if it secures congressional passage and is signed into law by Trump....Although the BIOSECURE Act was not passed by Congress at the end of 2024, Behar said the “damage has been done” by the proposed legislation. “For new projects, it’s very hard for anybody to really work with Chinese entities,” he added. “There’s too much risk and this issue will not go away.”

https://www.pharmamanufacturing.com/all-articles/article/55262884/trumps-impact-on-biopharma-industry-may-be-a-net-positive-in-his-new-term

https://www.statnews.com/2024/05/09/bio-biosecure-act-china-drug-supplies/

https://www.uschina.org/articles/congress-looks-to-move-biosecure-act/

Pereira predicts that implementing the BIOSECURE Act could drive increased investment in the U.S. biotech and pharmaceutical sectors as companies work to enhance domestic production capabilities. However, he noted that the global biotech ecosystem is highly interconnected, and said that engagement and collaboration between U.S. and Chinese firms could bridge gaps in both markets.

https://www.biospace.com/policy/biosecure-act-could-signal-a-seismic-shift-for-biopharma-in-us-and-china

Charles Lieber, Elon Musk and neural lace

https://humanizing.tech/borg-mice-the-real-science-behind-elon-musks-neuralink-investment-8c1550aba8ac

What is Marc N. Casper's net worth?

The estimated net worth of Marc N. Casper is at least $46.41 million as of March 4th, 2025. Mr. Casper owns 115,174 shares of Thermo Fisher Scientific stock worth more than $46,407,060 as of May 12th. This net worth approximation does not reflect any other investments that Mr. Casper may own. Additionally, Mr. Casper receives an annual salary of $5,080,000.00 as Chairman, President & CEO at Thermo Fisher Scientific.

https://www.insidertrades.com/thermo-fisher-scientific-inc-stock/marc-n-casper/

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