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Abbott’s infectious disease video series

The experts and science
behind our leadership

 Since 1972, Abbott has pioneered novel infectious disease diagnostic solutions when the world needs answers. We proactively address emerging needs by delivering breakthrough innovations that empower laboratories to confidently identify pathogens impacting community health, maintain safe blood supplies, and connect those diagnosed with disease to the care they need.

You are invited to step behind the scenes to get to know the experts behind these tools and the science that powers our ability to deliver confidence for today and protection for tomorrow. The proof is in our freezers.

Get to know Mary

Get to know Abbott’s HIV expert Dr. Mary Rodgers  

Scientific breakthroughs start with people. Meet Dr. Mary Rodgers, an Abbott scientist shaping the future of infectious disease diagnostics. From discovering a new subtype of the HIV virus to serving on the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic, Dr. Rodgers is redefining scientific leadership.

An HIV expert and infectious disease scientist at Abbott, Dr. Rodgers leads the Abbott Pandemic Defense Coalition, a global network focused on detecting and responding to emerging pathogens. She is a Harvard trained scientist and one of Business Insider's 30 Under 40 Young Leaders in Biotech.

To recognize the 40-year milestone of our first approved HIV test, we asked her 40 questions - offering a closer look at the person behind the science.

At Abbott, confidence in diagnostic results start with insight built on unmatched access to real-world samples and data.

In What’s in Our Freezer, we open the door to one of the world’s most comprehensive collections of globally diverse infectious disease specimens. Because our freezers hold more than samples - they hold stories that help shape science. Each episode brings those stories to life, revealing where samples come from, why they matter, and how they help us continuously challenge and improve diagnostics in a rapidly evolving world.

The proof is in our freezers.

 

What’s in our freezer, episode 1

What's in our freezer

A Rare HIV Sample

This episode takes viewers inside an Abbott freezer housing some of the rarest HIV samples in the world. Dr. Mary Rodgers introduces HIV-1 group P, an extremely divergent strain with only two documented cases globally.

What the Science Revealed

Group P was first suspected when routine diagnostic tests produced unusual and conflicting results. Further investigation led Abbott scientists to recognize and confirm we had a sample that contained this rare strain in our biorepository.

Strengthening Diagnostics Worldwide

Collecting and storing HIV samples from all over the world is critical to continually challenge and validate diagnostic tests. This ensures no strain goes undetected as HIV continues to change.

What’s in our freezer, episode 2

What's in our freezer - Subtype L video

Discovery of a New HIV Subtype

A sample collected through a collaborating partner in the Democratic Republic of Congo initially did not match any known HIV strain. The sample was preserved for years before technology caught up to unlock its full significance.

What the Science Revealed

Using advanced next-generation sequencing, Abbott scientists were able to fully sequence the genome and confirm it as HIV-1 group M subtype L. This marked the first newly classified HIV subtype in nearly 20 years.

Strengthening Diagnostics Worldwide

The discovery highlights the importance of long-term sample preservation and sequencing expertise. Together, they help ensure diagnostics remain reliable as new viral threats can quietly emerge at any time.

Abbott’s infectious disease video series

The experts and science behind our leadership

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