CRYO 2014 - World Forum on Biology

When: May 31 - June 4, 2014 World Forum on Biology 2014 Logo
Where: Hyatt Regency Hotel, Savannah, GA, USA
Who: Society for Cryobiology and Society for In Vitro Biology
Abstract Deadline: March 31, 2014

The Society for Cryobiology and The Society for In Vitro Biology welcome you to participate in the 2014 World Forum on Biology which will be held from May 31 – June 4, 2014 in Savannah, Georgia at the Hyatt Regency Savannah. This will be the first time that SIVB and SfC have joined their scientific efforts and you won’t want to miss this exciting collaboration! This international meeting’s program will focus on both plant and animal cryobiology, cell culture and biotechnology. 

For the most up to date information and to register please visit the World Forum on Biology website.

Symposia

Keynote
Technology and Ecology Aspects of Genome Resource Banking
Pierre Comizzoli, Research Scientist, Center for Species Survival, Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, Smithsonian National Zoological Park

Cryo-Plenary Session
Climate Change, the Cryosphere and Cryopreservation
Conveners: Jason Acker, University of Alberta, and Lia H. Campbell, Cell and Tissue Systems, Inc.
Climate change is having a dramatic effect on global biodiversity. Cryopreservation is an enabling technologies for international efforts at preserving genetic biodiversity. This session will examine 1. how climate change affects soil biodiversity, and ecosystem processes and services; and 2. how cryopreservation has been used to create genome resource banks for plant and animal cells and tissues.
Speakers:
Diana Wall, Colorado State University
Mary Hagedorn, Smithsonian Institution
Valerie Pence, Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden

Session 1
Session Title:  Cryo-Biomedical Engineering 1: Cryobiology Fundamentals
Chair: Dayong Gao
Co-Chair: Gang Zhao
Session Summary: Researchers and presenters are invited to participate in this session to develop an understanding of cryobiology fundamentals and research methodology, and to promote efforts in implementing biophysical and engineering principles to cryopreservation. Dissemination of knowledge by presenting new research results, developments, theories/concepts, and methods in cryobiology research will serve as the foundation for this session.


Session 2
Session Title:  Cryo-Biomedical Engineering 2: Technology and Methods in Cryopreservation
Chair: Gang Zhao
Co-Chair: Dayong Gao
Session Summary: This session focuses on the new and advanced engineering methods, instruments, BioMEMS/microfluidic chips, and novel technology for the cryopreservation and its applications.


Session 3
Session Title:  Tissue Biopreservation and Banking
Chair: Jelena Holovati
Co-Chair:
Session Summary: This session provides a forum for disseminating information to scientists and clinicians involved in the preservation research, clinical banking and transplantation of tissues.  Several different biopreservation approaches will be discussed, including hypothermic storage, cryopreservation and vitrification of tissue allografts for transplant, such as heart valves, skin and cartilage.

Session 4
Session Title:  Ice Biophysics: Interactions Between Ice Crystals and Biologicals
Chair: Jens Karlsson
Co-Chair:
Session Summary: Speakers will offer various perspectives on the ways in which ice and biological materials (biomolecules, cells, or tissue) interact, including the effects of biologicals on the nucleation and growth of ice crystals, and vice versa, the biological sequelae of ice formation.


Session 5
Session Title:  Are Cryobiologists and Everyone Else Speaking Different Languages?  - Bridging the GMP/Biobanking/Clinical Gap
Chair: Aby Mathews
Co-Chair:
Session Summary: This session is intended to facilitate discussion between non-cryobiologists that seek improved methods for biopreservation of cells/tissues for clinical/biobanking/manufacturing applications, and cryobiologists who focus on the science of biopreservation. At times it may seem that there is a language barrier between translating the scientific biophysical concepts of biopreservation and the practical application of preserving cells and tissues for Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), biobanking, commercial, and clinical utilization. Cryobiologists often indicate that biopreservation methods used by many in hospitals/industry/biobanking are not optimized using cryobiology principles. Those in industry/biobanking/hospitals often indicate that optimized cryobiological principles are difficult to translate into minimal manipulation manufacturing or processes with large volumes of cells, large product units, and/or  tissue products. Speakers from the clinic, industry, and academia will discuss issues encountered during biopreservation of frozen and non-frozen cell/tissue products, and shared experiences/insight towards developing improved methods. This session will focus on cell/tissue products relating to cellular therapies and regenerative medicine (not reproductive applications). The aims of this session: 1.) Bring cell therapy developers from the clinic and industry together with cryobiologists to discuss methods of biopreservation.  2.) Discuss pros and cons supporting frozen and non-frozen cell/tissue products for Regenerative Medicine. 3.) Discuss current obstacles in biopreservation, methods/devices in development, and shared experiences for addressing biopreservation hurdles.


Session 6
Session Title:  From cryopreservation to preservation in a dry state
Chair: Wim Wolkers
Co-Chair:
Session Summary: Stabilization of cells or tissues in the dry state is of considerable practical significance since samples can be stored at room temperature for long periods. Cryopreservation, however, is still the standard in biobanking of cells and tissues. The aim of this session is to establish the crucial steps needed to store samples in a dry state and move away from cryopreservation. The following topics will be covered: (1) anhydrobiosis: lessons from nature, (2) stabilizers for dry storage, (3) specific issues with stabilizers: loading in cells, diffusion in tissues (4) biophysics of freeze-drying, (5) other drying techniques. The feasibility of freeze-drying will be explored going from relatively simple (biomolecular assemblies, cellular fragments) to more complex systems (cells and tissues).


Session 7
Session Title:  Comparative reproductive cryobiology; new advances and potential applications
Chair: Yuksel Agca
Co-Chair:
Session Summary: This session will cover germplasm cryobiology and cryobanking of laboratory, agricultural, wild life animals and human. The audience will receive comprehensive general information and research findings about the current status of representative species.at the end of the session.


Session 8
Session Title:  Evidence-based Best Practices for Biorepositories
Chair: Judith Giri
Co-Chair: Fay Betsou
Session Summary: Biorepositories are the professional infrastructures responsible for the collection, processing, storage and distribution of biospecimens for research and clinical purposes. To maximize the quality and use of the specimens, they follow Best Practices and SOPs.  Pre-analytical validation of sample quality is becoming increasingly important to make advances in global and public health. This session will highlight several initiatives in this topic and will be presented by members of the International Society for Biological and Environmental Repositories.


Session 9
Session Title:  Cryobiology Practices in the Medical Devices Industry
Chair: Jorge Jimenez
Co-Chair:
Session Summary: With the proliferation of cell- and tissue-based therapies and assisted reproduction technologies in mainstream clinical applications, a commercial need has arisen for medical devices to assist in the low temperature storage beyond the capabilities of the hospital laboratory. This brings along a new set of design challenges, as medical device manufacturers attempt to develop a new standard of practice to be used in a clinical setting. This session will highlight some of the work related to cryopreservation and cryobiology done by the medical devices industry in the interest of the development of a device.


Session 10
Session Title:  Osmotic Stress and Cryoprotectant Toxicity
Chair: Adam Higgins
Co-Chair:
Session Summary: In general, cell preservation involves manipulation of the solution composition to allow storage of the sample in a glassy state, typically by adding protectant solutes (e.g., glycerol, dimethyl sulfoxide or trehalose) and removing cellular water.  This session will focus on the mechanisms of cell damage induced by osmotic stresses and exposure to cryoprotectants, as well as strategies for avoiding these damage mechanisms.


Session 11
Session Title:  Cell Death Continuum: It’s Role in Cryomedicine
Chair: Dr. John Baust
Co-Chair: Dr. Mike Taylor
Session Summary: Cryomedicine encompasses the application of cryobiology in a wide variety of clinical and health-related sub-disciplines that include biopreservation, hypothermic organ storage and cryoablation of tumors. Underlying all of these applications is the recognition that there is a molecular basis for the stresses imposed by cooling and warming that continues to impact cell survival beyond the immediate point of return to physiological temperature and conditions. This is the so-called cell death continuum involving both necrotic and apoptotic processes. This session will address the impact of the cell death continuum in cryomedicine by considering the role of ischemia-reperfusion injury in hypothermic organ systems, and molecular mechanisms of cell death in both biopreservation and cryoablative surgery.

Schedule of Events

Saturday, May 31      
Morning Advanced Tissue Culture Workshop
Pre-meeting Afternoon Scientific Tour
Evening Welcome Reception and Poster Session

Sunday, June 1         
Plenary Symposium
Symposia, Workshops, Contributed Paper and Poster Sessions
Opening Ceremony and Keynote Symposium

Monday, June 2       
Plenary Symposium
Symposia, Workshops, Contributed Paper, Interactive Poster & Poster Sessions
Society for Cryobiology Annual Business Meeting
Joint Social for SfC and SIVB

Tuesday, June 3         
Plenary Symposium
Symposia, Workshops, Contributed Paper, Interactive Poster & Poster Sessions
Special Evening Off-property Event

Wednesday, June 4

Plenary Symposium    
Symposia, Workshops
Post Meeting Afternoon Scientific Tour till 6:00 pm


The Hyatt Regency Savannah

The Hyatt Regency Savannah, is a full-service downtown waterfront hotel located near the River Front Plaza, and offers:

  • Stunning views of the Savannah River or River Street. Enjoy Savannah by dining, shopping, or visiting the sites
  • Close proximity to Tybee Island and Savannah International Airport
  • Complimentary internet access in guest rooms for meeting attendees
  • 24-hour automatic business center
  • State-of-the-art equipment in 2,000-square-foot StayFit™ fitness center and heated indoor pool
  • Hyatt FastBoard™ to PDA Check-in
  • iHome stereo with iPod® docking station in each room
  • Room rate of $159 plus tax for single/double occupancy

To register for The World Forum on Biology please visit the conference website.