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January 17, 2023 Modulating Ice Crystal Nucleation and Growth
7AM US/Pacific | 10AM US/Eastern | 3PM United Kingdom | 4PM Central Europe | 7PM Gulf Standard| 11PM China Standard
Co-Chair: Dr. Wim Wolkers - University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Germany Co-Chair: Dr. Dani Ballesteros - University of Valencia, Spain
Speakers:
Ice Nucleation by Pollen and Fern Spore Derived Macromolecules: Atmospheric Implications and Cryobiological Applications Dr. Thomas Whale Leverhulme Early Career Fellow/Assistant Professor, Warwick University, UK
Around a decade ago it was discovered that some plant pollens produce water-soluble ice nucleating macromolecules. The chemical nature and biological function of these molecules remains poorly understood. This talk discusses our recent discovery of similar ice active molecules in fern spores, pointing to an ancient evolutionary origin of the nucleator. Further, we have also shown that the ice nucleation activity of the pollen derived molecules facilitates cryopreservation of a range of mammalian cell types in small-volume formats. Finally, some progress towards chemical identification of the ice nucleator is discussed.
Bio:After completing a PhD in the Institute for Climate and Atmospheric Science at the University of Leeds and a brief postdoc in the School of Chemistry at Leeds, Dr. Tom Whale won a Leverhulme Early Career Fellowship in the Chemistry department at the University of Warwick, where he currently works. Tom’s research is focused on improving mechanistic understanding of heterogeneous ice nucleation and applying that knowledge to problems in cryobiology and atmospheric science.
Ice-Cold and Crystal-Clear: Pinning and Surfing of Ice- Bound Antifreeze Proteins Imaged One by One with Subzero Nanoscopy Prof. Ilja Voets - Eindhoven University of Technology, Netherlands
Highlights of recent work on ice-binding proteins (IBPs) and bio-inspired, engineered ice-binding materials. We study how and why IBPs bind ice crystals using single molecule experiments (nanoscopy) and relate adsorption behavior to their activity aiming to achieve a solid mechanistic understanding of how IBPs work and as a stepping stone towards the knowledge-based design of synthetic (ice) crystal growth modifiers for biomedical and other applications.
Bio: Prof. Ilja Voets heads the Laboratory of Self-organizing Soft Matter at the Department of Chemical Engineering and Chemistry at Eindhoven University of Technology focused on self-assembly of man-made, biological, and biohybrid soft matter to gain fundamental insights for translation into rational design strategies to engineer novel functional soft materials. Voets has a particular fascination with ice-binding proteins that help fish, insects, and plants to survive in extreme environments at sub-zero temperatures.
November 15, 2022 Recent Developments in Dry Preservation Technologies Inspired by Lessons from Nature
8AM US/Pacific | 11AM US/Eastern | 4PM United Kingdom | 5PM Central Europe | 8PM Gulf Standard| 12AM, Nov 16 China Standard
Co-Chair: Dr. Wim Wolkers - University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Germany Co-Chair: Dr. John M. Baust - CPSI Biotech, USA
Speakers: ANHYDROBIOSIS - FROM PROTEINACEOUS PHASE TRANSITIONS TO FREEZE-DRYING OF RED BLOOD CELLS Dr. Michael A. Menze - Professor and Associate Dean Research and Innovation, University of Louisville
The emerging role of proteinaceous liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) in the water-stress tolerance of animal cells will be discussed based on recent findings on two late embryogenesis abundant (LEA) proteins that are abundantly expressed in the anhydrobiotic stage of the brine shrimp Artemia franciscana. Both these proteins form proteinaceous protein droplets in vitro and biomolecular condensates (membraneless organelles) if ectopically expressed in cells. The propensity to selectively incorporate target proteins expands the range of mechanisms by which LEA proteins are thought to confer water-stress tolerance. Furthermore, recent progress in the dry preservation of red blood cells will be presented.
Biography Dr. Michael A. Menze earned his doctoral degree in molecular physiology and biophysics by elucidating the role of allosteric regulation of respiratory pigments in the hypoxia tolerance of crustaceans. His postdoctoral work focused on the mechanisms of water-stress tolerance in invertebrates investigating the role of compatible organic osmolytes and proteaceous protectants in biostabilization. Dr. Menze continues to investigate the molecular basis of animal anhydrobiosis and develops biomimetics approaches to improve the long-term preservation of biologics.
STABILIZATION OF ADENO-ASSOCIATED VIRUS (AAV) VECTOR FORMATIONS BY LYOPHILIZATION Dr. Tim Menzen -Chief Technology Officer, Coriolis Pharma Research GmbH
Adeno-associated virus (AAV) is a promising vector for gene therapy. Liquid AAV formulations typically require storage below -60 °C to provide long-term stability. In contrast, freeze-dried formulations could enable storage at 2−8 °C. Different conditions for freeze-drying of AAV8 were evaluated and undesirable instability can be significantly reduced if secondary drying is performed at lower temperatures, kept as short as possible, and the residual moisture is kept between 1.5-2%. Moreover, a promising combination of phosphate buffer, trehalose, hydroxyectoine and poloxamer was found. These results pave the way for future optimizations of freeze-drying processes for AAV vector-based gene therapy products. Biography Dr. Tim Menzen is CTO of Coriolis Pharma. He is a pharmacist by training and received his PhD in the group of Prof. Frieß at the LMU in Munich. In 2014, Tim joined Coriolis Pharma. He was leading formulation development projects for biologics for 3 years and was involved in the implementation of novel technologies. In his current role, he is involved in internal research projects at Coriolis and in collaborations with partners from industry and academia. Tim has co-authored >25 scientific publications.
September 12, 2022 Enhancing Cryopreservation via Control of Ice Formation
6:30AM US/Pacific | 9:30AM US/Eastern | 2:30 PM United Kingdom | 3:30PM Central Europe | 5:30 PM Gulf Standard| 9:30 PM China Standard
Co-Chair: Dr. Zhiquan "Andy" Shu - Assistant Professor, University of Washington - Tacoma, USA Co-Chair: Dr. Miao Zhang - School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Southeast University, China
Speakers SAND-BASED SERUM-FREE LOW-CRYOPROTECTANT CRYOPRESERVATION OF HUMAN INDUCED PLURIPOTENT STEM CELLS Dr. Xiaoming "Shawn" He - Professor, University of Maryland, United States
We developed a novel sand-based approach inspired by nature to enhance cell/tissue cryopreservation. This is demonstrated by cryopreserving human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) as 3D microspheres with no serum, minimized cryoprotectant, and high cell survival. Furthermore, the cryopreserved hiPSCs retain high pluripotency and functions judged by pluripotency marker expression, cell cycle, and capability of differentiation into all the three different germ layers. This novel sand-mediated serum-free low-cryoprotectant cryopreservation method may greatly facilitate the convenient and ready availability of high-quality iPSCs and possibly many other types of cells/tissues for the emerging cell-based medicine.
Biography Xiaoming He is a Professor of Bioengineering at the University of Maryland, College Park. His research is focused on developing multiscale biomaterials/devices to engineer, bank, and deliver today’s medicine for cancer theranostics and tissue regeneration. He has published >140 articles in high-ranking journals including Nature Nanotechnology, Nature Biomedical Engineering, and Nature Communications. He is a fellow of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) and the American Institute of Medical and Biological Engineering (AIMBE).
Learn More https://bioe.umd.edu/clark/faculty/799/Xiaoming-Shawn-He
ADVANCED MULTISCALE BIOPRESERVATION THROUGH ICE MANIPULATION Dr. Haishui Huang- Professor, Xi'an Jiaotong University | Associate Director, Bioinspired Engineering and Biomechanics Centre, China
Ice formation is a major damaging factor in the low temperature preservation of multiscale mammalian biospecimens, and its precise manipulation is a critical challenge in the development of advanced biopreservation technologies. This seminar will discuss three new preservation methods, “pre-dehydration + ice seeding”, “local vitrification”, and “deep supercooling”, through controlling the nucleation, proliferation, and distribution of ice crystals during low-temptation storage. Biography Dr. Haishui Huang is a professor at Xi’an Jiaotong University and an associate director at Bioinspired Engineering and Biomechanics Centre. Dr. Huang graduated from the Ohio State University and conducted his postdoc research fellowship at the Harvard Medical School. His research interests lie in the interface between thermodynamics and biomedical engineering, including biopreservation, thermal therapy, and tissue engineering. These research activities were published on a series of high-profile journals, such as Nature Biomedical Engineering and Nature Communications. Dr. Huang’s research was funded by “Young Talent Support Program” of Xi’an Jiaotong University and National Science Foundation of China.
July 14, 2022 RECENT ADVANCES IN PLANT CRYOBIOTECHNOLOGY
8:00AM US/Pacific | 11:00AM US/Eastern | 4:00 PM United Kingdom | 5:00PM Central Europe | 8:00 PM Gulf Standard Co-Chair: Daniel Ballesteros - University of Valencia, Spain Co-Chair: Raquel Folgado - Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens, USA
Speakers IMPROVED SINGLE-MODE ELECTROMAGNETIC RESONANCE (SMER) REWARMING OF LARGE BIOMATERIALS Shen Ren - Instructor, Seattle University, Seattle, WA, USA; Affiliate Assistant Teaching Professor, Associate Director, Center for Cryo-biomedical Engineering and Artificial Organs, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
Rapid and uniform heating generated by single-mode electromagnetic resonance (SMER) rewarming has been proved to be promising for the rewarming of cryopreserved large samples. The aim of this seminar is to discuss the key challenges of the electromagnetic heating and optimization of the SMER technology.
Biography Dr. Shen Ren is an Instructor in the Mechanical Engineering Department at Seattle University, an Associate Director at the Center for Cryo-Biomedical Engineering and Artificial Organs, and an Affiliate Instructor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Washington, Seattle. Dr. Ren received his Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Washington, Seattle, with the exceptional Ph.D. dissertation award. His doctoral dissertation focused on the development of an Automated Single-mode Electromagnetic Resonance Rewarming System for the Cryopreservation of Large-scale Biomaterials. He has been named the winner of the 2021 Peter L. Steponkus Crystal Award from the Society for Cryobiology (SFC). In 2022, Dr. Ren received the Innovation Award from the UW CoMotion.
APPLICATION OF NANOPARTICLES IN CRYOPRESERVATION OF PLANT TISSUES Dariusz Kulus- Assistant Professor, Head of the Laboratory of Ornamental Plants and Vegetable Crops at the Faculty of Agriculture and Biotechnology, Bydgoszcz University of Science and Technology, Poland
Application of nanoparticles may greatly improve the effectiveness of cryopreservation protocols and ought to be carefully explored. The aim of this seminar is to present some recent findings of the effect of various nanoparticles on the in vitro and ex vitro development of plants, particularly concerning cryobiology studies.
Biography Dr. Kulus was born in 1987 in Toruń, Poland, and is currently living and working in Bydgoszcz. He is a graduate of biotechnology at the UTP University of Technology and Life Sciences in Bydgoszcz (2011), and received his doctoral degree in biotechnology (summa cum laude) in 2016 from the University of Life Sciences in Poznań, Poland. He is a fan of travelling, cats, and music.
Dr. Kulus is the winner of numerous awards for scientific achievements, including the Scholarship of the Polish Minister of Science and Higher Education and the Mayor of the Bydgoszcz Metropolis Award for Outstanding Scientific Achievements. Author of grants for young researchers. Current professional interests focus on issues related to cryopreservation and analyses of biochemical and genetic variability in selected ornamental, vegetable, and medicinal plant species, as well as micropropagation of endangered species of cacti and other succulents. Theoretical knowledge has been supported by the experience gained during trainings and internships in domestic and foreign laboratories of diverse profiles, including the PAS Laboratory of Cryobiology in Warsaw, the Czech University of Life Sciences in Prague, Agricultural University of Athens, Zagreb, Tbilisi, and others. Author and co-author of scientific and popular science articles in the field of plant biotechnology.
May 18, 2022 ISOCHORIC PROCESSES IN CRYOBIOLOGY | AVOIDING DEVITRIFICATION
ISOCHORIC PROCESSES IN CRYOBIOLOGY Boris Rubinsky, Professor of the Graduate School - University of California Berkeley, Department of Mechanical Engineering and Department of Bioengineering, USA
8:00AM US/Pacific | 11:00AM US/Eastern | 4:00 PM United Kingdom | 5:00PM Central Europe | 8:00 PM Gulf Standard Co-Chairs: Ido Braslavsky - Robert H. Smith Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel Dr. Akalabya Bissoyi, Research Fellow, Matthew I. Gibson Group, Warwick Medical School, Warwick University, United Kingdom
Most of the research in cryobiology was done under conditions of constant atmospheric pressure (isobaric) because this is the normal mode at which life processes take place on earth. We began to explore processes relevant to cryobiology under conditions of constant volume (isochoric). Our theoretical and experimental research has shown that isochoric condition modify cryobiology relevant processes. We studied the effects of isochoric constrains on the phenomena of: supercooling, freezing and vitrification. This presentation is a brief review of the theoretical and experimental findings.
Biography Boris Rubinsky was born in Romania and immigrated to Israel as a teenager. He graduated with a B.Sc. and M.Sc. in Mechanical Engineering from the Technion in Israel and with a PhD in Mechanical Engineering/Bioengineering from M.I.T., in 1981. He has been a Professor at the University of California at Berkeley since 1980. At UC Berkeley he held the positions of the Chancellor‟s Professor from 1997 to 2000, the Arnold and Barbara Silverman Distinguished Professor of Bioengineering from 2000 to 2008 and is, since 2008, a Professor of the Graduate School. In addition he is the Director of the “Center for Bioengineering in the Service of Humanity and Society” which he founded at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem in 2006. The goal of the center is to promote research collaboration between Palestinian and Israeli students on projects relevant to the needs of the economically disadvantaged. Prof Rubinsky has published close to three hundred peer reviewed scientific papers, and has supervised the research of close to one hundred M.Sc. and Ph.D. students. In the supervision of students he was heavily focused on supervising disadvantaged students and is particularly proud of mentoring and supervising the research of the first African American woman to receive a PhD in Engineering at Berkeley. His research has received numerous society awards, best paper awards and recognitions such as the 1987 Fogarty Senior International Fellowship Award, National Institute of Health, the 1996 „Heat Transfer Memorial Award” from the American Society for Mechanical Engineering (ASME), the 2007 „Gold Award” from the International Society of Cryosurgery and many others. He is a Fellow of many societies including the American Association for Advancement of Science (AAAS) and the American Institute of Medical and Biomedical Engineering (AIMBE).
AVOIDING DEVITRIFICATION AFTER CRYOPRESERVATION: HIGH INTENSITY FOCUSED ULTRASOUND Laura Encabo Luque, Graduate Student - Engineering School, University of Seville (Energy, Chemical and Environmental Engineering), Spain
8:00AM US/Pacific | 11:00AM US/Eastern | 4:00 PM United Kingdom | 5:00PM Central Europe | 8:00 PM Gulf Standard Co-Chairs: Ido Braslavsky - Robert H. Smith Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel Dr. Akalabya Bissoyi, Research Fellow, Matthew I. Gibson Group, Warwick Medical School, Warwick University, United Kingdom
When a biological sample is cryopreserved, the problem of recrystallization can arises during rewarming. However, if it carries out fast and homogeneous heating this problem is avoided. From CryoBioTech we can offer the solution: by using HIFU as a rewarming technique, the recrystallization is solved. In this work, the survival rate obtained in Caenorhabditis elegans model is presented a proof of this scalable technique.
Biography Laura Encabo was born in 1996 in Lucena, Córdoba (Spain), and is currently living in Seville. She is graduated in Pharmacy from University of Granada (2019) where she developed her knowledge in biotechnology, biochemistry and pharmacology. Laura developed her final degree dissertation at the prestigious CSIC-IACT (Andalusian Institute of Earth Sciences in collaboration with the Superior Council of Scientific Investigations) facilities in Granada, where she worked on improving the physicochemical properties of anti-inflammatory drugs through the use of the cocrystallization technique. Laura Encabo obtained a Research Contract from the Regional Government of Andalusia that allowed her to connect with the world of cryobiology. The results she achieved in the first months of work prompted her to develop her PhD at CryoBioTech with Dr. Risco, a multidisciplinary biologist-engineer group at Engineering School at University of Seville. Since she began her research stage, she has collaborated at different levels: proof of principles with the C. elegans animal model and its rewarming with HIFU (High Intensity Focused Ultrasound), evaluation of short-term memory after cryopreservation, and improvement of cryoprotectant cocktails. Currently, his research is focused on cryopreservation of the heart of mice and rats, applying HIFU as the main rewarming technique.
January 13, 2022 CRYO-CONSERVATION OF ENDANGERED SPECIES | LIVER CELLS AND TISSUE PRESERVATION
8:00AM US/Pacific | 11:00AM US/Eastern | 4:00 PM United Kingdom | 5:00PM Central Europe | 8:00 PM Gulf Standard Co-Chairs Harriette Oldenhof - University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Germany James Benson - University of Saskatchewan, Canada
Speakers
CRYO-CONSERVATION: CURRENT STATUS AND CHALLENGES OF GAMETE AND REPRODUCTIVE TISSUE CRYOPRESERVATION IN ENDANGERED SPECIES CONSERVATION Nucharin Songsasen - Head, Center for Species Survival, Smithsonian’s National Zoo & Conservation Biology Institute, Washington DC, USA
This presentation will discuss the state-of-the-art, applications, and challenges of gamete and reproductive tissue cryopreservation in endangered species conservation.
Biography Nucharin Songsasen is the Center Head of the Center for Species Survival. She joined the Smithsonian in 2002 when offered the opportunity to study the reproductive biology of domestic and wild carnivores. Over the years, she built the Global Canid Conservation Program and expanded this conservation and research initiative from a laboratory setting to field conservation in range countries, including Brazil and Thailand.
Nucharin is a leading expert in the field of canid reproductive biology. Research conducted in her laboratory focuses on developing innovative technologies to rescuing valuable genetics from wild canids and felids, while improving human reproductive health. In addition to reproductive research, she has collaborated with SCBI scientists and developed partnerships with national and international governmental and non-governmental organizations to address many threats to the sustainability of wild canids, including the maned wolf, dhole, red wolf and African painted dog, living in zoos or the wild. Since 2009, she has led the collaboration with USGS’s Patuxent Wildlife Research Center in studying the reproductive biology and endocrinology of the whooping crane and identifying the causes of poor reproduction in this endangered species.
Nucharin has adjunct appointments at the University of Maryland, Cornell University and George Mason University. She is also a member of the IUCN’s Canid Specialist Group (CSG), the coordinator of CSG’s Dhole Working Group and the Maned wolf Species Survival Plan (MWSSP) as well as Reproductive Advisor to the Canid Taxon Advisory Group.
Nucharin received her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from the Kasetsart University in Thailand, and Master of Science and doctoral degrees from the University of Guelph in Canada.
MULTISCALE TRANSPORT AND OSMOTIC TOLERANCE IN LIVER CELLS AND TISSUES Iqra Azam - Graduate Student, Department of Biology, University of Saskatchewan, Canada
There has been recent success in high-subzero storage of livers, however longer storage durations achieved in liquid nitrogen require high concentrations of toxic and mechanically disrupting cryoprotectants. While there has been some work on cryobiologically relevant hepatocyte biophysics, here I show how the unique cell anatomy of hepatocytes affects basic assumptions of modelling in cryobiology. Moreover, I show how these structures are affected in-situ using 4D microscopy techniques. Finally, I present preliminary data on preventing osmotic damage during CPA equilibration.
Biography Iqra Azam is a Ph.D. student working in James Benson's lab in the Department of Biology at the University of Saskatchewan. During her Masters, she evaluated insects as bioindicators of heavy metal contamination and assessed the spatial and temporal distribution of metals using Geographical Information System (GIS) techniques. Her current research focuses on biophysical characterization and mathematical optimization of cryopreservation of liver cells and tissues. Towards this, she has developed real-time volumetric quantification of adherent cells by using modern 3D & 4D microscopic imaging techniques. She is also developing an imaging protocol to track cells and nuclei within a live precision-cut tissue slice and for quantification of tissue expansion and shrinkage. She enjoys working with microscopes and learning new tools to do cell and tissue imaging.
Membership to the Society for Cryobiology is open to students, individuals, and organizations who are engaged in and support scientific research in low temperature biology and medicine.
Ice Nucleation by Pollen and Fern Spore Derived Macromolecules: Atmospheric Implications and Cryobiological Applications
Ice-Cold and Crystal-Clear: 
ANHYDROBIOSIS - FROM PROTEINACEOUS PHASE TRANSITIONS TO FREEZE-DRYING OF RED BLOOD CELLS
STABILIZATION OF ADENO-ASSOCIATED VIRUS (AAV) VECTOR FORMATIONS BY LYOPHILIZATION
SAND-BASED SERUM-FREE LOW-CRYOPROTECTANT CRYOPRESERVATION OF HUMAN INDUCED PLURIPOTENT STEM CELLS
ADVANCED MULTISCALE BIOPRESERVATION THROUGH ICE MANIPULATION
IMPROVED SINGLE-MODE ELECTROMAGNETIC RESONANCE (SMER) REWARMING OF LARGE BIOMATERIALS
APPLICATION OF NANOPARTICLES IN CRYOPRESERVATION OF PLANT TISSUES 
ISOCHORIC PROCESSES IN CRYOBIOLOGY
AVOIDING DEVITRIFICATION AFTER CRYOPRESERVATION: HIGH INTENSITY FOCUSED ULTRASOUND 
CRYO-CONSERVATION: CURRENT STATUS AND CHALLENGES OF GAMETE AND REPRODUCTIVE TISSUE CRYOPRESERVATION IN ENDANGERED SPECIES CONSERVATION 
MULTISCALE TRANSPORT AND OSMOTIC TOLERANCE IN LIVER CELLS AND TISSUES 