The current state of cryopreservation science
Cryopreservation is an advanced medical procedure that uses extremely low sub-zero temperatures to induce biological pause without freezing. Cryopreservation involves perfusing cryoprotective agents (medical grade anti-freeze) in order to enter sub-zero temperatures with little to no formation of ice-crystals.
CryoDAO is working with researchers, technologists and funding partners to advance the state of cryopreservation research by funding projects that could move the needle for modern medicine. To see our projects in development, scroll down to the R&D roadmap below, or click here to go to the projects page.
Notable Breakthroughs
R&D Roadmap
Avoid unacceptable levels of ischemic/reperfusion injury
- Incorporate key understanding from hypothermic medicine, resuscitation science, perfusion-based organ preservation, etc. - Tissue preconditioning (e.g. slow/depressed metabolism and stress tolerance induction) - Understanding and use of nature-inspired strategies (e.g. hypometabolic states of torpor or dormancy of freeze-tolerant and hibernating animals) - Application of computational/high throughput methods to develop protective cocktails for pre- and post-preservation perfusion
Control excessive chilling injury
- Chilling injury understanding and investigation - Understanding and investigation of cell membrane damage, loss of selective permeability and cold shock - Investigation of specific cell/tissue type differences
Limit disproportionate mechanical and thermodynamic stress
- Understanding and control of mechanical and thermal behavior of cryopreserved and vitrified materials - Optimization of cooling/heating and storage protocols - Integrated use of Computed Tomography, Neutron Scattering, thermal and mechanical stress modeling, etc.
Hold cryoprotectant and osmotic toxicity within acceptable levels
- Understanding cryoprotective agent (CPA) and related toxicity - Tissue preconditioning (e.g. slow/depressed metabolism and stress tolerance induction) - Therapeutic mitigation of CPA toxicity - Integration of proteomics, metabolomics, genomics, and epigenetics to improve understanding - Integration of computational chemistry and/or high throughput testing and novel CPA generation methods
Control excessive ice formation
- Understanding and control of ice nucleation, ice growth, and propagation - Understanding and control of recrystallization and devitrification - Development and integration of imaging technologies, simulations and modeling, nanoparticle-based cooling and rewarming protocols, etc
Develop methods for revival, repair, and functional assessment
- Understanding, characterization, and targeting of molecular damage mechanisms (e.g. cellular membranes, intracellular organelles damage, cell cytoskeleton disassembly, apoptosis, osmotic and oxidative stress) - Integration of post-conditioning, treatment of marginal donor organs and perfusion-based organ preservation methods - Incorporation/ application of knowledge/ approaches derived from regenerative medicine, stem cell science, etc
