In Memoriam - Alan P. MacKenzie 

The Society for Cryobiology was saddened to hear of the recent passing of Dr. Alan P. MacKenzie, President of the Society for Cryobiology 1977-1978. Dr. MacKenzie was a lifelong supporter and member of the Society, joining in the Society's founding year - 1964, and continuing his affiliation with the Society throughout his lifetime. 

Alan trained in chemistry at the University of London and enjoyed a long career in freeze-drying from 1959. He published more than 60 papers and a number of book chapters on lyophilization, and lectured and taught the subject in both the US and Europe for more than 25 years. He enjoyed a close relationship with the Center for Pharmaceutical Processing Research (CPPR), acting in a number of capacities during their annual meetings, including as keynote speaker on several occasions. 

During his career Alan held posts at the University of Wisconsin in Madison, and from 1976 - 1990 was based at the University of Washington in the School of Medicine, Faculty of Bioengineering. From 1990 onward he consulted full time for the pharmaceutical and diagnostic industries. 

Alan's research interests included aqueous and other solution chemistries, product formulations, freeze-drying cycle development and validation, process scale-up and technology transfer.

Please send remembrances and condolences to Executive Director, Nicole Evans and she will pass them on to Alan's daughter, Sarah, to share with the family.  

Society for Cryobiology Profiled in Cold Facts

ISBER Best Practices Fourth Edition Launch

The International Society for Biological and Environmental Repositories (ISBER) is pleased to announce the release of the ISBER Best Practices, Fourth Edition.

Dayong Gao Assumes Presidency

As cryobiologists, we are entering a new era when cryobiology has a unique and significant contribution and impact on almost every major biomedical research and application area. A once opaque science shrouded in mystery (and liquid nitrogen vapors!) has captured the attention of the public through mainstream news articles on tissue engineering, regenerative medicine, artificial organs, and tissue-organ transplantation. With this diverse range of applications and growing public acknowledgement, this is an exciting time for the field, its scientists and end users, and the Society for Cryobiology.

I inherit a Society whose productivity has flourished during the previous two years under the guidance of my predecessor, Dr. Jason Acker. I could not ask for a better springboard from which to begin my term as President.

2018 Officers and Governors Transition

Incoming 2018 Board Members 

CRYO2018 Student Awards Open

Entry for the CRYO2018 Student Awards and Travel Grants is now open.

Download application form.

ISBER Launch Biobanking Accreditation

The International Society for Biological and Environmental Repositories (ISBER) and the American Society for Clinical Pathology Board of Certification (ASCP BOC) announced on December 11, 2017, that they have reached an agreement to develop a new Biobanking Practitioner Qualification. 

ASCP BOC offers qualifications for medical laboratory professionals and has certified more than half a million people since its inception in 1928. 

ISBER, established more recently in 1999, represents professionals in biological and environmental biorepositories.

From early 2019 ISBER members who fulfil certain educational and experience requirements will be able to sit an online examination to recognize their biobanking skills. 

ISBER President, Zisis Kozlakidis, said, "Improving the quality of biobanking practices is essential to improving research outcomes, especially in the fields of translational and precision medicine. With this new qualification we will be able to advance the science of biobanking to the level required to support future healthcare breakthroughs." 

Motion to Adopt Revised Bylaws 

Time is running out to vote in the motion put to all members to revise the Society's bylaws. Voting closes December 31, 2017 at 23:59 ET. 

Read the revised bylaws and the summary of changes. 

All members in good standing should have received by now several emails with instructions for online voting. If you have not received these emails please check your spam/junk folder and then contact us. 

The revised bylaws currently before the members are the culmination of approximately three years work, and at least 10 years of discussion by the Board of Governors. The past year in particular has seen outstanding progress by a special bylaws working group chaired by current President, Jason Acker. This group has worked tirelessly alongside Maryland Nonprofits, an association for Maryland nonprofit associations, to update our ageing bylaws, which currently date from 1995.  

The members of the bylaws working group in full are: Jason Acker (chair), Ed Kordoski (Executive Director), Greg Fahy (governor), and Society members Elena Salvaterra, Andy Picken, and Steve Mullen. 

BYLAWS FAQ

Election Results: Officers and Governors Announced!

President-Elect and chair of the nominating committee, Dayong Gao, offers his congratulations to the winning candidates of the Society for Cryobiology election. 

After you've read all about the winners, please take a moment to renew your membership for 2018, if you have not already done so. 

Governor, Serean Adams, in the News

Serean Adams, pictured at Cawthron Aquaculture Park in Nelson, New Zealand.

Society Governor, Dr. Serean Adams, was in the news after speaking about the future and challenges facing aquaculture at New Zealand's recent industry conference held in Nelson, New Zealand.

Dr. Adams, who completed her PhD under Cryobiology Editor-in-Chief, Prof. David Rawson, is now Aquaculture Group Manager at Cawthron Institute, New Zealand's largest independent science organisation, specialising in science that supports the environment and development within primary industries. 

Read the full article to see what Serean has to say about the future of marine cryobiology. 

Dayong Gao Elected to Academy of Sciences

Society for Cryobiology President-Elect, Dayong Gao of the University of Washington, has been elected to the Washington State Academy of Sciences (WSAS). 

The WSAS is a non-profit state resource for the government, organizations and citizens relating to science, technology, health, and the environment, and aims to inform public policy decision making in Washington State. 

Currently comprising 267 members, the WSAS elects only the state's most distinguished scientific and technical experts.

Gao fulfils these criteria through his contributions in the field of cryobiology and the science and technology of artificial organs. His work impacts the development of cutting-edge biotechnology that treats diseases, organ failure, and contributes to species conservation worldwide.

Welcome to our Newest Members

Welcome to the following new members! 

Searching for Outstanding Individuals 

The Society for Cryobiology established the award and medal of CryoFellow over a decade ago in recognition of members of the society and individuals from the cryobiology community who have had an outstanding impact on the field.

Miao Zhang Defends Thesis 

Student member of the Society for Cryobiology, Miao Zhang, is to defend her thesis on June 23, 2017. During her PhD studies Ms. Zhang received the Society's John K. Critser award for the best extended student abstract in 2015 and the Peter L. Steponkus Crystal award for the best student oral presentation at the Society's meeting in 2016.

Thesis: Towards dry preservation of mammalian cellls
The central aim of this thesis was to test if trehalose can be introduced into mammalian cells during freezing-induced membrane permeabilization and if this subsequently stabilizes cells during freezing and/or freeze-drying. It was hypothesized that membrane-impermeable molecules including trehalose can be loaded into cells through freezing-induced membrane phase transitions. One of the conclusions was that mammalian cells can be loaded with membrane-impermeable compounds (i.e. trehalose) by subjecting the cells to freezing-induced osmotic stress and membrane imperfections. It was shown that trehalose can be used as sole cryoprotectant to cryopreserve cells. Preloading with trehalose via fluid-phase endocytosis did not increase cryosurvival rates if trehalose is also added as extracellular protectant. It is particularly freezing-induced trehalose uptake that facilitates cryosurvival when trehalose is used as the sole cryoprotectant. One other aim was to investigate if freezing-induced uptake of trehalose stabilizes cells during freeze-drying, and to assess the effect of trehalose on storage stability of DNA during freeze-drying and dried storage. No viable cells were recovered after freeze-drying and rehydration. DNA was found to be largely intact directly after freeze-drying. DNA damage in freeze-dried cells progressively increases with storage duration and temperature. DNA damage was prevented by storage of the samples at 4°C. It was shown that trehalose reduces DNA damage during storage.

Biography
Miao Zhang received her education at Southeast University (Nanjing, China) (BE, 2011), after which she completed master's studies at Ulm University (Ulm, Germany) (MSc, 2013). She was accepted in the PhD program ‘Regenerative Sciences’ in 2013 at Hannover Medical School (Hannover, Germany) and conducted her PhD project at the Institute of Multiphase Processes, Leibniz University of Hannover (Hannover, Germany), under the supervision of Dr. Willem Wolkers. 

GE Healthcare Purchases Asymptote

GE Healthcare has recently purchased Asymptote. Founder and CEO of Asymptote, John Morris, is a long time member of the Society for Cryobiology. 

Peter Mazur Memorial Website 

Fritz Kleinhans has recently unveiled a memorial website for the late Peter Mazur. Fritz has invited members of the Society for Cryobiology to submit photographs or remembrances for inclusion on the site. 

Peter Mazur (1928-2015) was a pioneer and leading figure in the world of cryobiology for over 50 years. He was a founding member of the Society for Cryobiology and served as President from 1973-1974. He served numerous terms as Governor and was active at board meeting even while not in office (no one argued with Peter!). He was also a member of the editorial board from 1967 until his death.

Close friends and colleagues of Peter's, Fritz Kleinhans and David Pegg, wrote a touching obituary which was published in the April 2016 issue of Cryobiology. The obituary, along with photos and details of Peter's most important research can all be found on the memorial website.  

New Member Welcome

Do you have what it takes to govern the Society for Cryobiology?