Biobanking has become an essential part of biomedical research, providing researchers with access to valuable biological specimens for use in a wide range of studies. But as the scope and span of biomedical research grows, so does demand for advanced storage facilities capable of accommodating diverse biological specimens and liquid-based compounds used for clinical trials, […]
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An Interview with Cryobiology Expert Dr. Jason Acker Freezing is stressful for mammalian cells – to say the least. Cells face potentially dangerous ice crystals and severe dehydration when cooled to very low temperatures. Yet, by carefully configuring a cryopreservation protocol, cells can be shielded from injury. Thanks to discoveries in cryobiology, scientists have preserved […]
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Cryopreservation extends the viability of cells by cooling them to extremely low temperatures and thus keeping them in a safe, biochemically inactive state. This process gives much-needed flexibility to researchers and those developing cell-based therapies. The latter involves collecting living cells from donors, transporting them to manufacturing sites for processing or screening, and then delivering […]
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When Pfizer initially released its COVID-19 mRNA vaccine, distributing it was a major challenge. Scientists thought that the vaccine had to be stored at -70°C, requiring dry ice or ultra-cold freezers. At scale, explains David Lewandowski, Azenta’s Strategic Partnerships Manager for Automated Storage, “Temperature matters. The warmer it is, the easier it is [to deliver […]
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Azenta Launches CryoArc™ Pico at SLAS2023 Many cell and gene therapies today rely on cryostorage with precise cold chain handling to ensure the viability and effectiveness of the cells that deliver life-saving treatments. But accessing these cell therapies can sometimes be a cumbersome process for labs and clinics that don’t have the space needed to […]
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Part 3 of our A Practical Guide to Planning a Cryogenic Storage Facility Series In our previous blog post, we uncovered key safety considerations and why monitoring your LN2 facility and storage units is imperative in ensuring the safety of your facility. In this part of our blog series, we lay out the key factors to […]
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Part 2 of our Protecting Complete Chain of Custody Series As we discussed in our last post, the Role of Biobanking in Protecting Sample Chain of Custody, biobanks serve as biospecimen libraries as well as sample data, validation, and reference sources for both research and clinical labs. Like any part of a controlled process, establishment of a quality […]
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Part 2 of our A Practical Guide to Planning a Cryogenic Storage Facility Series In our previous post, we covered several key considerations for selecting the appropriate space and equipment when designing your cryogenic storage facility. In this post, we will highlight how to ensure the safety of your facility. Did you know that a proper […]
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Part 1 of our Protecting Complete Chain of Custody Series As key components of the research ecosystem, biobanks share a vital function and critical responsibility in the protection of biospecimens. They are centralized members in the chain of custody for samples, and as such, have an impact on both upstream and downstream portions of the molecular biologist’s […]
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Part 1 of our A Practical Guide to Planning a Cryogenic Storage Facility Series Storing biological materials, especially living cells and tissues, can be a complicated process. Improper handling or storage conditions can damage cells, reducing viability and compromising their utility in downstream applications. Keeping specimens below -135°C, the glass transition temperature (Tg) of water, […]
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