Press Release: June 15, 2026
NSF ATP-Bio Featured in Nature Biotechnology Coverage of the Future of Organ Preservation
Minneapolis, MN—The National Science Foundation Engineering Research Center for Advanced Technologies for the Preservation of Biological Systems (ATP-Bio) and several of its member partners are highlighted in a recent Nature Biotechnology feature examining the rapid progress being made in cryobiology and organ preservation.
The article, “Next-gen cryo promises transplant surgeons more time,” explores emerging technologies that could extend the preservation time of donor organs from hours to days, and ultimately enable long-term organ banking. The feature recognizes the contributions of ATP-Bio researchers and member organizations, including the University of Minnesota, Massachusetts General Hospital, Texas A&M University, Maximize Bio, BioChoric, and Until Labs, who are advancing innovations in subzero preservation, cryoprotectants, vitrification, and organ rewarming technologies.
Nature Biotechnology also notes the growing national investment in cryobiology and highlights the role of NSF Engineering Research Centers in fostering collaboration among academic, industry, and clinical partners to accelerate innovation and translation.
“Recognition in Nature Biotechnology reflects the remarkable progress being made across the cryobiology community and the power of collaborative research to address one of medicine’s most significant challenges,” said John Bischof, ATP-Bio Center Director. “Our vision is to make biological preservation a transformative platform technology that expands access to transplantation and improves patient outcomes.”
The feature underscores ATP-Bio’s mission to develop technologies that preserve, store, transport, and distribute biological systems – advances that could fundamentally change how organs, tissues, cells, and other biological materials are used in medicine.
[Scientists are finding new ways to cryopreserve organs. Credit: Robert Kneschke/Alamy]
The full Nature Biotechnology article is available at https://www.nature.com/articles/s41587-026-03173-6#rightslink
About NSF ATP-Bio℠
NSF ATP-Bio℠ is a world-class partnership between engineering, medicine, science, education, business, and ethics at six premier research universities. It supports the crucial advancement of biopreservation technologies and enables innovation, commercialization, and diverse workforce development. Across NSF ATP-Bio℠, the institutional resources are abundant.
NSF ATP-Bio℠ is co-led by the University of Minnesota (UMN) and Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH). Texas A&M University and the University of California-Riverside are core collaborating institutions. The University of California-Berkeley and Carnegie Mellon University are affiliated partner institutions.
*This research was supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant No. EEC 1941543.*
