ATP-Bio and EARTH Partner to Build a Sustainable Cryogenic Supply Chain for the Bioeconomy
The NSF Engineering Research Center for Advanced Technologies for the Preservation of Biological Systems (ATP-Bio) is partnering with the NSF Engineering Research Center for Environmentally Applied Refrigerant Technology Hub (EARTH) to explore sustainable solutions for the future of cryopreservation. By bringing together expertise in cryobiology, cryogenic engineering, and environmentally friendly refrigeration technologies, the collaboration aims to advance the infrastructure needed to preserve, transport, and store living biological systems more efficiently and sustainably.
As cryobiology advances toward clinical-scale vitrification, organ preservation, and large-scale transport of living biological materials, the need for next-generation cooling systems, cryogenic transport technologies, and sustainable storage solutions continues to grow. This cross-ERC partnership leverages the complementary strengths of ATP-Bio and EARTH to address these emerging challenges while supporting the growing global bioeconomy.
The collaboration, informally known as Project COOLER (Cryopreservation of Organs with Low Effect Refrigerants), is focused on integrating sustainable refrigeration technologies into the cryopreservation pipeline, helping create environmentally responsible solutions without compromising performance.
“ATP-Bio preserves and transports living biological systems to drive advancements in healthcare, biodiversity, and agriculture. Recognizing that true convergence requires collaboration, we are partnering across ERCs to build a complete, eco-friendly supply chain. By integrating ATP-Bio’s expertise in cryobiology with EARTH’s innovations in sustainable, cryogenic refrigerants, we are creating a scalable, climate-conscious pipeline to power the evolving global bio-economy.”
The partnership reflects the collaborative spirit of the NSF Engineering Research Centers program, where interdisciplinary teams work together to solve complex engineering challenges with broad societal impact.
Dr. Lakshya Gangwar, Postdoctoral Associate in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Minnesota and Scholar Trainee with ATP-Bio, emphasized the importance of sustainable cryogenic infrastructure as preservation technologies continue to advance.
“ATP-Bio cryopreserves and transports living biological systems to drive advancements in healthcare, biodiversity, and agriculture. Recognizing that true convergence requires collaboration, we are partnering across ERCs to build a complete, eco-friendly cryo-supply chain. By integrating ATP-Bio’s expertise in cryobiology with EARTH’s innovations in sustainable, cryogenic refrigerants, we are creating a scalable, climate-conscious pipeline to power the evolving global bio-economy.”
Gangwar added:
“As the field of cryobiology moves towards clinical-scale vitrification and rewarming, the need for faster cooling technologies for vitrification, stable cryogenic transport devices and sustainable storage freezers is evident and this collaboration (nicknamed as Project COOLER—Cryopreservation of Organs with Low Effect Refrigerants) is a step towards building a sustainable thermally efficient cryo-supply chain.”
By combining ATP-Bio’s leadership in cryopreservation science with EARTH’s innovations in sustainable refrigeration technologies, Project COOLER represents an exciting example of how collaboration across NSF Engineering Research Centers can accelerate innovation while addressing both biomedical and environmental challenges. Together, the centers are laying the groundwork for a future where advanced biopreservation technologies are supported by a scalable, energy-efficient, and environmentally responsible cryogenic supply chain.
NSF ATP-Bio (Advanced Technologies for the Preservation of Biological Systems) is an Engineering Research Center: National Science Foundation under Grant No. EEC 1941543
NSF EARTH (Environmentally Applied Refrigerant Technology Hub): National Science Foundation under Grant No: ECC 2330175
L>R: Mark Shiflett, Dorothy Mae Haggard, Lakshya Gangwar, John Bischof