In this session, participants will focus on a weeklong, in-depth project that explores how scientists are trying to preserve cells and tissues by freezing.
The project will teach participants not only about regenerative medicine and cryopreservation, but also reinforce basic chemistry and biochemistry concepts, such as the properties of cells, water, freezing point depression, protein structure and function.
Regenerative medicine has the potential to fully heal damaged tissues and organs (not only to manage symptoms with medication). Cells and tissues used for repair often need to be stored long term, frozen in liquid nitrogen at -196 °C, and successful cryopreservation is one of the bottlenecks of clinical application of regenerative medicine. Cryopreservation will be explained, demonstrated, and current cryopreservation methods and their limitations will be discussed. Cryopreservation in nature will also be explored.
This project is part of a broader workforce development initiative at UNH focused on regenerative medicine and biofabrication that is funded by a National Institutes of Health Science Education Partnership grant. Students will be working alongside teacher participants also learning about regenerative medicine and how to incorporate it into their classrooms. All necessary COVID-19 health & safety protocols will be followed.
