Start of “joint research on the cryopreservation of cells for future medicine”

National Institutes of Biomedical Innovation, Health and Nutrition (President: Yusuke Nakamura; Location: Ibaraki City, Osaka; “NIBIOHN”), Ryoho Freeze Systems Co., Ltd. (CEO: Kazunari Ninomiya; Location: Nara City, Nara; “Ryoho Freeze”) and Chubu Electric Power Co., Inc. (President and Director: Kingo Hayashi; Location: Nagoya City, Aichi; “Chubu Electric Power”) have concluded a joint research agreement for cryopreservation of cells in the regenerative medicine and drug development field, to start the joint research.

【Background】

Regenerative medicine is expected to be future medicine, as it has the potential of curing diseases that were difficult to treat by using cells, tissues, others (Note), etc. (“Cellular Products”).

In order to make regenerative medicine more accessible, it is essential to develop the technology to cryopreserve Cellular Products while preserving their original functions.

【Past efforts of the three organizations】

I Ryoho Freeze and Chubu Electric Power have promoted research and development of the technology to freeze food while preserving its flavor.

II NIBIOHN has enabled cryopreservation of Cellular products with nerve functions while preserving its functions, which used to be difficult, by using the freezer of Ryoho Freeze.

【Significance of the research】

Cellular Products used for treatment differ according to the type of disease. Finding the optimal freezing conditions that keep various Cellular Products alive after defrosting is a major challenge in realizing future medicine.

The three organizations will combine their respective knowledge that they have gained to optimize freezing conditions for cellular products, develop a freezer that is easier to use and jointly research freezing technology necessary for realizing future medicine, thereby aiming to contribute to the development of regenerative medicine and drug development.

（Note1）Spheroid (aggregate of a single species) and organoid (aggregate of multiple species), which are cell aggregates; sheet-like or clumped cells that take an intermediate state between cells and tissues, etc.