Breaking the Cryopreservation Bottleneck

ABOUT THE WEBINAR

Scaling cryopreservation has become a major obstacle in the path toward commercializing cell and gene therapies. In a recent survey conducted by the ISCT Cold Chain Working Group, respondents identified “ability to process at large scale” as the most significant challenge facing cryopreservation today. As manufacturing expands to support higher volumes, the industry is grappling with key variables—such as batch size, sub-batching risks, CPA incubation timing, and cytotoxicity management—that directly impact product quality and process reproducibility.

This webinar will feature a panel of experts offering insights across three critical perspectives: technology innovations, allogeneic therapy workflows, and autologous manufacturing considerations. Each panelist will present a short slide deck to share lessons learned, operational pain points, and potential solutions from their area of focus. The session will conclude with a moderated discussion and audience Q&A, providing attendees with actionable insights into how the field is working to overcome this bottleneck.

VIEW THE RECORDING

KEY LEARNING OBJECTIVES

  • Recognize key challenges and bottlenecks when scaling the cryopreservation process for autologous and allogeneic therapies.
  • Identify available technology used to scale the cryopreservation process.
  • Interpret key variables—such as cell type, batch size, sub-batching risks, CPA incubation timing, and cytotoxicity management—and how they impact product quality and process reproducibility.
  • Understand implementation challenges when scaling the cryopreservation process. 
 WEBINAR CHAIR

Sean Werner, PhD
Chief Technical Officer
BioLife Solutions
United States

 WEBINAR SPEAKERS

Camillo Ricordi, MD, FNAI
 Director, Cell Transplant Center
Director Emeritus, Diabetes Research Institute
University of Miami Miller School of Medicine
United States

Dr. Camillo Ricordi is Professor of Surgery, Medicine, Biomedical Engineering, Microbiology and Immunology at the University of Miami, Florida, where he serves as Director of the Cell Transplant Center, Director of the NIH funded cGMP Advanced Human Cell and Biologic Product Manufacturing Facility, and Director Emeritus of the Diabetes Research Institute. He developed the Ricordi Chamber and automated method for isolation of pancreatic islets and performed the first series of successful clinical islet allografts. Over 100 honors and awards, include the ADA Outstanding Scientific Achievement Award; Knighted by the President of Italy, and inducted into the National Academy of Inventors USA, for contributing outstanding inventions that have made a tangible impact on quality of life, economic development, and welfare of society. He served on the Supreme Council of Health of Italy. In 2023, he was awarded the Leonardo Da Vinci Award (co-shared with Nobel Prize winners Yamanaka and Semenza - Taormina TaoBuk) and the Venice Golden Lion Award. Ricordi contributed over 1,200 publications, that received over 60,000 citations, has 120 H-index. His recent publications include The Healthspan Code (2022) and Therapeutic Revolution (2025). 

Lothar Lauterboack, PhD
 Scientist II
CTMC
United States

Lothar is a PhD-trained biomedical scientist with a strong foundation in regenerative sciences and cryobiology, specializing in stem cell preservation and cellular bioenergetics. Educated in Vienna and at Hannover Medical School, with doctoral research focused on cryopreservation of stem cells using induced nucleation. Lothar comes from a diverse background spanning academia and industry, including postdoctoral research in the U.S. investigating cardiomyocyte function in maternal diabetes and the role of ATP synthase in heart failure. Lothar then transitioned into industry at Thermo Fisher Scientific, contributing to product development, and currently serves as Scientist II at CTMC in Houston, where he leads cryobiology efforts to optimize and advance cryopreservation strategies for cell therapy applications, with a focus on improving therapeutic outcomes and enabling next-generation advanced therapies.

Scott Reeves, MS
 Director, Sales Engineering and Field Applications
Azenta Life Sciences
United States

Scott Reeves is the Director of Technical Sales & Field Applications Engineering at Azenta Life Sciences, where he leads a global team of Field Applications and Technical Sales Engineers focused on delivering tailored technical solutions that help accelerate scientific breakthroughs and the development of impactful therapies. He brings over 30 years of experience in the laboratory automation industry and has been with Azenta Life Sciences for nearly 25 years. Throughout his career, Scott has held a range of leadership and technical roles spanning Product Management, Technical Sales Engineering, and Operations, giving him broad expertise across the laboratory automation lifecycle. 

In addition to his industry role, Scott is an Executive Member of LRIG New England, a not-for-profit special interest group dedicated to advancing best practices, professional development, and innovation in laboratory automation within the life sciences community. Scott holds a Master of Science in Medical Physiology from Boston University School of Medicine and a Bachelor of Science in Biology from Boston College.