IRVINE, Calif. — Cryoport, Inc. (NASDAQ: CYRX, CYRXW) (“Company”), the world’s leading temperature controlled logistics company dedicated to the life sciences industry, announced that biological samples transported by Cryoport were launched today at 5:42 am EDT on SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket which took off from Cape Canaveral in Florida to the International Space Station (ISS).
On May 25, 2018, Cryoport managed the transportation of biological samples, specifically isolated primary human mononuclear cells from blood donors, from the University of Zurich to the Kennedy Space Center. These biological samples were cryogenically shipped to suspend all metabolic activity; biological samples like cells, if not kept below -150C will lose structural integrity, which then has a negative impact on their native functionality. This would destroy the ability to use the samples for the experiment.
The biological samples shipped by Cryoport will play an important role in two experiments being conducted at the International Space Station (ISS) by Dr. Oliver Ullrich, Professor of Space Biotechnology at the Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg. The experiments are designed to answer how human cells adapt to weightlessness and how disturbances in the immune system and bone system for longer stays in space can be avoided in the future. In both experiments, human scavenger cells (macrophages), which have been obtained from blood donations, serve as the object of investigation. These cells normally “cleanse” the body of harmful bacteria and dead cells.
Jerrell Shelton, Chief Executive Officer of Cryoport, commented, “Temperature controlled logistics is rapidly growing in importance in the life sciences industries as advances and developments in cellular and gene technology require temperature-controlled environments. The University of Zurich has already recorded the fact that cells compensate ultra-rapidly for changes in gravitational conditions and its scientific team desires to further their work. We are pleased that our temperature controlled logistics solutions have been chosen to support the University of Zurich’s research in space and its mission to drive innovation and advancements that will change the course of mankind.”
When SpaceX returns from the ISS at the end of July, the biological samples will be cryogenically transported by Cryoport from the Kennedy Space Center to the University of Zurich.
Interested viewers can watch the arrival and installation live on NASA Television and NASA.com beginning at 5:30 a.m. EDT, Monday, July 2.
For more information, visit www.cryoport.com. Sign up to follow @cryoport on Twitter at www.twitter.com/cryoport.
SOURCE Cryoport, Inc.
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