21st Century Medicine
21st Century Medicine is a California cryobiological research company which has as its primary focus the development of perfusates and protocols for viable long-term cryopreservation of human organs, tissues and cells at cryogenic temperatures (temperatures below −100°C) through the use of vitrification. Dr. Gregory M. Fahy, the world's foremost expert in cryopreservation by vitrification, serves on the company’s Board of Directors and prioritizes, develops and directs the company’s research activities. He also manages all extramural collaborative research projects with universities, industry and research institutions to create specific products and services.
The company holds a number of patents, most notably for cryoprotectant mixtures that greatly reduce ice formation while minimizing cryoprotectant toxicity, as well as for synthetic ice-blockers that inexpensively simulate the antifreeze protein found in arctic organisms. Their website lists peer-reviewed journal publications based on research conducted in their laboratories.[1] In 2004 21CM received a $900,000 grant from the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH) to develop solutions and processes to improve human heart transplantation.[2]
At the July 2005 annual conference of the Society for Cryobiology, 21st Century Medicine announced the vitrification of a rabbit kidney to -135°C with their proprietary vitrification mixture. The kidney was successfully transplantated upon rewarming to a rabbit, with complete functionality and viability.[3][4]
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[edit] References
- ^ "21CM Publications". http://www.21cm.com/abstracts.jsp. Retrieved 2006-11-08.
- ^ "NIH grant to be used for heart preservation research". NewsRx. October 31, 2004. http://www.newsrx.com/newsletters/Cardiovascular-Device-Liability-Week/2004-10-31/10312004333132CDL.html. Retrieved 2006-11-08.
- ^ "Plenary Session: Fundamentals of Biopreservation". CRYO 2005 Scientific Program. Society for Cryobiology. July 24, 2005. Archived from the original on 2006-08-30. http://web.archive.org/web/20060830143259/http://www.me.umn.edu/events/cryo2005/program.html. Retrieved 2006-11-08.
- ^ Fahy GM, Wowk B, Pagotan R, Chang A, Phan J, Thomson B, Phan L (2009). "Physical and biological aspects of renal vitrification". ORGANOGENESIS 5 (3): 167–175. doi:10.4161/org.5.3.9974. PMC 2781097. PMID 20046680. http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?tool=pmcentrez&artid=2781097.
