CryoStore Newsletter
September 2026 | Issue No. 4Training, Research & International Collaboration
The Third CryoStore Training School
The third and final Summer School took place at Wageningen University & Research in Wageningen, The Netherlands, 4–10 July 2026. The scientific program covered conservation biology, wildlife management, genetic resource banking, biosecurity and the importance of conserving farm animal biodiversity. The program also included workshops on innovation and commercialization (by Ard Innovation), with training on how to create an effective pitch, as well as a career workshop providing valuable advice on opportunities after the PhD. The Summer School combined lectures with practical training, tours and excursions. Participants visited CryoStore associated partner Topigs Norsvin in Den Bosch, Utrecht University’s Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, De Korenmaat farm with Dutch rare breeds, the gene bank at Wageningen University & Research’s Centre for Genetic Resources, and Ouwehands Zoo in Rhenen. The social activities included a cheese-making experience at Boerderij Hoekelum, where the participants made their own cheese to take home and enjoy after six weeks of maturation. Overall, the Summer School offered participants, including the CryoStore Doctoral Candidates (DCs), valuable scientific, practical and career training to support their development throughout and beyond their PhD journey.
Disseminating Research at International Conferences
CryoStore DCs have continued to share their research at international conferences throughout 2026. In May, Oleksandra Hubenia and Abdul-Rashid Iddi participated in the 50th Annual International Conference of Young Scientists “Cold in Biology and Medicine – 2026”, with Oleksandra also co-organizing the event and chairing sessions.
In June, Mahsa Abdi and Batuhan Kaplan attended the 20th International Congress on Animal Reproduction in Obihiro, Japan, and Mahsa also presented at the 15th Biannual Conference of the Association for Applied Animal Andrology. In July, Firouzeh Sadeghzadeh presented her research at the World’s Poultry Congress in Toronto, Canada.
Further conference activities continued in September, with Paulina Pyrek and Linde Rombaut presenting at the 42nd Conference of the Association of Embryo Technology in Europe. Mahsa Abdi presented at the 29th Annual Conference of the European Society for Domestic Animal Reproduction, while Oleksandra Hubenia, Abdul-Rashid Iddi and Firouzeh Sadeghzadeh presented at the 62nd International Meeting of the Society for Low Temperature Biology.
The CryoStore Secondment Program
The CryoStore secondment program gives the DCs valuable experience in different international, interdisciplinary and intersectoral research environments. Through their secondments, they have expanded their skills and networks, exchanged knowledge and best practices, and established connections for future collaborations and career opportunities.
As the secondment program progresses, almost all CryoStore DCs have completed the majority of their planned secondments. Some highlights include:
“During my stay, I am continuing my work on optimizing the vitrification protocol of mature bovine oocytes, with a stronger focus on the lipid component and L-carnitine supplementation. And I really couldn’t have asked for a better team to do this with!”
Read more from Paulina’s secondment at LUKE here.
“This secondment gave me valuable insight into how academic cryobiology connects with industrial application. Experiences like this are an important part of the CryoStore project, helping researchers better understand the pathway from fundamental research to real-world implementation.”
Read more from Oleksandra’s secondment at IMV here.
“During this period, I gained hands-on experience in boar semen cryopreservation, storage and thawing techniques, as well as setting up and maintaining an in vitro fertilization culture environment. More importantly, I developed a deeper appreciation for how delicate and finely tuned these processes are and how important the teamwork in this specific case. … This secondment was not only about techniques and results, but also about learning how to navigate uncertainty, adapt quickly, and find small moments of excitement in repetitive yet meaningful work.”
Read more from Batuhan’s secondment at WUR here.
The CryoStore Children’s Book
What if science could help us protect life — not just today, but for the future?
The CryoStore Children’s Book is a story that shows us how curiosity, learning, and care can come together to protect life on Earth.
The book is available in English, French, German, Norwegian, Portuguese and Polish. Download a free PDF of the book here.
CryoStore Final Conference
The CryoStore Doctoral Network will arrange its Final Conference on 16–17 February 2027 at the Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU) in Ås, Norway. The event will bring together researchers, industry representatives and other stakeholders to share the latest advances in cryopreservation and animal genetic resource conservation.
Join us for this important CryoStore event! More information and registration here.
