Publication Title
Cryobiology
Volume
122
Page
105584
Year
2026
Abstract
As cryopreservation technologies continue to develop, the need for harmonized terminology across the multitude of disciplines where cryopreservation is applied is becoming increasingly acute. Terminology in cryopreservation remains inconsistent, leading to confusion and barriers to progress. Applications of cryopreservation in medicine, food, agriculture, and conservation remain limited by this lack of consensus. Inconsistent terminology contributes to ethical, legal, and societal issues in translating and integrating new cryopreservation technologies. Here we identify the problem with examples of cryopreservation terminology that demand harmonization. We describe the need for terminological consistency by providing examples of effective terminology harmonization projects in related fields. We propose next steps, highlighting the important role that professional societies should play to reach consensus on terminology among cryopreservation stakeholders and the broader cryobiology community.
Recommended Citation
Susan Wolf, Lakshya Gangwar, Lowell Wolfe, Nikolas Zuchowicz, Irina Filz von Reiterdank, Srivasupradha Ramesh, Bat-Erdene Namsrai, Joseph Kangas, Joseph Sushil Rao, Matthew Powell-Palm, Timothy L. Pruett, John C. Bischof, and Korkut Uygun, Need for Harmonized Terminology in Cryopreservation to Support Reproducibility, Regulation, and Translation, 122 Cryobiology 105584 (2026), available at https://scholarship.law.umn.edu/faculty_articles/1204.
Creative Commons License
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