Aldehyde-based cryopreservation of whole brains
exploratoryresearch program · medium
Preserve fixed whole human brains for long-term storage while maintaining morphology and potentially improving long-term antigenicity preservation.
Graded immersion cryoprotection using ethylene glycol and sucrose, CT tracking of cryoprotectant penetration, subzero storage, freezer resilience evaluation, and light/electron microscopic validation.
2026 bioRxiv preprint describing a whole-brain aldehyde-based cryopreservation protocol; linkable via company_project_publications.
The supplied abstract reports that roughly 10 months were needed for whole-brain equilibration; after protocol refinement, light and electron microscopy showed preserved cellular architecture and ultrastructure through cryoprotectant loading, freezer storage, and unloading.
Aldehyde-Based Cryopreservation of Whole Brains Program
exploratoryresearch program · low
Preserve fixed whole brains for long-term subzero storage while maintaining histological and ultrastructural quality.
Graded immersion cryoprotection and subzero storage using gradual osmotic ramp-up to a final solution containing ethylene glycol and sucrose; CT imaging used to track cryoprotectant penetration.
BioRxiv report describing aldehyde-based cryopreservation of whole brains.
CT imaging indicated approximately 10 months was required for whole human brain equilibration. Initial histology found insufficient equilibration before freezing caused apparent ice-crystal artifacts, and protocol refinement allowed adequate diffusion time before freezing.
Brain extraction for fixed tissue banking
exploratoryresearch program · high
Improve whole brain extraction quality for fixed tissue banking in the context of whole-body donation.
Sequential craniectomy protocol using circumferential and midline sagittal cuts, followed by a posterior approach to cutting the dura; procedural timing and artifact frequency were documented across donors.
2026 publication reported application of the brain extraction protocol across 105 human whole-body donors.
The reported experience suggested extraction quality can be improved through procedural optimizations, and technicians can become comfortable with the method after approximately 5-10 cases. In situ immersion fixation may stiffen very soft tissue before removal but slows chemical diffusion into the brain interior.
Brain extraction protocol for fixed tissue banking
exploratoryresearch program · low
Improve whole-brain extraction procedures for fixed tissue banking and reduce artifactual tissue disruption during removal from the skull.
Sequential craniectomy with circumferential and midline sagittal cuts, posterior dura cutting approach, and documentation of timing and artifact frequency across whole-body donors.
Technical report describing application of the protocol across 105 human whole-body donors; linkable via company_project_publications.
The supplied abstract reports documentation of procedural timing and frequencies of craniectomy artifacts and skull-edge artifacts at the brain surface.
Cryopreservation of brain cell structure
exploratoryresearch program · medium
Review methods and evidence for preserving brain cell structure through cryopreservation.
Review of cryopreservation approaches relevant to brain cell structural preservation.
2024 review publication titled Cryopreservation of brain cell structure: a review; linkable via company_project_publications.
Cryopreservation of Brain Cell Structure Program
exploratoryresearch program · high
Evaluate cryopreservation approaches for maintaining cellular brain structure during long-term preservation.
Review of cryopreservation methods for brain cell structure, including relevance to long-term brain banking.
2024 review publication on cryopreservation of brain cell structure.
Evaluating ultrastructural preservation quality in banked brain tissue
exploratoryresearch program · high
Assess preservation quality in banked postmortem brain tissue and determine how artifacts affect suitability for research applications such as ultrastructural analysis and connectomics.
Electron microscopy assessment of ambiguous interstitial zone artifacts in postmortem brain samples, paired with light microscopy and immunostaining for cytoskeletal proteins in matched contralateral samples.
2025 publication/preprint reported a preservation-quality assessment method across postmortem brain samples from cortex and thalamus.
Light microscopy showed that cell membrane morphology can be largely maintained and neurite trajectories visualized over micrometer distances even when electron microscopy images show ambiguous interstitial zone artifacts.
Fixed Tissue Brain Extraction Protocol Program
exploratoryresearch program · medium
Improve whole brain extraction quality for fixed tissue banking and reduce procedure-related tissue artifacts.
Sequential craniectomy protocol using circumferential and midline sagittal cuts followed by posterior dura cutting; evaluated across 105 human whole-body donors.
2026 technical report describing a brain extraction protocol for fixed tissue banking.
The report documents step timing, craniectomy artifacts, skull-edge artifacts, and suggests technicians can become comfortable with the method after approximately 5 to 10 cases. In situ immersion fixation can increase tissue stiffness but slows chemical diffusion into the brain interior.
Fluid preservation in brain banking
exploratoryresearch program · medium
Review and characterize fluid preservation approaches used in brain banking.
Literature review of fluid preservation methods for banked brain tissue.
2024 review publication titled Fluid preservation in brain banking: a review; linkable via company_project_publications.
Fluid Preservation in Brain Banking Program
exploratoryresearch program · high
Assess fluid preservation approaches used in brain banking and their relevance to maintaining brain tissue quality.
Literature review of fluid preservation methods for banked brain tissue.
2024 review publication on fluid preservation in brain banking.
Immersion fixation for brain banking
exploratoryresearch program · high
Determine whether immersion fixation is an adequate initial preservation method for human brain banking.
Refrigerated immersion fixation of hemi-sectioned brain specimens with light microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, serial section TEM, and serial block-face scanning electron microscopy.
2025 Free Neuropathology publication on preservation of cellular structure via immersion fixation; linkable via company_project_publications.
The supplied abstract reports prevention of cellular necrosis, visualization of synapses, traceable synapses across serial sections, and traceable myelinated axons up to postmortem intervals of 27 hours, while noting vacuolization and variable myelin disbanding.
Immersion Fixation Preservation Program
exploratoryresearch program · high
Determine whether immersion fixation is adequate as an initial preservation method for human brain banking.
Immersion fixation of hemi-sectioned brain specimens under refrigeration, followed by light microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, serial section TEM, and serial block-face scanning electron microscopy.
2025 publication reporting exploratory histologic and ultrastructural findings from immersion-fixed brain bank specimens.
Light microscopy found no significant change in pericellular or perivascular rarefaction areas by postmortem interval or by outer-to-inner brain region progression, and no significant number of ghost cells. Electron microscopy showed visualizable synapses, traceable serial synapses, and traceable myelinated axons, though vacuolization and variable myelin disbanding were observed.
Mechanical perfusion in brain banking
exploratoryresearch program · medium
Assess mechanical perfusion methods for brain banking and their relationship to postmortem interval.
Brain banking mechanical perfusion methods and assessment of preservation quality in relation to postmortem interval.
2025 publication listed on Apex Neuroscience site: Mechanical perfusion in brain banking: methods of assessment and relationship to the postmortem interval.
Mechanical Perfusion in Brain Banking Program
exploratoryresearch program · high
Assess mechanical perfusion methods in brain banking and their relationship to postmortem interval.
Methodological assessment of mechanical perfusion in banked brain tissue, including preservation-quality evaluation relative to postmortem interval.
2025 publication on mechanical perfusion methods of assessment and relationship to postmortem interval.
Mechanical perfusion methods for brain banking
exploratoryresearch program · medium
Assess mechanical perfusion methods in brain banking and their relationship to postmortem interval.
Mechanical perfusion protocol assessment for banked brain tissue, including analysis of preservation outcomes relative to postmortem interval.
2025 publication titled Mechanical perfusion in brain banking: methods of assessment and relationship to the postmortem interval; linkable via company_project_publications.
Preservation of cellular structure via immersion fixation in brain banking
exploratoryresearch program · high
Determine whether immersion fixation is an adequate initial preservation method for maintaining cellular and ultrastructural features in human brain banking.
Immersion fixation of hemi-sectioned brain specimens under refrigeration, followed by light microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, serial section transmission electron microscopy, and serial block face scanning electron microscopy.
2025 publication reported exploratory histologic and ultrastructural findings from a brain bank using immersion-fixed specimens.
No significant change was found in pericellular or perivascular rarefaction areas by postmortem interval or outer-to-inner brain region progression, and no significant number of ghost cells was identified. Synapses and myelinated axons could still be visualized and traced, though vacuolization and variable myelin disbanding were observed.
Structural brain preservation
exploratoryresearch program · medium
Evaluate structural brain preservation as a potential bridge to future medical technologies.
Review and conceptual analysis of structural brain preservation methods and their possible relevance to future medical technologies.
2024 article listed on Apex Neuroscience site: Structural brain preservation: a potential bridge to future medical technologies.
Structural brain preservation research program
exploratoryresearch program · high
Advance structural brain preservation as a potential bridge to future medical technologies and as a foundation for improved brain banking.
Research and review program focused on brain preservation procedures, preservation-quality measurement, long-term preservation, and related brain banking methods.
2024 Frontiers publication titled Structural brain preservation: a potential bridge to future medical technologies; linkable via company_project_publications.
Structural Brain Preservation Research Program
exploratoryresearch program · high
Evaluate structural brain preservation as a potential bridge to future medical technologies and as a basis for brain banking research.
Review and analysis of preservation procedures and quality considerations for preserving human brain structure.
2024 publication on structural brain preservation as a bridge to future medical technologies.
Ultrastructural preservation quality assessment in banked brain tissue
exploratorybiomarker · high
Assess preservation quality in postmortem banked brain tissue and determine whether tissue is suitable for applications such as electron microscopy and connectomics.
Electron microscopy, light microscopy, immunostaining for cytoskeletal proteins, and assessment of ambiguous interstitial zone artifacts in postmortem cortex and thalamus samples.
2025 publication evaluating ultrastructural preservation quality in banked brain tissue; linkable via company_project_publications.
Light microscopy showed cell membrane morphology and neurite trajectories can remain largely preserved even when electron microscopy shows ambiguous interstitial zone artifacts.
Ultrastructural Preservation Quality Assessment Program
exploratorybiomarker · high
Develop and evaluate methods for assessing whether banked brain tissue is suitable for ultrastructural analysis and downstream research applications such as connectomics.
Electron microscopy assessment of ambiguous interstitial zone artifacts in postmortem brain tissue, paired with light microscopy and cytoskeletal immunostaining in matched samples.
2025 publication evaluating ultrastructural preservation quality in banked brain tissue.
The work reports a method to assess ambiguous interstitial zone artifacts in EM images and found that light microscopy can preserve cell membrane morphology and neurite trajectories over micrometer distances even when EM artifacts are present.
