Grant: Foundation Grant

Some organisms resist freezing to below -30 °C, but quickly die if ice forms in the body. Other organisms actively promote freezing at -2 °C and can tolerate freezing and thawing with minimal damage. My CIHR-funded research program has discovered ice-binding proteins that control these processes. They include antifreeze proteins that stop the growth of ice and protect animals and their organs, tissues and cells from freezing; as well as ice recrystallization inhibitors used by freeze-tolerant organisms to lessen the damage that occurs on freezing and thawing. Here we will apply these ice-binding proteins to cool organs well below 0 °C so that they can be kept for longer and hence increase the supply of organs for transplant. We will also use these proteins to improve the recovery of frozen blood and stem cells for transfusions. In addition, we will engineer improvements to the ice-binding proteins that will give them greater activity and potency for these human health applications.