Non-human PSC Biobanking: Conservation for the Future.

 

Event Details

 

Time:

4:00-6:00pm CET (UTC +2)

Date: 7 th April 7th 2026

Location: Zoom

 

Webinar chairs: Dr Ashlee Hutchinson (Revive & Restore) and Dr Glyn N Stacey, Director - ISCBI.

 

​Speakers

 

Dr Ashlee Hutchinson

Ashlee directs Revive & Restore's Reproductive & Stem Cell Technologies Programs. She will provide a global view on the developing wild-animal (pluripotent stem cell) PSC biobanking field.

 

Dr Marisa Korody

Marisa Korody of the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance will speak on 'Good practice for development of cryopreserved non-human tissue suitable for generation of iPSCs'

 

Dr Qiuye Bao

Dr Bao of Mandai Nature, Singapore will speak on Characterisation of NH PSCs

 

 

 

Case Studies:

 

Case Study 1: How zoos are incorporating stem cells into standard biobanking practise

 

Dr Oliver Ryder, San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance

 

Dr Ryder is one of the greatest advocates for the importance of biobanking material from as many species as possible. He helps to manage the San Diego Zoo’s Frozen Zoo and the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance, where they work to derive iPSCs from endangered species like the Northern White Rhino and the Pacific Pocket Mouse.

 

 

Case Study 2: Converting biobanked material to gametes and embryos

 

Dr Vera Zywitza, Max Delbrück Center Leibniz Institute

 

Dr Zywitza works to derive iPSCs

from critically endangered species and has explored their conversion to reproductive stem cells. Her group successfully

induced PGCLCs for the Northern White Rhino - with only two females left on the

planet. They are working to develop the same technologies for other species on the

verge of extinction, like the Bavarian Pine Vole.

 

 

Case Study 3: Germline stem cells: Incorporating primordial germ cells (PGCs)

into conservation biobanking

 

Dr Kannika Siripattarapravat, Kasetsart University

 

Dr Siripattarapravat is a group leader who has had remarkable success in culturing primordial germ cells (PGCs) for a range of native avian species and non-avian reptiles.

She will present on the potential for using PGCs as tools in conservation as they

relate to biobanking, and provide crucial considerations about working with non-

mammalian systems.

 

 

Case Study 4: Capacity Building for Local Adoption

 

Dr Gareth Sullivan, St Andrews University,

Dr Monique Paris, IBREAM,

 

This team is growing local expertise and infrastructure in Ethiopia for Africa’s most endangered carnivore, the Ethiopian Wolf. International treaties designed to prevent

poaching and the illegal wildlife trade, often also prevent the transport of cell lines and biomaterial outside their country of origin, making it challenging for local conservation institutions to take advantage of well-resourced

international collaborators. The solution proposed here is local capacity building and development of infrastructure, expertise, and governmental/conservation management relationships in-country.