Cryopreservation and other preservation approaches for animal models workshop session I: Invertebrate models in biomedical research

The ability to preserve small invertebrate organisms indefinitely at ultracold temperatures has been an important tool for biological and biomedical research. This report provides a summary of an NIH-sponsored workshop on Cryopreservation and Other Preservation Approaches for Invertebrate Models. This workshop addressed topics related to cryopreservation and other long-term preservation methods of invertebrate models commonly used in biomedical research, including the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster , roundworm Caenorhabditis elegans , sea urchin Paracentrotus lividus , and other invertebrate models. The session presentations focused on current approaches and limitations in preserving these organisms and lessons learned from preserving other invertebrate organisms, such as tardigrades, mosquitoes, and black soldier flies. The workshop focused first on established models, then emerging models and finally new investigator work in the area. Future priorities suggested during the workshop included standardization and dissemination of successful protocols for established models, validating new protocols for emerging models on cells or tissues of invertebrates (e.g. 15 insect species by USDA, tardigrades, and mosquitoes), and a focus on new tools and approaches.