Crioestaminal
Encyclopedia
Crioestaminal is a biotechnology
company founded in Coimbra
, Portugal
in 2003, and headquartered in Cantanhede. The company's main activity is collection, and cryopreservation
of cord blood
stem cells. These cells may be used in therapeutical procedures directed towards several diseases. Besides stem cell cryopreservation, Crioestaminal is involved in several research projects aimed at expanding the field of application of stem cell in partnership with the Instituto de Medicina Molecular
(University of Lisbon), the Instituto Português de Oncologia
, the Instituto Superior Técnico
(Technical University of Lisbon
), etc. The company is the sponsor of the Crioestaminal Prize on Biomedical Research.
, Portugal
, by young entrepreneurs with an academic background ranging from biochemistry
to economics
, as a Portuguese franchise of Belgium-based company Cryo-Save
. All the laboratorial work was carried out in Belgium. In 2006, Crioestaminal opened its own facilities. Currently the company is based in the biotechnological park of the neighbouring town of Cantanhede - biocant park, following its spin-off from the University of Coimbra's business incubator Instituto Pedro Nunes
.
, Spain Crioestaminal, based in Barcelona
, and in the Italian market, as well as in other markets. The company is the owner of a spin-off to the area of molecular diagnosis, the Genelab, has almost 700 m2 of space in the Biocant Park, Cantanhede, and has made important investments in R&D.
Biotechnology
Biotechnology is a field of applied biology that involves the use of living organisms and bioprocesses in engineering, technology, medicine and other fields requiring bioproducts. Biotechnology also utilizes these products for manufacturing purpose...
company founded in Coimbra
Coimbra
Coimbra is a city in the municipality of Coimbra in Portugal. Although it served as the nation's capital during the High Middle Ages, it is better-known for its university, the University of Coimbra, which is one of the oldest in Europe and the oldest academic institution in the...
, Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
in 2003, and headquartered in Cantanhede. The company's main activity is collection, and cryopreservation
Cryopreservation
Cryopreservation is a process where cells or whole tissues are preserved by cooling to low sub-zero temperatures, such as 77 K or −196 °C . At these low temperatures, any biological activity, including the biochemical reactions that would lead to cell death, is effectively stopped...
of cord blood
Cord blood
Umbilical cord blood is blood that remains in the placenta and in the attached umbilical cord after childbirth. Cord blood is collected because it contains stem cells which can be used to treat hematopoietic and genetic disorders.-Collection:...
stem cells. These cells may be used in therapeutical procedures directed towards several diseases. Besides stem cell cryopreservation, Crioestaminal is involved in several research projects aimed at expanding the field of application of stem cell in partnership with the Instituto de Medicina Molecular
Instituto de Medicina Molecular
The Instituto de Medicina Molecular , or IMM for short, is an associated research institution of the University of Lisbon, in Lisbon, Portugal....
(University of Lisbon), the Instituto Português de Oncologia
Instituto Português de Oncologia
The Instituto Português de Oncologia Francisco Gentil, also known as Instituto Português de Oncologia and ' , is a state-run cancer hospital and research organization from Portugal. The I.P.O. has autonomous regional branches in Lisbon, Porto and Coimbra.-External links:***...
, the Instituto Superior Técnico
Instituto Superior Técnico
Instituto Superior Técnico is a reputed school of engineering, part of Universidade Técnica de Lisboa . IST is the largest and the most prestigious school of engineering in Portugal...
(Technical University of Lisbon
Technical University of Lisbon
The Technical University of Lisbon is a Portuguese public university. It was created in 1930 in Lisbon, as a confederation of older schools, and comprises, nowadays, the faculties and institutes of veterinary medicine; agricultural sciences; economics and business administration; engineering,...
), etc. The company is the sponsor of the Crioestaminal Prize on Biomedical Research.
History
The company was founded in 2003 in CoimbraCoimbra
Coimbra is a city in the municipality of Coimbra in Portugal. Although it served as the nation's capital during the High Middle Ages, it is better-known for its university, the University of Coimbra, which is one of the oldest in Europe and the oldest academic institution in the...
, Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
, by young entrepreneurs with an academic background ranging from biochemistry
Biochemistry
Biochemistry, sometimes called biological chemistry, is the study of chemical processes in living organisms, including, but not limited to, living matter. Biochemistry governs all living organisms and living processes...
to economics
Economics
Economics is the social science that analyzes the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services. The term economics comes from the Ancient Greek from + , hence "rules of the house"...
, as a Portuguese franchise of Belgium-based company Cryo-Save
Cryo-Save
Cryo-Save is Europe's largest cord blood bank with over 185,000 samples stored. It it is based in Zutphen, the Netherlands, but operates in over 40 different countries. Certified laboratories and processing facilities can be found in the following locations: Belgium, Germany, Dubai, India, France ...
. All the laboratorial work was carried out in Belgium. In 2006, Crioestaminal opened its own facilities. Currently the company is based in the biotechnological park of the neighbouring town of Cantanhede - biocant park, following its spin-off from the University of Coimbra's business incubator Instituto Pedro Nunes
Instituto Pedro Nunes
Instituto Pedro Nunes is a non-profit private organization for innovation and technology transfer based in Coimbra, Portugal. It is named after the Portuguese 16th century mathematician and professor Pedro Nunes, who lived in the city of Coimbra and worked for the local university.-IPN profile:The...
.
Organisation
Crioestaminal is the Portuguese market leader with over 40,000 customers, almost 50 people working full time, mainly former students of the University of Coimbra. It owns a company in SpainSpain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
, Spain Crioestaminal, based in Barcelona
Barcelona
Barcelona is the second largest city in Spain after Madrid, and the capital of Catalonia, with a population of 1,621,537 within its administrative limits on a land area of...
, and in the Italian market, as well as in other markets. The company is the owner of a spin-off to the area of molecular diagnosis, the Genelab, has almost 700 m2 of space in the Biocant Park, Cantanhede, and has made important investments in R&D.