Applied Protein Engineering for Cryopreservation

Improve post-thaw survival. Reduce freeze damage.

IBP Ventures helps improve cryopreservation performance in IVF, cell therapy, biologics and research preservation using engineered ice-binding proteins, assessed through focused commercial feasibility pilots.

Founder-led bioprocess expertise Focused cryobiology positioning Defined pilot-based entry point

Typical engagements: £10k–£30k · 8–12 weeks · decision-oriented scope

Commercial Position

A specialist company, built around a real cryopreservation problem.

Specialist

We work with clinics, therapy developers, and preservation teams to evaluate whether targeted ice-interface control can improve performance in defined freeze–thaw workflows.

  • Commercial-first evaluation rather than open-ended academic exploration
  • Defined feasibility pilots designed to produce practical go / no-go evidence
  • Focused capability in ice-binding proteins and protein–ice interactions
In-house protein production capability Recombinant production developed for functional ice-binding proteins.
Demonstrated scale-up experience Practical fermentation experience extending to 30 L production systems.
Computational pre-screening Cryo-Dock supports candidate selection before wet-lab work begins.
Defined commercial pilot model Structured 8–12 week engagements designed for early technical validation.
For organisations asking Can freeze-related losses be reduced in our specific cryopreservation system?
What we provide A defined feasibility pathway, not an open-ended research programme
What clients buy Evidence for a better technical and commercial decision
The Commercial Bottleneck

Ice formation constrains viability, recovery, and consistency.

In cryopreservation, post-thaw performance is frequently constrained by ice crystal damage and recrystallisation during freezing, storage, and thawing.

Even where protocols are well developed, freeze-related stress can still reduce viability, affect recovery, and introduce avoidable losses into high-value biological workflows including IVF, cell therapy, biologics and biobanking.

This often translates directly into yield loss, variability, and higher cost per viable unit.

The IBP Approach

Precision at the ice interface.

Instead of relying solely on bulk cryoprotectant optimisation, we aim to influence ice behaviour more directly.

Our work focuses on engineered ice-binding proteins that interact with the ice surface, with the goal of suppressing recrystallisation and improving the preservation environment for sensitive biological material.

Target the mechanism Address ice behaviour itself rather than only adjusting the surrounding formulation.
Prioritise meaningful use cases We focus where performance gains would have a real technical or commercial consequence.
Generate decision-grade evidence The objective is a clearer development decision, not indefinite experimentation.
Commercial Validation

Prove it in your system.

We offer tightly scoped feasibility pilots for organisations that want to evaluate whether ice-binding proteins can improve performance in a defined freeze–thaw workflow.

How the pilot works

Each pilot is structured to generate practical data under relevant conditions, without requiring a large upfront commitment or long-term platform lock-in.

1
Discovery and scoping

Define the exact failure point in your workflow, the biological material, and the performance measures that matter.

2
Digital pre-screening

Cryo-Dock modelling is used to support candidate prioritisation before laboratory work begins.

3
Wet-lab evaluation

Selected candidates are tested in the context of your biological system and relevant freeze–thaw conditions.

Indicative Engagement

8–12 Week Feasibility Pilot

£10k – £30k

Indicative range depending on system complexity, assay requirements, and testing scope.

Typical decision point: continue development, optimise formulation, or discontinue early.

Measured outcome data Evidence on post-thaw viability, recovery, stability, or a related endpoint.
Workflow compatibility assessment An initial view on how the approach could fit with your current preservation process.
Go / no-go recommendation A commercially useful next-step recommendation based on the observed data.
Request Pilot Details
Low-friction first step A defined pilot structure makes the initial commercial engagement easier to evaluate and approve internally.
Risk reduction before scale-up Pre-screening is intended to reduce wasted effort before more expensive development work begins.
Decision-oriented output The pilot is designed to support a clearer technical and commercial decision, not just produce interesting data.
Target Use Cases

Target use cases with clear performance constraints.

We prioritise workflows where preservation quality, post-thaw viability, and freeze-related losses have direct clinical or commercial consequences.

IVF and reproductive medicine

Evaluate whether targeted control of ice behaviour can support improved embryo survival, oocyte survival and post-thaw viability through demanding IVF cryopreservation workflows.

Outcome focus: higher post-thaw viability

Cell therapy and biologics

Assess potential improvements in preservation performance for sensitive cells, formulations, or advanced therapeutic products exposed to freezing and cold-chain stress.

Outcome focus: better recovery and stability

Biobanking and research preservation

Explore whether engineered ice-interface control can enhance long-term storage quality for critical research, diagnostic, or commercial biological samples.

Outcome focus: reduced preservation loss

Commercial fit matters

We are most relevant where freeze–thaw performance is already recognised as a real constraint on quality, recovery, consistency, or cost. Selected secondary applications in industrial icing may also be considered where there is clear technical fit.

Cryopreservation Focus Areas

Cryopreservation for IVF, cell therapy, biologics and biobanking.

IBP Ventures supports organisations working in cryopreservation across IVF, cell therapy, biologics and research preservation. Our feasibility pilots assess whether ice-binding proteins can reduce freeze damage, improve post-thaw survival, and improve recovery in demanding freeze–thaw workflows.

Risk Reduction

The Cryo-Dock Engine

We use computational pre-screening to help reduce experimental risk before wet-lab work begins.

Cryo-Dock supports the design and assessment of candidate ice-binding proteins by modelling likely protein–ice interaction behaviour under relevant conditions.

Cryo-Dock is not a general protein modelling tool — it is designed specifically to evaluate protein–ice interactions.

This pre-screening approach is intended to improve candidate selection, shorten development cycles, and increase confidence before pilot-stage testing.

Better candidate selection Prioritise which candidates merit laboratory attention.
Lower experimental waste Reduce avoidable screening effort where possible.
Stronger development logic Create a more coherent route from design to evaluation.
Why IBP Ventures

A focused company model, not a generic platform story.

Commercial-first evaluation

The work is focused on applied performance in defined client systems, with decisions driven by practical outcomes rather than publication outputs.

Focused ice-interface specialisation

IBP Ventures is focused specifically on the interaction between ice-binding proteins and freezing behaviour, rather than offering broad generic discovery or biofoundry services.

End-to-end development pathway

Candidate design logic, protein production experience, and application assessment are brought together in one practical commercial pathway.

Credible wedge into a difficult category

The business is structured around a clear entry point: solve a defined preservation problem in a real workflow, then expand from evidence rather than overclaiming platform reach too early.

Founder-led development informed by practical bioprocess and scale-up experience, including fermentation capability developed through work with CRO.

Why This Model Works

A credible route into a difficult category.

Many technically interesting biotech propositions struggle because they begin with a broad platform claim and no practical entry point.

IBP Ventures is positioned differently: start with a defined commercial problem, offer a contained validation route, and build from real client evidence.

What this signals

  • This is a focused specialist capability, not a science project looking for a use case.
  • The pilot model lowers adoption friction for first commercial engagement.
  • The proposition is easier for clinics, therapy developers, and partners to understand internally.
  • The company can build credibility through evidence rather than hype.
FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Are you selling a product already, or a development service?

At this stage, the primary commercial entry point is a defined feasibility pilot. The objective is to determine whether engineered ice-binding proteins can improve performance in a specific client workflow before any larger development commitment is made.

What makes this different from general cryoprotectant optimisation?

The focus is on influencing ice behaviour more directly at the interface, rather than relying only on bulk formulation changes. That does not replace broader cryopreservation optimisation, but it may offer a more targeted mechanism in suitable systems.

Is Cryo-Dock a general AI biology platform?

No. Cryo-Dock is positioned as a specialist computational engine for evaluating likely protein–ice interactions and supporting candidate pre-screening. Its value is in reducing development uncertainty within this specific technical domain.

Who is the right first customer?

The best early fit is an organisation already experiencing meaningful freeze–thaw constraints in a valuable workflow, and where improved preservation performance would have a clear technical, clinical, or commercial payoff.

Start the Conversation

Let’s map your workflow.

Tell us where viability loss, recovery issues, or freeze-related instability occur in your process.

We will provide an honest view on whether a feasibility pilot is likely to be a sensible next step.

We typically work with organisations actively running or developing freeze–thaw workflows.

Best suited for Clinics, therapy developers, preservation teams, and technical organisations with a defined freeze–thaw challenge
Typical first step A short discussion to assess technical fit, workflow relevance, and whether a pilot is commercially justified
Company IBP Ventures Ltd
Applied Protein Engineering for Cryobiology
Company No. 14605472
York, United Kingdom

We will review your message and respond on whether there appears to be a sensible technical fit for discussion.