Registration link https://forms.gle/xK4RvG9PAPavxoE98
> WEDNESDAY, MAY 27, 2026 9.00
WELCOME
Christian Corsi - Rector of the University of Teramo - Italy
Giorgio Vignola - Dean of the Department of Veterinary Medicine - University of Teramo - Italy
9.20 MEETING OPENING
Pasqualino Loi - Coordinator of the WhyNotDry Project
FIRST SESSION
Chair: Andras Dinnyes - BioTalentum Ltd. - Godollo - Hungary, Alessandra Buonacquisto - Sapienza University of Rome - Italy
9.30 Trehalose and the Molecular Basis of Reversible Cellular Drying
Elis Cristina Araujo Eleutherio - Federal University of Rio de Janeiro - Brazil
10.00 Chroococcidiopsis: how can it withstand extreme dehydration and radiation?
Daniela Billi - University of Roma Tor Vergata - Italy
10.30 Coffee Break
SECOND SESSION
Chair: Yuki Yoshida - National Agriculture and Food Research Organization (NARO) - Tsukuba - Japan, Francesca Boffa - University of Teramo - Italy
11.00 Mechanisms of vegetative desiccation tolerance in Angiosperms
Jill Farrant - University of Cape Town - South Africa
11.30 Dry-preserving animal cells and membrane proteins: lessons from anhydrobiotic PV11 cells
Takahiro Kikawada - NARO - Tsukuba - Japan
12.00 Applications of tardigrade disordered proteins to solve real world problems
Thomas C. Boothby - University of Wyoming - USA
12.30 Modelling of Xeroprotectants for Efficient Mammalian Cell Structural Preservation
Valentín Díez Cabanes - University of Burgos - Spain
13.00 Lunch
> THURSDAY, MAY 28, 2026
9.00 Introduction to the Session
Pasqualino Loi - University of Teramo - Italy
THIRD SESSION
Chair: Theerawat Tharasanit - Chulalongkorn University - Bangkok - Thailand,
Cesare Galli - Avantea srl - Cremona - Italy
9.10 Colonizing exoplanets with dry germplasm
Toshitaka Wakayama - University of Yamanashi - Japan
9.40 Preservation of bovine genetic resources through freeze-drying: Will dry preservation become practical in livestock production?
Arata Banno - Kochi University - Japan
10.10 Lessons Learned from Microwave-Assisted Dehydration of Gametes and Gonadal Tissues
Pierre Comizzoli - Smithsonian's Nat. Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute - USA
10.40 Coffee Break
FOURTH SESSION
Chair: Santiago Aparicio Martínez - Universidad de Burgos - Spain, Alberto Cincotti - University of Cagliari - Italy
11.10 Advances in ram sperm
Luca Palazzese - University of Teramo - Italy
11.40 Anhydrobiosis in invertebrates, from genomics to physiology
Yuki Yoshida - NARO - Tsukuba - Japan
12.10 LEA proteins and reversible drying in fibroblasts
Marta Czernik - University of Teramo - Italy
12.40 Will dry spermatozoa ever enter clinical application in human ART?
Francesco Lombardo - Sapienza University of Rome - Italy
13.00 Lunch
BRAINSTORMING SECTION
Moderators: Pasqualino Loi - Domenico Iuso - University of Teramo - Italy
14.00 Problem to be solved
Invited Speakers and All Partners of the WhyNotDry project
15.30 CLOSING REMARKS
Pasqualino Loi - Project Coordinator
CFU
- Medicina Veterinaria: 0.5 CFU
- Scienze delle Produzioni Animali Sostenibili: 1 CFU
- Biotechnology: 1 CFU
- Reproductive Biotechnology: 1 CFU
- PhD students: 1 CFU/day
PROJECT Why Not Dry WND
This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon Europe 2021-2027 research and innovation programme
Conference "Reversible drying in cells and germplasm Vegetal and animal biomimicry urgently needed"
