Frozen cells and empty cages: researchers struggle to revive stalled experiments after the lockdown

Frozen cells and empty cages: researchers struggle to revive stalled experiments after the lockdown

Frozen cells and empty cages

Coronavirus-related closures have forced researchers to make the painful decision to downsize Drosophila colonies, kill laboratory animals and freeze delicate stem-cell lines and patient-derived samples. Getting those experiments up and running again — while maintaining social distancing — will take time. And the knock-on effects on supplies and long-term projects are myriad. “I’ve been surprised at the number of things we take for granted in terms of lab maintenance,” says microbiologist Ami Bhatt. “It’s daunting to think of bringing all that back up.”
Nature | 10 min read