Cold Chain Global Forum is coming up

The International Quality & Productivity Center, organizers of the 14th annual Cold Chain GDP & Temperature Management Logistics Global Forum, expect over 850 attendees and 120 sponsors and exhibitors at this year’s meeting, to be held at the Hynes Convention Center in Boston, Sept. 26-30. Year by year, the program has expanded to incorporate more of the activity in temperature-controlled life sciences logistics; this year, timely topics on cloud technology, the Internet of Things, and cryogenics have dedicated sessions, among over 30 others, plus the usual International Focus Day at the end.

The preliminary schedule includes the following:

Sept 26: Pre-conference master classes on temperature-assured packaging, GDP training and clinical trial logistics

Sept. 27: Pre-conference workshops and site tours

Sept 28-29: Conference and exhibition

Sept. 30: International focus day

Two topics seem to have a greater prominence in this year’s schedule: cryogenics, which are important for live-tissue trials in cell culturing and regenerative medicine; and controlled room-temperature (CRT) technologies and services—which has been building since the adoption of GDP standards that recommend documented temperature control even for non-refrigerated products. But the traditional heart of the Forum—2-8°C storage and shipping—remains well-covered with topics ranging from active and passive shippers, phase-change materials, to logistics planning and qualification studies.

A keynote presentation is provided by John Rossman, author of The Amazon Way on IoT; the book will be available for purchase, with signed copies from Rossman.