Abstract: A carrier for supporting containers such as syringes or cartridges in a lyophilization chamber during lyophilization of substances contained therein, comprises a base assembly with an array of holes for receiving the containers. Each hole includes a heat-conductive metal portion for engagement with lower parts of the container held therein and a relatively non-conductive polymeric portion surrounding a portion of the container above the lower portion for enhancing the vertical growth of relatively large ice crystals. An upper part of the carrier supported above the base assembly includes a plunger-holding plate for frictionally holding elastomeric plungers and a pusher plate movable toward the plunger-holding plate and having protrusions for pushing the plungers out of the plunger-holding plate and into the containers before the containers are removed from the chamber.