A Non-Profit Organization

MarchJanu - Aprilary 20152018 • VoVolumelume 36:139:2

Member Profile: Nancy Fisher Page 14

International Cryomedicine Experts (ICE) Page 10

Local New York Alcor Group Builds Strong Regional Cryonics Capabilities Page 18

ISSN 1054-4305

$9.95 Improve Your Odds of a Good Cryopreservation You have your cryonics funding and contracts in place but have you considered other steps you can take to prevent problems down the road? ü Keep Alcor up-to-date about personal and medical changes. ü Update your Alcor paperwork to reflect your current wishes. ü Execute a cryonics-friendly Living Will and Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care. ü Wear your bracelet and talk to your friends and family about your desire to be cryopreserved. ü Ask your relatives to sign Affidavits stating that they will not interfere with your cryopreservation. ü Attend local cryonics meetings or start a local group yourself. ü Contribute to Alcor’s operations and research.

Contact Alcor (1-877-462-5267) and let us know how we can assist you. Visit the ALCOR FORUMS www.alcor.org/forums/ Discuss Alcor and cryonics topics with other members and Alcor officials. • The Alcor Foundation • Financial • Cell Repair Technologies • Rejuvenation • Cryobiology • Stabilization • Events and Meetings Other features include pseudonyms (pending verification of membership status) and a private forum. Visit the ALCOR BLOG www.alcor.org/blog/ Your source for news about: • Cryonics technology • Speaking events and meetings • Cryopreservation cases • Employment opportunities • Television programs about cryonics Alcor is on Facebook Connect with Alcor members and supporters on our official Facebook page: www.facebook.com/alcor.life.extension.foundation Become a fan and encourage interested friends, family members, and colleagues to support us too. A Non-Profit Organization COVER STORY: PAGE 14 Member Profile: lume 39:2 March - April 2018 • Vo Nancy Fisher Profi le: From Timbuktu to the Taj Mahal, Member explore the world with traveler, author, Nancy Fisher Page 14 creative consultant and cryonicist, Nancy Fisher.

International Cryomedicine Experts (ICE) Page 10 On the cover: Nancy Fisher stands triumphant Local New York Alcor Group on a skywalk in Krasnaya Polyana, the site of Builds Strong Regional s the 2014 Winter Olympics in Russia. Cryonics Capabilitie Page 18

ISSN 1054-4305

$9.95

10 International Cryomedicine Experts (ICE) Former Alcor employee Aaron Drake has launched a new standby company that aims to offer various levels of standby services to members of the major cryonics organizations, including Alcor. In this first article about ICE, Aaron explains why there is room for another standby organization and what their services will entail.

18 Local New York Alcor Group Builds Strong Regional Cryonics Capabilities New York City cryonicists are reviving their local group and response capabilities to make the city a new hub of cryonics activity.

www.alcor.org Cryonics / March-April 2018 3 Editorial Board CONTENTS Saul Kent Ralph C. Merkle, Ph.D. R. Michael Perry, Ph.D.

Editor 5 EDITORIAL Aschwin de Wolf What is Cryonics First Aid? Contributing Writers In cryonics the objective of first aid is to stabilize cryonics Aschwin de Wolf patients before a professional standby team can start Aaron Drake more advanced procedures. What does cryonics first aid Nancy Fisher entail, and what can be done to strengthen our first aid Max More, Ph.D. R. Michael Perry, Ph.D. infrastructure? Nicole Weinstock 6 CEO Update Copyright 2018 Max More outlines his goals for 2018, reports positive by Alcor Life Extension Foundation developments about the number of underfunded Alcor All rights reserved. members, and offers advice on how to protect pre-paid Reproduction, in whole or part, without Alcor arrangements against inflation. permission is prohibited. 22 Membership Statistics magazine is published bi-monthly. Cryonics How many members, associate members, and patients does Please note: If you change your address less Alcor have and where do they live? than a month before the magazine is mailed, it may be sent to your old address. 24 FOR THE RECORD Viability versus Inferability: Address correspondence to: A Plea to Consider an Option of Fixative-Stabilized Cryonics Magazine Cryopreservation 7895 East Acoma Drive, Suite 110 A case is made for implementing an elective cryonics Scottsdale, Arizona 85260 Phone: 480.905.1906 protocol that would incorporate chemical fixation along Toll free: 877.462.5267 with the usual cryoprotective perfusion. Such an option Fax: 480.922.9027 should be compatible with biological revival, for those uncomfortable with “uploading.” Among the possible Letters to the Editor welcome: advantages are reduction of deterioration during the [email protected] initial stages before the patient is cooled to cryogenic Advertising inquiries: temperatures (reduction of ischemic exposure), and 480.905.1906 x113 protection against future interruptions of cryogenic storage [email protected] due to social unrest or organizational failure. ISSN: 1054-4305 36 Revival Update Visit us on the web at www.alcor.org Mike Perry surveys the news and research to report on new Alcor News Blog developments that bring us closer to the revival of cryonics http://www.alcor.org/blog/ patients.

4 Cryonics / March-April 2018 www.alcor.org EDITORIAL

Photo: Cryo-Care Equipment Corporation at 2340 E. Washington St., Phoenix, AZ. Dr. Bedford’s “home” about 1970.

What is Cryonics First Aid? By Aschwin de Wolf

irst aid in medicine is defined as same: stabilize the condition of the patient. was not sufficiently recognized that there “the assistance given to any person What sets cryonics first aid apart from the would still be a large role to play for suffering a sudden illness or injury, comprehensive protocols of professional local cryonics groups in the provision Fwith care provided to preserve life, prevent standby organizations is the degree to which of cryonics procedures. It is only now the condition from worsening, or to this objective can be accomplished and the when we have come to appreciate the promote recovery.” Its aims can be summed equipment used. advantages of a “hybrid” standby model up as the three P’s: preserve life, prevent Cryonics first response entails three in which local team members provide first further harm, and promote recovery. With procedures: cooling, circulation, and aid, or interact with professional standby the exception of the aim of “promoting medications administration. One clear organizations, that there is a need to recovery” this framework is applicable to advantage that cryonics first aid responders clearly define the objectives, scope, and cryonics, too. have is that our most effective procedure, physical infrastructure associated with The rationale for allowing laypersons to cooling, is also the easiest to implement. cryonics first aid. provide basic medical procedures rests on What usually sets good cryonics first aid Some of the current questions about the recognition that the health condition apart from suboptimal cryonics first aid cryonics first aid that Alcor seeks to address of a person can rapidly change and/or is the efficiency of cooling achieved and include: What is the exact cryonics first professional responders may be unable get whether induction of hypothermia is aid protocol? Which items should be in a to the patient in a timely fashion. A major augmented by chest compressions and cryonics first aid kit? Should cryonics first difference between mainstream medicine medications administration. When cryonics aid kits be available to groups or also to and cryonics, however, is that in cryonics first aid is done competently response time individual members? What makes a local there often is no local professional response is fast, cooling rates are fast, circulation is group eligible for a full set of standby kits team that can deploy quickly to stabilize the restored, and a basic medications protocol instead of a first aid kit? What will cryonics patient. As a consequence, one would expect to prevent clotting, brain injury, and first aid training comprise? What is the to see more situations in which the initial, swelling is administered. difference between Alcor’s first aid protocol or even all, aspects of a cryonics case will The topic of cryonics first aid has not and Alcor’s abbreviated protocol designed need to be done by local volunteers—and received as much attention as other topics for professional standby teams in case of that is exactly what has been observed. This in cryonics. In the early days of cryonics it a delayed response? How do professional does not necessarily indicate a deficiency did not make sense to draw a distinction standby teams such as ICE and SA interact on the part of professional cryonics standby between cryonics first aid and advanced with local cryonics first aid responders? organizations. Cryonics is simply not big procedures because all procedures were Should first aid capabilities be enhanced enough to have professional response teams done by (trained) volunteers. And later, in areas with many members and an active in every state and major city. when professional cryonics standby local community?  The objective of professional cryonics organizations were formed, the topic standby teams and cryonics first aid are the also received little attention because it www.alcor.org Cryonics / March-April 2018 5 CEO Update By Max More

CEO Goals for 2018 and transport) staff and forming • Implement at least one additional When I first sat down to come up with agreements with multiple on-call cooldown system. a first draft of proposed core goals for specialists 3. Raise funds for operations (including 2018, I ended up with a list of 17. “When • Ensuring that the Watch List is more technical/scientifically-skilled everything is a priority, nothing is a maintained and refreshed regularly. priority.” Based on further reflection and staff, and perhaps a COO), research, input from the board and talking to staff, • Contracting with an additional SST and an endowment. I’ve narrowed down the core objectives to provider if feasible and appropriate to fill in gaps and expand options. • Develop a comprehensive Wish List 8 – with another 8 to 10 goals that I hate with feedback from directors, staff, to set aside but that will have to receive less • Stationing kits in areas with high and officials. attention (at least from me). Alcor-member density or where customs barriers could present an • Study the literature on fundraising issue. and make action point notes. We ended 2017 with 1143 • Rebuilding volunteer local teams • Develop a fundraising appeal, but with a more modest aim of basic to start with a brief summary of full members, a net gain of first-response capabilities. needs and wants and suggested 2.4%. For 2018, 6 to 8% distribution of contributions, 2. Organizational Capacity Building: followed by a detailed breakdown growth seems feasible. Build resilience and prepare for a of each for those who want more heavier case load and membership information. size. • Complete full draft of presentation. These goals are not set in stone since events may arise that drown out some of • Identify areas of knowledge and • Complete final presentation. them while pushing others to the front. skills possessed by long-term staff Meet with known members of A more detailed version of the goals was where we lack backup. considerable means, either in-person or by unanimously agreed to at the January 13, • Complete all SOPs for important phone/teleconference. 2018 Board of Directors meeting. Needless tasks and post them to the Alcor 4. Speed up production and publication to say, these are in addition to all the other internal Wiki. regular duties of the President/CEO. of case reports. • Implement a new IT system to replace the current membership • Review current status of multiple 1. Continue to build response capability cases reports. and options. system. This includes: • Convert QuickBooks Online and • As much as possible remove myself as a bottleneck in the editing and • Recruiting and training additional integrate with new membership system. approval process while still having a Alcor SST (standby, stabilization, check before drafts go to Cases.

6 Cryonics / March-April 2018 www.alcor.org • Catch up with post-2010 case 1. Increase frequency of newsletters, Update on Underfunding reports – at least getting them into blog posts and Facebook posts A few months ago I showed numbers the review stage on the Cases list. and improve engagement with demonstrating the massive improvement • Push to get reports for new cases membership. in the cryopreservation underfunding completed within 60 days of 2. Expand Associate Membership. problem. A couple of the highlights from my September board report: initiation of cooldown. 3. Improve research coordination and fund more research. • From the start of the Underfunding 5. Keep the budget in the black and Plan over five years ago, the number aim for a 2018-19 reduction in 4. Build member portal with Salesforce of underfunded members has gone membership dues. Communities or similar system. down from 581 to 247. • Decide on solution to cost of 5. Bring on board individuals with high • The total amount of under- Cryonics magazine either by securing levels of skill in medical diagnosis, minimum funding has gone down more funding or by cutting costs by surgery, perfusion, etc., and with a from $28,691,837 to $10,720,606. reducing frequency and/or going strong commitment to improving That’s a huge improvement. primarily electronic-only. cryopreservation procedures. • Depending on membership growth 6. Membership survey. Just in the last four months of the year, that improvement has clearly continued. and changes in income, plan for a 7. Alcor conference. proposal to reduce membership dues by around 5%. September 1, 2017 Number of 6. Website language improvements. From the start of the members 247 • Membership pages. underfunding Plan over underfunded Total under • Insurance FAQ. $10,720,606 five years ago, the number of minimum funding • New webpage/area: “Remembering, Reviving, Reintegrating.” underfunded members has Members at or gone down from 581 to 247. above minimum 903 • Procedures pages. funding Total amount over 7. Offer neuro Intermediate Temperature $33,837,527 Storage (ITS). minimum funding Membership Trends Balance +$23,116,921 • Determine availability and plausible Based on Diane Cremeens’ Membership production schedule. Report, in 2017 we approved a record • Confirm/update projected costs of number of new members: 113. 131 December 31, 2017 operation. applications were submitted. Membership Number of growth was restrained due to a painful 74 212 (reduction of • Secure Board approval and offer to members terminations. However, 9 members were 35 in 4 months) members. underfunded reinstated during the year – another record $9,278,712 – and Diane is working to reinstate 5 to Total under 8. Lifetime membership. (reduction of 9 terminated members. 2018 should look minimum funding $1,441,894) • Suggest a total and consider whether quite different. In the past year, we finally and how to give credit for past Members at or became firm with members who were not 931 (increase of 28 payments. above minimum only not paying dues, but were refusing in 4 months) funding • Settle on where to invest the funds to communicate with us – making it hard and in which vehicles. to help them. Most of these people have $39,838,172 now been cleared out. In addition, we are Total amount over (increase of • Settle policy of withdrawal rate for pushing hard to help people check on their minimum funding $5,146,645 in 4 Operations. funding (especially by life insurance) to months) • Offer to members. ensure it will be adequate going forward. $29,705,458 We ended 2017 with 1143 full members, Balance (improvement of Other goals that I have to set lower down a net gain of 2.4%. For 2018, 6 to 8% $6,001,384) on my priority list – but which I’m hoping growth seems feasible. others may pick up on:

www.alcor.org Cryonics / March-April 2018 7 If you are struggling to keep paying your insurance has been cancelled for After many talks with financial advisors, dues or underfunding dues, do not non-payment, it’s probably too late. For we are now putting pre-paid accounts forget that Alcor has a Hardship Fund. We goodness sake, don’t be embarrassed. Our into a variety of investments with strong are currently helping several members who resources are not endless, but we want to downside protection but with a high otherwise would be unable to maintain help you. But you have to communicate probability of growing the funds enough TURN BACK THE CLOCK their cryonics arrangements. As part of my with us. to at least keep pace with inflation, and fundraising campaign I will be soliciting probably to gradually grow those funds in charitable contributions to bolster the real terms. Hardship Fund. At the turn of the year, I If you are struggling to keep Another option for pre-payment that donated $1,000 of my own money, hoping may work well for some members is a this would spur others to join in. paying dues or underfunding single-premium insurance policy. This dues, do not forget that Alcor allows you to pay off an insurance policy with a single payment that guarantees a has a Hardship Fund.” payout larger than that amount. The policy The total amount of would need to be one that would keep pace under-minimum with projected future inflation. You might Pre-paid Accounts to Keep Pace consider this option if you are insurable funding has gone down with Inflation — and at a reasonable rate — and if you from $28,691,837 to Over the last few years, I’ve noticed are content with the projected returns and relatively little interest in pre-paying part costs of the policy.  $10,720,606. That’s a or all of cryopreservation minimums. huge improvement. Life insurance is an excellent way to get immediate coverage but can be expensive if you attempt to buy enough to cover LISTEN! If you are having financial costs after accounting for several decades difficulties – and especially if you are a of inflation. An alternative is to regularly long-term Alcor member – please contact add money to your pre-paid account. But us to discuss options. If you don’t tell if those accounts are sitting in the bank us about your struggles, we can’t help earning 0.02% you probably lack much you. If the first thing we know is that enthusiasm for the idea.

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Is there a need for more than one standby team?

By Aaron Drake (Senior Medical Response Consultant for Alcor and Chief Specialist at Yinfeng Bio)

any of us understand that competition in the marketplace can be a key driver of Mperformance in the areas of improved customer service, competitive pricing, and specialization. However, having more than one standby team can also provide the benefit of mutual aid, which is defined as the reciprocal exchange of services when demand outstrips resources. Mutual aid is vitally important in emergency medical services, such as ambulances and fire departments, and this concept can help address a growing concern with respect to cryonics standby availability. Fact: The world of cryonics is becoming significantly busier. Looking at the statistics of the two major cryonics companies, Alcor and the Cryonics Institute (CI), there has been a significant increase in the number of patients cryopreserved in the last 10 years. The total number of new patients from the past decade essentially equals the totals from the preceding four decades combined. The chart below highlights this fact, but (Source: Alcor and CI websites) keep in mind, the associated numbers only What are the chances of two or more of resources required to cover the needs of represent cryopreservations at Alcor and simultaneous patients needing services at its members. CI, and do not take into account newer the same time? To address this question, industry providers such as Russia’s KrioRus, I turned to R. Michael Perry, Ph.D., with Oregon Cryonics, China’s Yinfeng Bio or degrees in mathematics and computer any other recent startups around the world. science, and who works as Care Services While this growth is excellent for the Manager at Alcor. Over the years, he This formula calculates the expected cryonics industry, it can also present a has developed and continued to refine “wait time” Wc,t(n) for n or more challenge for any single cryonics member if a mathematical formula to predict the cryopreservation cases to occur over a their standby team is already committed probability of such an occurrence.1 Alcor baseline time interval t, given that there are to another patient. has used this model to determine the level c cases per unit time interval, and that cases

10 Cryonics / March-April 2018 www.alcor.org occur randomly. Here we take 1 year as the more commonly referred to as the ICE immediately transfer into the field of unit time interval, so that t is measured Team. This project is a partnership between cryonics stabilization and transport. It was relative to this unit. t itself, the baseline myself and long time friend and colleague, once claimed that a cryonics stabilization time interval, is just the total amount of Eric Vogt. As many of you know, I was is the same as a medical code plus ice. It time it takes to carry out a cryopreservation, the Medical Response Director at Alcor is fair to say that these team members from the initial deployment of the standby for many years before broadening my have participated in well over 1,000 team, through perfusion and stabilization, opportunities by becoming an independent medical codes during their careers and to the recovery period afterward, so that consultant to the cryonics industry. Eric, this experience will be extremely beneficial everything is in full readiness for the next a 21-year paramedic, has been managing when it comes to handling the myriad of case. Here we estimate that time as 1 scores of paramedics who have worked potential challenges that can occur during month (t = 1/12, in terms of the unit time in clinical, pre-hospital and triage a stabilization. + interval of 1 year). In the formula, Pc ,t(n) is environments for more than a decade. Currently, the credentials of the ICE the probability of having n or more cases We have both been EMS instructors and Team members include: four nationally and in time interval t, given c cases per year, have teamed up to work on many projects. state registered Paramedics (all of whom and is determined mathematically given Together, we provide a unique collaboration are instructors); two US Army Medics the assumptions we make (random cases, of experience and resources that can have with combat experience; one Registered known expected c). Empirical studies of an immediate impact on multiple areas of Nurse; and even our own private pilot. We actual cases at Alcor suggest there should need that are not currently being met by have also added retired Neurosurgeon Jose be, on average, seven cryopreservations existing services, as listed below. Kanshepolsky, MD, PhD, for additional for every 1,000 members in a given year. International response. Alcor and surgical support. Personally, I have directed This does not take into account last- CI have international members, who or been involved in approximately 70 minute sign-ups, which are occurring with are exposed to both 1) increased risks cryonics cases during my career, including increasing regularity for all cryonics service by not having sufficient standby and both human and pet cryopreservations. providers. Given the current member cryopreservation services, and 2) increased Dr. Kanshepolsky estimates that he has statistics provided by both Alcor and costs associated with international performed more than 50 cryonics surgeries. CI, there are now roughly 2,000 funded surcharges and additional travel expenses. Eric Vogt already has experience in two members, including those who might get in Unfortunately, many international standby cases for Alcor, and has instructed “under the wire” as last minute cases. If you members expect to receive a straight at multiple Alcor standby team training accept Dr. Perry’s estimates, including the freeze, at best. As the ICE company’s name events. last minute cases, then we can anticipate implies, the international market is an area Our plans are to provide a range of approximately 14 cryopreservations of specialty that was borne out of the many services: logistical support of patient per year, on average, across all US based years of international experience I gained transport; full service standby, stabilization cryonics service providers. The number of while providing services for Alcor’s clients. and transport services; more advanced patients cryopreserved over the past few Field cryopreservation. Remember procedures such as field cryopreservation; years supports this estimate. these two key words: time and distance. and custom services including private jet When you plug this data into Dr. Perry’s These are the two most important factors service and special handling. formula, the results suggest that about four that can limit, or eliminate, the possibility It is my hope that cryonics organizations times per year there will be standbys with of a quality cryopreservation. If there is and members alike will feel more reassured some type of overlap, or about once in insufficient time for a patient to get back knowing that the presence of two standby three months, given our assumed baseline to Alcor’s surgery suite for cryoprotective providers will assure a competitive, yet of 1 month. (This is the n=2 case, with perfusion, the only remaining option is friendly, atmosphere where increased t=1/12, and c=14.) Most of these will a straight freeze. This was essentially the emphasis will be placed on responsive involve only two overlapping cases, but it only option, with few rare exceptions, for customer service, quality assurance in the turns out that every nine months there international community members of US field, competitive pricing, a broader range will be instances of three or more cases based cryonics organizations. However, of services, increased geographical coverage that overlap in a one-month interval. continued development of portable and the ability for another provider to step (n=3, again with t=1/12, c=14). So we equipment and innovative design, has in and provide services in the event that the expect that at least several times per year, allowed Alcor to begin to implement field other team is already committed. one or another organization could have cryopreservation, a decidedly superior Additional information can be found at: a case where a single standby team that option to straight freezes. There are many www.cryomedics.org or by emailing: info@ tried to service everybody would already scenarios where field cryopreservation cryomedics.org.  be busy with another patient, or in the is being considered the best solution for recovery process. When you add to this domestic cases here in the US, when 1. See R. Michael Perry, “Expected an ever-increasing growth of membership, specific criteria exist. Multiple Cases per Time Interval” (7 the likelihood of standby conflicts increases Experienced emergency medical Mar. 2016), https://mega.nz/#!MBtmQ with each passing year. providers. The ICE Team will start with CDR!vZ9C4ReUJwpnMOFJt1x7II0Q It is with this premise that I decided to 90+ years of combined experience in 52edIL_QEy5wEZNHLMA, accessed start International Cryomedicine Experts, EMS and the military, whose skills will 27 Jan. 2018.

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embership growth has been slowly accelerating since bottoming out in 2013. But we would benefit from faster Mgrowth. Alcor is now at a point where we could enjoy considerable economies of scale: We could manage many more members with minimal or no increase in staffing costs. That would enable us toreduce membership dues while building up our resources. A modest acceleration in membership growth would move us into a virtuous circle where growth enables reductions in dues which further spurs membership growth. Growth will also make it easier to hire highly skilled people in medical and technical areas.

The most effective way to bring in new members has been through direct encouragement by existing members. Many of us realize this, but may not make it a priority to nudge our friends a little more to sign up and potentially save their lives. How can we spur more members to gently persuade those they care about to move ahead with making cryonics arrangements? Perhaps some financial incentive will help.

Anyone who is primarily responsible for getting a new member to sign up will, at their request, be given a one- year waiver of membership dues.

For an existing member to receive the dues waiver, they must (a) be credited by the person who has signed up; (b) ask for the waiver; (c) not be otherwise profiting from the signup; (d) wait until the new member has completed all essential cryopreservation paperwork and has paid at least six months of dues; and (e) the new member must not be a member of their family. If the member signs up two new members, they are eligible for a two-year waiver of dues. If the new member is a student, the existing member is eligible for a waiver of six months of dues.

Who do you know who could do with some encouragement to sign up? Please, give it some thought, then help yourself and help the organization by helping to stimulate membership growth. Bring in one new member per year, and you will never pay dues again!

www.alcor.org Cryonics / March-April 2018 13 Member Profile Nancy Fisher

By Nicole Weinstock

t’s no surprise that Nancy Fisher’s and raised in the metropolis of New York, Nancy’s creativity emerged at a young favorite book is The Hitchhiker’s Guide she grew up with a loving family that age as well. She participated in summer to the Galaxy. After all, if you’ve already supported the fruition of her full potential. stock—theatre staged during the summers Itravelled to more than 50% of the countries “My parents always expected me to by resident companies in exurban on Earth, you may eventually need some work hard, to have a good education and a locations—in her late teens, developing intergalactic destinations to keep that rewarding profession, and to do interesting, acting and production skills that later passport fresh. From the five “Stans” of worthwhile things with my life... there was would be useful in her careers in advertising Central Asia to the Dolomites of Italy, from no lowering of expectations because I was and television. She was also a natural when a music festival in Timbuktu to the Taj a girl.” it came to writing. “I don’t remember not Mahal to Pakistan’s Hunza Valley, Nancy’s While the school year was urban in writing. Making up poems or writing little wanderlust has led her to some of the most context, Nancy spent memorable summers stories or plays. I just sort of always wrote. remote villages, breathtaking landscapes, exploring the Catskills and Adirondacks of And I always read. I never studied writing; and architectural marvels of the world. rural New York with her father. “He was a I learned to write by reading.” “I tend to be one of those people who smart, gentle, truly good person who never Years later, Nancy is now a published walks into a place and says hi, and hands out lost his sense of the wonder of life or his author of Penguin USA, and still a food and drink. I can work a room pretty appreciation of nature. He took pleasure devoted reader. Her recent picks include easily.” Her social spirit and adventurous in simple things like beautiful sunsets, A Man Called Ove, Fredrik Backman’s nature are just a couple of the qualities that and finding wild blackberries by the side narrative of an old curmudgeon and the make her a welcome guest at dinner tables of the road.” He also inspired her to stay unexpected friendship he develops with on all continents. And as a cryonicist of healthy. “He believed it was important to new neighbors, Yes, Chef: A Memoir, by nearly 25 years, she hopes the future will respect your body, to be proactive about the award-winning chef and cookbook expand the diversity of her experiences. your physical well-being. And no smoking author, Marcus Samuelson, and Eastern “Who knows what changes the future of course, and alcohol only in moderation.” Approaches, Fitzroy Maclean’s classic 1949 will bring?” Nancy says. “But I’d like to These days, many of Nancy’s trips, including account of his exploits as a British diplomat think I’m up for them.” the one to Bhutan from which she recently in Moscow, his travels in Central Asia, and returned, are oriented towards hiking. “I his service with the newly minted OSS in Blackberries and books like getting into places that you can’t get to North Africa and Yugoslavia before and Though she’s not one to dwell on the any other way than on your own two feet.” during World War II. But nothing beats past, it’s clear that many of Nancy’s salient She’s also a devoted gym-goer. “I do most of Douglas Adams’s masterpiece and Nancy’s characteristics were formed in youth. Born my reading on the Stairmaster,” she admits. self-admitted bible, The Hitchhiker’s Guide

14 Cryonics / March-April 2018 www.alcor.org always been interested in science fiction, and you put the two together and you get medical thrillers.” Penguin USA published her first medical thriller, Vital Parts in 1993, followed by Side Effects (1995), Special Treatment (1996), Code Red (1997), and Code Blue (2000). When drafting her books, Nancy sometimes consulted with medical experts, including her brother, a surgeon in Minneapolis, about technical aspects of the story. “But the story is primary, the story always comes first. What you want is a basic reality check. But you always have to push the envelope.” She recalls talking to a surgeon who did facial reconstructions of people who’d been injured. “I explained that a part of the story I was working on—a very small part—was a face transplant. And he said, ‘Oh, no, that could never happen.’ And I included it in the book anyway, and it’s happening now.” Nancy hiked 2,700 feet in altitude to the most famous temple in Being a novelist was isolating work, Bhutan, known as Taktsang or “Tiger’s Nest” Monastery. and when an opportunity arose to return to the corporate world as director of communications for a mid-sized financial to the Galaxy. “I’m ready to go!” she says Eventually, she started her own creative services company, Nancy jumped on it. with enthusiasm. consultancy, which garnered the attention “The corporate job was great because, in of Campbell Soup Company. Campbell addition to interacting with lots of people, From advertising to invited her to pitch ideas for a national I got to create the department from scratch, television to medical cable television program they planned and to use all the various skills I’d acquired thrillers to sponsor. Soon thereafter emerged over the years. I had a great time.” After college, Nancy landed a job as a WomanWatch, her 48-half-hours TV series copywriter at a New York advertising featuring on-location action profiles of Another bite from the travel agency. She then added “producer” to her nearly 150 women engaged in record- bug title, and later became a creative director, breaking, boundary-pushing, and generally Nancy never forgot her love of travel, and moving to London and back to New York unique pursuits, including the first female when she got the chance, she went back along the way. general of NORAD (North American to exploring the world. “I’ve been to more Aerospace Defense Command, responsible than 100 countries so far,” she says, “and for identifying aerospace and maritime counting!” Over the next 10 months, she threats); a member of the first women’s plans to be in Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, ascent of Annapurna; an inner city school Malta, the Balkans, Peru, Bolivia, Namibia, superintendent; a Texas cattle rancher; Afghanistan, Oman, and Iran, with a trip and the first woman to walk in space. to see family in London tucked in for good Once WomanWatch was up and running, measure. Campbell asked Nancy to create a cooking Apart from feeding the wayfarer within, show for them, and Celebrity Chefs, her Nancy finds that travelling is a way of 48-half-hours TV cooking series, hosted by making connections with people and Robert Morley, was born. It featured a host cultures one wouldn’t otherwise have a of celebrities including Eartha Kitt, Helen chance to experience. “Being welcomed and Hayes, Regis Philbin, Lynn Redgrave, hugged by Muslim women when visiting Merv Griffin, Phylicia Rashad, and Tony holy sites in Uzbekistan… Dancing with Randall. Along the way, she also directed the locals late at night in a small social club and produced infomercials, and home and in Dagestan… Being treated with respect A friendly local enthused by Americans, corporate videos. and warmth in the mosh pit at a musical asked to take a picture with Nancy But Nancy found herself returning to a festival in the desert outside Timbuktu… during her stay in Khiva, an ancient long-time aspiration: writing a novel. “I’ve these are the things you remember,” she Silk Road oasis in Uzbekistan. always been interested in medicine and I’ve says.

www.alcor.org Cryonics / March-April 2018 15 understand that because we don’t get out of our comfort zones and go see it.”

The future and beyond Not everyone can muster the same equanimity in the face of the unexpected, the unknown, and the initially strange. But Nancy’s commitment to meandering in and out of the places and spaces of this world sans judgment—but with a lively sense of humor—has served her well...and undoubtedly prepared her for the great future beyond. That future, a subject that is near and dear to cryonicists, has the potential to take many forms. And so do the methods of getting there. In Nancy’s case, she is enthusiastic about the possibility of head Other tourists pose with Nancy in front of Registan (meaning “Place of Sand”) transplants, brain downloads, and robotics. in Central Asia’s most noble square, located in Samarkand, Uzbekistan She’s also excited about space travel. “I would love to take those “hitchhiker’s guide to the galaxy” trips—in my own body or a shipboard computer or as a robot. Any way you can get me there would be fine with me. Just sign me up!” She continues to be surprised when people say they don’t want to live forever, or don’t want to be “brought back” after death. Living forever has appealed to her since childhood. “It’s a no-brainer,” she says. “Why wouldn’t you, if you could?” And cryonics seemed like the way to go ever since she first read about it in Ed Regis’s 1991 book, Great Mambo Chicken and the Transhuman Experience. She immediately

In Baltistan, Nancy stands with members of Pakistan’s Anti Terrorist Squad (ATS). They were assigned to her tour group for their travels through Northern Pakistan in 2014

She tells the story of an incident during will take our photos home and show them a trip to Mali, when her guide took her to their friends and they will think we small group on a walk through an open-air are a dirty people. And we are not a dirty market in Bamako, the country’s capital. people!’” It actually brought tears to my Despite being explicitly told not to take eyes. It’s so human and so reasonable, but photos of the women vending their wares, it’s not what you would have thought they one person persisted, resulting in angry were saying if you hadn’t asked.” yelling, and a very hasty departure. Nancy adds, “Most Americans don’t “I said to the guide, ‘I’ve never felt that travel very much… And as a result, we have kind of hostility anywhere in this country. no idea how lucky we are. We turn on our Nancy poses in a hollowed-out tree What were they saying?’” ‘They said,’ he faucets and clean water comes out. Right supporting the roof of a remote explained, “‘The market is dirty and we there, we’re ahead of a huge percentage of beachside cafe in North Caucasus. have no water to wash with, but the tourists the world’s population, but we tend not to

16 Cryonics / March-April 2018 www.alcor.org Ever the adventurer, Nancy explores ruins in Merv, Turkmenistan, a major oasis city on the historical Silk Road.

presents an especially tough challenge for cryonicists,” she says. Among other things, the New York cryonics group is working on developing a local Alcor rapid response team provisioned with the proper standby equipment, as well as a network of supportive on-call funeral directors. Travelling through the mountains of the Republic of Dagestan, a region that is generally Perhaps it’s all the traveling she does, or considered a “no-go tourist zone,” but in which Nancy encountered great local hospitality. the many different “lives” she has already lived that make her so adaptable. “My contacted Alcor and became a member. relevant topics, concerns, and needs, and nominal home is New York,” she says, “As soon as I read about it, I knew it was to formulate action plans. She hopes the “but my actual home is inside me.” She something I wanted to do. I figured, ‘What future will see increased funding and continues, “I consider myself a centered the heck? If it doesn’t work, I’m no worse research, the development of improved person. Positive, enthusiastic, flexible... off than if I didn’t give it a shot.’ My brother response protocols, and more options for I remember once saying to somebody, I and my daughter sort of humor me when it preservation and resuscitation. She also feel like I have a loose soul. I could live comes to cryonics, but they’re supportive of plans to participate in efforts to create different lives, I could live in different whatever I want to do.” better infrastructure in her hometown. places, different bodies. I could come back Nancy is part of the New York cryonics “The timeframe for getting assistance again and again and be different people, do group recently created under the auspices to somebody who has just died is really different things. But I’d still carry with me of Alcor. They meet regularly to discuss short wherever you live, and New York the person I am inside.” Through cryonics, she just might get that chance. 

To read about some of the different lives and stories from Nancy’s imagination, visit www. nancy-fisher.com for a short synopsis of each of her medical thrillers. Want more? You can purchase any and all of them on Amazon.

In Sükhbaatar Square, the main square of Ulan Bator, Mongolia’s capital. Behind Penguin USA published five of Nancy’s Nancy is the Government Palace and a monument dedicated to Genghis Khan. medical thrillers, showcased above.

www.alcor.org Cryonics / March-April 2018 17 Local New York Alcor Group Builds Strong Regional Cryonics Capabilities

By Nancy Fisher

tandby kits, rapid response we can do today and how we might increase York can be lengthy depending on airline protocols, hands-on training, our capabilities in the future. schedules, weather situations, loading and information-sharing, mutual We are committed, motivated, and unloading of baggage containing standby S active. Our members include practicing and stabilization equipment, and the support… With Alcor’s blessing and Aschwin de Wolf’s invaluable advice, experimental scientists, entrepreneurs, basic fact that these companies are located the chief legal officer of a non-profit far from New York. When one realizes a dedicated group of New York City organization, and a marketing/ that even a few hours’ delay in starting cryonicists are creating a practical, communications expert, among others. basic stabilization protocols can make actionable local model that not only We invite you to join us. You don’t need the difference between an ideal and less- will benefit Alcor members living any specific skill set to become part of the than-ideal cryopreservation, it becomes in the tri-state area but could be New York regional group – just a desire to obvious that having a first response team applicable to other groups around support your fellow cryonicists by taking of volunteers “on the ground” in New York the country as well. a hands-on role in our efforts in whatever that can stabilize and care for a pronounced ways you can. patient until a remote team from SA or As readers of this magazine are aware, a ICE arrives is of critical importance. And lot of the early cryonics activity originated Why is a rapid response if the local rapid response team already in New York. So it’s fitting that the New capability in the New York area has on hand the full kit of equipment and York City regional group has become one so important? solutions that SA or ICE will need for of the most active in the country. In the case of death due to disease or natural their work when they get here, baggage We have created a forum of like-minded causes, the process is generally slow and the transportation issues are eliminated and individuals who can depend on each other teams at Suspended Animation (SA) and travel arrangements for the remote team when needed. Together, we learn, strategize, International Cryomedicine Experts (ICE), become faster and more efficient. and bond. located in California and Florida, and The regularly scheduled meetings focus Arizona, respectively, have time to get to the Building our group, building on four general areas: speakers, fellowship, patient before death occurs. But in the case our capabilities. information-sharing, and hands-on of a rapid decline or sudden death, the time Currently, the New York group will receive training and protocols with an eye to what it takes for them to reach a patient in New an abbreviated standby kit, later to be

18 Cryonics / March-April 2018 www.alcor.org followed by a full set of standby kits, and In addition, we are assembling a roster the transportation of the patient to has arranged for easy-access local storage of morticians who are either familiar with Scottsdale, where cryoprotective perfusion of them so that our members can quickly or friendly to cryonics, so that the patient is performed at Alcor. What we would retrieve and deploy them as required. can be transported from hospital or hospice like to see, and what we will be working to an appropriate location where the local toward, is the eventual creation of a team can continue to care for the patient field cryoprotection “satellite” facility in while awaiting the arrival of the remote the New York area that would have the When one realizes that even team from SA or ICE. capability to cryoprotect a whole-body Throughout these procedures, our local patient prior to transporting him or her to a few hours’ delay in starting team will be in contact with Alcor, as well Scottsdale. (Currently, cryoprotection prior basic stabilization protocols as other entities as necessary. to transport is only performed on neuro patients in international and select national can make the difference But this is just the cases.) By creating a satellite hub for Alcor between an ideal and less- beginning… members in New York, we will provide What if the SA or ICE team is delayed a valuable local resource for our fellow than-ideal cryopreservation, by weather for several days? What if the cryonicists while locally supporting Alcor’s it becomes obvious that patient’s specific situation requires a blood mission. Our ultimate goal is to create a washout or (neuro) “field cryoprotection” robust and professional infrastructure that having a first response before the remote team arrives? will be able to bridge the gap between the team of volunteers “on the With the local availability of the full quality of care that a patient can get in the set of kits, establishing contacts with local New York City area and the quality of care ground” in New York that medical professionals, plus further training, that patients currently receive in Scottsdale, can stabilize and care for a we anticipate increasing our capabilities so Arizona, where Alcor is located. that we can perform the blood washout Expanding our involvement and pronounced patient and cryoprotective perfusion procedures capabilities via this hybrid model is until a remote team from ourselves if directed to do so by Alcor in exciting, and we invite Alcor members in consultation with SA or ICE prior to their the New York tri-state area and beyond SA or ICE arrives is of arrival. to join our group. Interested in attending critical importance. a meeting? Want to get trained in rapid response protocols and work with us here Our ultimate goal is to create in New York? Know of a nurse, EMT, or other medical professional who might assist The “first response” kit contains a body a robust and professional us locally? Care to contribute to this work bag in which an ice water flurry can be infrastructure that will in other ways? Please contact us by emailing circulated to cool down the patient as soon Javier El-Hage ([email protected]). as he or she has been pronounced, a manual be able to bridge the gap We look forward to welcoming you!  chest compression device, and equipment between the quality of care for administering medications to prevent blood clotting and brain damage. Training that a patient can get in the is being undertaken so that, upon New York City area and being alerted by Alcor or the patient’s representative, members of the New York the quality of care that group can use this equipment to stabilize a patients currently receive patient until the remote team from SA or ICE arrives. in Scottsdale, Arizona, Alcor’s full set of kits includes a mechanical where Alcor is located. chest compressor (known informally as a “thumper”), a portable ice bath on wheels, and additional equipment that SA and ICE This will provide a much-needed safety may need for more advanced procedures net for New York cryonicists. But our such as field neuro cryoprotection. Again, vision goes beyond this. having this equipment readily available Currently, once a patient has been locally makes for more efficient and faster stabilized (cooled and blood washed deployment of the remote team. out), SA or ICE prepares and arranges

www.alcor.org Cryonics / March-April 2018 19 ORDER Preserving Minds, NOW! Saving Lives The Best Cryonics Writings of The Alcor Life Extension Foundation

“Cryonics magazine introduced me to Alcor and cryonics at its best back in 1983. The visions and technological breakthroughs that you will read about in this book continue to shape Alcor’s mission to preserve life through science.” – Max More, Ph.D. President and CEO of Alcor

ryonics is an experimental medical procedure that Cuses ultra-low temperatures to put critically ill people into a state of metabolic arrest to give them access to medical advances of the future. Since its inception in the early 1960s, the practice of cryonics has moved from a theoretical concept to an evidence-based practice that uses emergency medical procedures and modern vitrification technologies to eliminate ice formation.

Preserving Minds, Saving Lives offers an ambitious collection of articles about cryonics and the Alcor Life Extension Foundation. From its humble beginnings in 1972, and its first human cryonics patient in 1976, Alcor has grown to a professional organization with more than 1,000 members, more than 140 human patients, and more than 50 pets, all awaiting a chance to be restored to good health and continue their lives.

This book presents some of the best cryonics writings from Cryonics magazine from 1981 to 2012. There are clear expositions of the rationale behind cryonics, its scientific validation, and the evolution of Alcor procedures. Also covered are repair and resuscitation scenarios, philosophical issues associated with cryonics, and debates within the cryonics community itself.

Soft Cover Edition: $20 – Hard Cover Edition: $35 To order your copy, go to: www.alcor.org/book or call 1-877-GO ALCOR (462-5267) Table of Contents Foreword: Cryonics and Hope • Introduction

WHAT IS CRYONICS? Why We Are Cryonicists • Cryonics: Using Low Temperatures to Care for the Critically Ill • Medical Time Travel • The Bricks in the Wall HISTORY OF CRYONICS John Hunter, Cryonics Forerunner • The Society for the Recovery of Persons Apparently Dead • Riding the Jameson Satellite • The First Cryonicist • Robert Ettinger: Some Brief Historical and Personal Notes • Notes on the First Human Freezing • The Realities of Patient Storage • Suspension Failures: Lessons from the Early Years • Dear Dr. Bedford • Robert Nelson and the Bedford Freezing: A Comment • Cold War: The Conflict Between Cryonicists and Cryobiologists HISTORY OF ALCOR A Brief History of Alcor • Where did the name Alcor come from? • New Home, New Life: Alcor Moves to Arizona • The Alcor Patient Care Trust RESEARCH IN CRYONICS Evaluation of the Condition of Dr. James H. Bedford after 24 Years of Cryonic Suspension • A Brief History of Alcor Research • The 21st Century Medicine Seminar: Amazing Breakthroughs in Cryobiology and Resuscitation Systems for Intermediate Temperature Storage for Fracture Reduction and Avoidance ALCOR PROCEDURES AND TECHNOLOGIES How Cold is Cold Enough? • History of DMSO and Glycerol in Cryonics • Mathematical Analysis of Recirculating Perfusion Systems, with Application to Cryonic Suspension • Getting to 8M Glycerol and Other Perfusion Problems • How Cryoprotectants Work • Vitrification Arrives: New Technology Preserves Patients without Ice Damage • New Cryopreservation Technology • Cooling Down • Elements of a Transport • Cardiopulmonary Support in Cryonics: The Significance of Legal Death in Cryonics • Rapid Stabilization in Human Cryopreservation • Securing Viability of the Brain at Alcor • Case Reports in Cryonics RESCUSCITATION OF CRYONICS PATIENTS To Wake Refreshed • The Anabolocyte: A Biological Approach to Repairing Cryoinjury • Cell Repair Technology • Realistic Scenario for Nanotechnological Repair of the Frozen Human Brain • A Cryopreservation Revival Scenario Using MNT • Neural Archaeology • Cryonics, Cryptography, and Maximum Likelihood Estimation • Information Storage and Computational Aspects of Repair PERSPECTIVES ON CRYONICS A Message for Terminal Patients • The Death of Death in Cryonics • Why Suspension Members Need More Than Minimum Funding • Conservative Medicine • Binary Statutes, Analog World: Burke’s Paradox and the Law • Why a Religious Person Can Choose Cryonics • Cryonics and Emergency Medicine • Ethics of Non-ideal Cryonics Cases • Let’s Talk About Cryonics • How to Protect Your Cryonics Arrangements from Interference by Third Parties DEBATES WITHIN CRYONICS But What Will the Neighbors Think? A Discourse on the History and Rationale of Neurosuspension • The Neurocryopreservation Option: Head First Into the Future • The Case for Whole Body Cryopreservation • Responsibility, Probability, and Durability • The “I” Word • The Road Less Traveled: Alternatives to Cryonics • The Myth of the Golden Scalpel • Has Cryonics Taken the Wrong Path?

Afterword • Biographies of Contributors

“Society’s failure to take cryonics seriously is a tragedy “Alcor appears to be the leading organization that is probably costing countless lives. Alcor, notably in the application of cryonics in medicine. via its magazine, is leading the fight to change that.” I’m proud to be a part of this effort.” – Aubrey de Grey, Ph.D. – Michael D. West, Ph.D. Biomedical Gerontologist and Chief Science Officer Stem Cell Scientist and Chief Executive of the SENS Research Foundation Officer of BioTime, Inc.

www.alcor.org Cryonics / March-April 2018 21

1020

Number of Alcor patients Alcor of Number

TOTAL 150 13

United Kingdom United 32 3

International Members &Patients

Thailand 5 1

Taiwan 1 0

Spain 5 1

Singapore 1 0

Portugal 5 0

Norway 1 0

Netherlands 1 0

Monaco 1 0

Mexico 4 0

Luxembourg 1 0

Japan

5 0 Number of Alcor members Alcor of Number

Italy 3 0

Israel Israel 1 1

Hong Kong Hong 2 0

Germany 14 0

France 0 1

China 0 1

Canada 54 2

Brazil 1 0

Australia Australia 13 3

Country

Patients Members

1598 Total 1598 1589 1671 1680 1660 1645 1654 1639 1650 1634 1618

301 305 300 368 377 370 358 360 357 372 362 354 Associate

154 154 153 152 152 152 152 151 150 150 150 149 Patients

1143 1139 1136 1151 1151 1138 1135 1143 1132 1128 1122 1115 Members

DEC NOV OCT SEP AUG UL J UN J MAY APR MAR FEB AN J 2017 Membership Statistics Membership Reduce Your Alcor Dues With The CMS Waiver

Alcor members pay general dues to cover Alcor’s neurocryopreservation members under this election would operating expenses and also make annual contributions to be $110,000). Once this election is made, the member the Comprehensive Member Standby fund pool to cover the cannot change back to the original minimums in the future. costs of readiness and standby. Benefits of Comprehensive To have the CMS fee waived, these are the minimums: Member Standby include no out-of-pocket expense for standby services at the time of need, and up to $10,000 for • $220,000 Whole Body Cryopreservation relocation assistance to the Scottsdale, Arizona area. ($115,000 to the Patient Care Trust, $60,000 for Instead of paying $180 per year in CMS dues, Alcor also cryopreservation, $45,000 to the CMS Fund). provides members the option to cover all CMS-associated • $100,000 Neurocryopreservation ($25,000 to the costs through life insurance or pre-payment. Members who Patient Care Trust, $30,000 for cryopreservation, provide an additional $20,000 in minimum funding will no $45,000 to the CMS Fund). longer have to pay the $180 CMS (Comprehensive Member Standby fund) fee. This increase in minimums is permanent If you have adequate funding and would like to take (for example, if in the future Alcor were to raise the cost of advantage of the CMS waiver, contact Diane Cremeens at a neurocryopreservation to $90,000, the new minimum for [email protected].

Become An Alcor Associate Member! Supporters of Alcor who are not yet ready to make cryopreservation arrangements can become an Associate Member for $5/month (or $15/quarter or $60 annually). Associate Members are members of the Alcor Life Extension Foundation who have not made cryonics arrangements but financially support the organization. Associate Members will receive:

• Cryonics magazine by mail • Discounts on Alcor conferences • Access to post in the Alcor Member Forums • A dollar-for-dollar credit toward full membership sign-up fees for any dues paid for Associate Membership

To become an Associate Member send a check or money order ($5/month or $15/quarter or $60 annually) to Alcor Life Extension Foundation, 7895 E. Acoma Dr., Suite 110, Scottsdale, Arizona 85260, or call Marji Klima at (480) 905-1906 ext. 101 with your credit card information. Or you can pay online via PayPal using the following link: http://www.alcor.org/BecomeMember/associate.html (quarterly option is not available this way). Associate Members can improve their chances of being cryo- preserved in an emergency if they complete and provide us with a Declaration of Intent to be Cryopreserved (http://www.alcor.org/Library/ html/declarationofintent.html). Financial provisions would still have to be made by you or someone acting for you, but the combination of Associate Membership and Declaration of Intent meets the informed consent requirement and makes it much more likely that we could move ahead in a critical situation.

www.alcor.org Cryonics / March-April 2018 23 FOR THE RECORD

Viability versus Inferability: A Plea to Consider an Option of Fixative-Stabilized Cryopreservation By R. Michael Perry

Introduction: A New and have had the opposite effect of enhancing best hope, some would argue, for any sort Promising Technique it.2 of future life for a patient preserved by Misunderstood and For the record, at the conference and FSC and forfeiting viability. And, while Marginalized elsewhere McIntyre cautioned against the some are comfortable with or even highly At Alcor’s conference in October 2015 an idea that ASC, despite its apparent great supportive of the notion of uploading, exciting new method of brain preservation promise, should immediately be put to use it is philosophically disturbing to others. was presented by Robert McIntyre of by cryonics organizations. Further research A commonly voiced objection is that an Twenty-First Century Medicine (21CM).1 and maybe development was called for, in emulation of a person in a computer, The method that McIntyre and his team his view, one difficulty being whether the supposing it could be done, would at best developed, called aldehyde-stabilized method preserves memories in the brain, be a copy and not the original person. Many cryopreservation or ASC, differs from an issue that is complicated by present also question whether such an emulation conventional cryonics practice in that a uncertainties about how memories are will ever be possible at all, even if revival chemical fixative is introduced as part of the stored.3 The judgment of the BPF regarding from well-preserved remains is achieved.5 cryoprotective protocol prior to cooling the the preservation quality of conventionally specimen down to cryogenic temperature. cryoprotected tissue is also not the last In this way any decomposition is quickly word (more later). halted, but the price paid is that cell The sacrifice of cell viability, however, viability is sacrificed—there is no presently has led to the conclusion, which I believe known way to restore the tissue or even is unwarranted, that ASC, or a similar individual cells within it, to their usual procedure using fixative and sacrificing biological functioning. On the other hand, viability, would be questionable as a examination of brain tissue thus preserved cryopreservation protocol for that very shows excellent ultrastructural preservation reason.4 We are assuming here that the that closely matches noncryopreserved eventual goal is the biological revival of a controls. The results looked good enough cryonics patient preserved by the method that in 2016 the 21CM team won the in question. Instead it is suggested that, if a Small Mammal Prize awarded by the fixative-stabilized cryopreservation or FSC Brain Preservation Foundation (BPF) for were used to preserve a human patient, an their preservation of the ultrastructure in alternative method of revival would have a whole rabbit brain. Indeed, according to to be used in which the original remains the BPF, a decidedly superior preservation are never restored to a functioning state. was obtained, by appearances, than for Instead information obtained from the more conventionally cryoprotected and remains, enough to provide a complete preserved tissue that did not have any characterization of the patient’s personality, Robert McIntyre presents the ASC fixative. Sacrificing viability did not cause is “uploaded” or input to an advanced technique at Alcor’s 2015 conference. any known sacrifice of inferability of computer of the future, and the patient is identity-critical structure but may even emulated in a revived form there. It is the

24 Cryonics / March-April 2018 www.alcor.org Here I will not be concerned with the the misgivings expressed by McIntyre. To date no human or other large merits or demerits of the uploading idea. But I will argue that further research with organism has been restored to functioning Instead I will focus on the issue of chemical ASC and related FSC should continue at from a cryopreserved state, though fixation as a possible impediment to a significant level, so that hopefully soon a individual cells, small tissue samples, restoring a cryonics patient biologically to a suitable FSC will be validated for immediate small multicellular organisms such as C. functioning state, essentially keeping their use in cryonics, for those desiring it. Such elegans, and organs of larger animals have original body intact (or allowing expected research could have other benefits. On one been.8 Arguments that patients who are replacement of missing parts in cases where hand, an FSC-like protocol that omits the already in cryostasis (cryogenic biostasis) full body preservation did not occur). I think fixation might still achieve the superior will be restorable in the future depend on that there are good reasons to be confident preservation seen in ASC and honored by anticipating future technology that is more that fixation would not be an impediment the BPF (though it would forfeit reduction advanced than anything available today. to biological revival. At minimum, we don’t of ischemic exposure and robustness against In the optimistic scenario that is generally have any solid evidence that there would thawing). On the other, it is possible that imagined, it should become possible to be such an impediment, while at the same a reversible fixation could be developed manipulate matter at a very fine scale and time also no guarantee that revival from the so that tissue viability is conserved after also at a low, cryogenic temperature, so usual no-fixation cryopreservation or NFC all, retaining the usual, expected benefits that any damaged tissue could be repaired is possible. FSC can then be compared on of fixing, a “best of both possible worlds.” and the whole conditioned for a successful a more or less equal footing with NFC. At present one hears little of research rewarming and return to a functioning When so compared, I think that FSC offers in ASC or other related protocols; this state. The successes of nanotechnology possible advantages ranging from more marginalization needs to change. to date, albeit limited, and the apparent rapid stopping of deterioration after arrest promise of research in fields ranging from (effectively reducing ischemic exposure) to molecular biology to artificial intelligence, just the apparently better preservation so I think that there are good lend confidence that the necessary progress far observed in the case of ASC. There is will occur and the desired restoration will also the prospect of extra protection against reasons to be confident be possible. However, it seems likely that the possibility, in what may be a long that fixation would not technology considerably advanced beyond time interval before revival is achieved, present levels will be needed even for the of interruption of cryogenic storage or be an impediment to best preserved cases today or likely anytime imperfect storage. While we may hope biological revival. soon. that revival will happen fairly quickly, with There is also a hope that future patients stored up to that time undisturbed, cryopreservation methods will be gentle such an outcome is not guaranteed. Instead Cryopreservation with Cell enough that a cryopreserved human or a long time, even centuries, could be Viability specimen can be restored to functioning required, in a future that might have social Cryonics has an ambitious goal: to place the without having to rely on advanced future unrest or severe funding problems leading recently clinically dead patient “on hold” repair technology. For this reason much to failure of one’s cryonics organization or metabolically so that deteriorative processes research has focused on improving existing its successors. As demonstrated with ASC, are arrested, and keep them in that state protocols for cryopreservation. The goal is FSC tissue should not deteriorate quickly until future medicine or other technology to develop a protocol that fully conserves on thawing like its NFC counterpart can restore them to healthy consciousness. viability: the cryopreserved specimen or but could remain stable for extended Cryonics patients then are in a state of organism must still be demonstrably alive. periods of days or more at above-freezing biostatic preservation or biostasis, where Existing procedures should be applicable temperatures.6 Finally, there is the issue of biological processes including decay are to restore a level of activity that would whether FSC might offer cost advantages held in check, awaiting future methods be considered “living” by current criteria. over NFC, depending on circumstances. that will recover them unimpaired and This would constitute a demonstration In the case of ASC, the most successful viable. Traditionally the favored method in of reversible, suspended animation. Such example to date of FSC, though lead cryonics of inducing biostasis has involved a demonstration would not necessarily researcher McIntyre cautioned against replacement of the blood and other body restore the organism to perfect functioning, immediate use in cryonics protocols, the fluids with a cryoprotective solution, but would lend confidence that an BPF still awarded the prize, against the then cooling the patient to a cryogenic unproblematic restoration should be best results of cryopreservation without temperature, the temperature of liquid possible with future refinements of the fixation (and against other promising- nitrogen (-196°C) or possibly a warmer, basic technique. looking work with plastination-fixation).7 still cryogenic temperature, around -140°C, A demonstration of reversible, suspended If a choice were to be made for a cryonics for indefinite storage. (The warmer, animation, even if imperfect, could have preservation between the best current FSC “intermediate storage” temperature can be revolutionary impact in society at large. method (ASC) and the best available NFC, used to greatly reduce or eliminate tissue Today many undergo clinical death under which should it be? I will not make a case cracking which otherwise would have to conditions that would permit at least brief here that ASC should be chosen (while not be repaired before the patient could be resuscitation—it is not done because it denying it either)—to that extent I respect restored.) is agreed that probably more harm than

www.alcor.org Cryonics / March-April 2018 25 good would result. The patient would present-day criterion, allowing restoration remains of what ought to be there. Second soon arrest again and, if further attempts by simple rewarming, or, at any rate, would be refurbishing the remains at low at resuscitation were made, quickly reach passing some other metabolic or other test temperature to produce a restored, intact a point of no return while also risking now considered validating. Instead (at least, body including the brain, which also is additional suffering with little in the way of I think, most in the cryonics community in a suitable condition for rewarming. quality life. But with a provably reversible would agree), what is necessary is that it This would involve reversing any effects biostasis procedure the patient could be put be possible in the future to infer what the of the cryopreservation process such as on indefinite hold, to await the powers of healthy state of the patient was from the tissue fixation or a problematic presence future medicine with confidence. Clinical remains that were preserved. We must be of cryoprotective agents, eliminating death by today’s often-used criteria would able to tell what ought to be there from any diseases and ravages of aging, and no longer be “death” and many things, what still is there. Particularly this is true restoring missing parts in cases such as legal, social, and political, would be forced when it comes to information in the brain neuropreservation. (Of course, doing to change. Cryonics should be seen in a that encodes memories and other elements these things might seem impossible even much more favorable light, with widespread that the patient might consider important in principle to many today, but is not acceptance by the mainstream, and many in defining who they are. This is a necessary precluded by physics or chemistry as far lives saved that would have been lost. criterion and the generally accepted view in as we know.) Last would be the rewarming cryonics (with some exceptions) is that it itself, after which the patient could awaken ought to be sufficient as well, given the future to a new life. There might be many prospects of nanotechnology and other variations of the three basic steps that That inferability rather anticipated advances. (As for exceptions: would be found especially suitable, or some than viability is the an objection will be raised, in the minds other approach entirely. of some, in a case where there is enough An alternative approach to revival of important criterion information to adequately approximate the the patient is the uploading scenario we for effective biostatic original but little or nothing in the way of considered above, which, we noted, is not actual physical remains is still preserved, the focus here. In any case, a preservative preservation is implied by or what does remain is so badly damaged protocol that aims at inferability only is the information-theoretic that very extensive restructuring would be not necessarily pointed toward uploading necessary. The reconstructed individual (nor must one that tries for viability be criterion of death that may be similar to the original but, at best, geared against it). Once we accept this, we is generally accepted in “just a copy.” This might especially occur also have to confess our ignorance. There in a case where only a cell sample was are important things we don’t really know cryonics.” preserved, accompanied by a very extensive at this stage about current or possible “mindfile” that well characterized the protocols, whatever our focus. This state original personality, supposing of course of ignorance, though, is not in itself a Clearly pursuit of viability in cryonics that such an adequate characterization is reason to discourage work on one or the protocols is a worthwhile research goal, possible. Here, however, we shall assume other approach, that is to say, to try for and one can hope it will be pursued with that enough of the physical remains survive optimum viability on one hand, or, on the vigor and dedication, as indeed it has been in reasonably good shape—which might other, better inferability independently of up to now, and that efforts will be crowned include good fixation of the tissue—that viability. Both instead are research areas with success in the not-too-distant future. absence of the original material does not that ought to be pursued. Partial viability has already been achieved, become an issue.) as we noted, with individual cells, small That inferability rather than viability Aldehyde-Stabilized tissue samples, organs, and organisms. That is the important criterion for effective Cryopreservation (ASC) said, I am going to argue in the rest of this biostatic preservation is implied by the ASC is a technique developed in 2015 by article that emphasis on viability is not the information-theoretic criterion of death Robert MacIntyre, in collaboration with only approach to biostatic preservation that that is generally accepted in cryonics. A Greg Fahy, both of 21st Century Medicine. ought to be seriously pursued right now. patient who has arrested isn’t really dead, Later McIntyre founded his own company, There is another criterion besides viability so long as there is enough identity-critical Nectome, to further his work with ASC that is also important in cryonics, arguably structure remaining in the brain and/ or more general FSC. Quoting from his even much more important than viability: or elsewhere to infer what the healthy, “Introduction to Aldehyde-Stabilized what I will call inferability. conscious functioning of that person would Cryopreservation”: be. Advanced repair technology of the “ASC consists of multiple steps Aiming for Inferability Rather future could then be brought to bear to which lock the brain’s molecules Than Viability make the necessary inferences and restore into place and prevent them from We want to get the patient back, restored the patient to healthy functioning. decaying over time. First, ASC to a functioning, healthy state. To The restoration of the patient overall uses glutaraldehyde to almost accomplish this it is not necessary that their might involve three distinct stages. First instantly stabilize the brain against cryopreserved tissues be “viable” by some would be inference from the preserved natural decay processes. By itself,

26 Cryonics / March-April 2018 www.alcor.org glutaraldehyde is able to stop decay fixative approaches, as indeed has occurred the goal of cryonics is to place the dying for at least several weeks, but we up to now (ASC being an exception).11 patient’s metabolism “on hold” so that need more powerful stabilization That viability mightnot be an infallible they can journey to the future and be to resist decay for centuries. In predictor, though, follows by considering rescued by more advanced methods than the second step, we use ethylene a typical cryoprotection protocol in which we have today. In effect, you are keeping glycol to make it impossible for several hours can elapse while the patient them alive—if metabolically inactive— dangerous ice crystals to form is at above-freezing temperature. Many or for eventual rescue. It was natural then in the brain no matter how cold most cells might still be viable after this that when cryonics was starting up in the it becomes. Then the brain can treatment but that is not a guarantee that 1960s, Robert Ettinger and other pioneers be safely cooled to -135°C (a no serious damage occurred. Depending would focus on cryopreservation rather temperature colder than anything on the damage (ischemic damage), the than fixation. Some evidence existed which naturally occurs on Earth!) patient could come back, say, with major that lent support to the idea that indeed for long term storage. At -135°C, amnesia. Though the cells remained cryopreservation could keep the patient the molecules in the brain stop largely viable, many of us would say that alive. Rats and hamsters had been partly moving, forming a solid, “glassy” “we” didn’t survive, but only someone frozen and revived, and fully cryopreserved structure in a process called potentially similar who more or less has cell samples had been restored to vitrification. Vitrification stops to start all over in life, like an infant twin. functioning by simple rewarming.13 all decay processes and allows the (There might be possible fixes with mindfile More was coming. In 1965 Isamu Suda brain to be stored for centuries information and the like, stored outside the and colleagues at Kobe University in Japan with no degradation.”9 brain, but we want to avoid having to resort announced results excitedly reported Aldehyde fixation (typically using to such if possible.) An early intervention in Freeze-Wait-Reanimate (FWR), the formaldehyde or glutaraldehyde), and with fixative might substantially reduce newsletter of Evan Cooper’s pioneering, chemical fixation more generally, are used this ischemic insult, greatly improving cryonics-promoting Life Extension in laboratory work to preserve tissue or inferability but at the expense of viability. Society (LES). In the Suda experiments cell samples indefinitely for study. Decay Yet in a reasonable sense the patient will anesthetized cat brains which had been processes are halted but the tissue is no survive with this scenario, sacrificing cryoprotected with a glycerol solution, longer viable by current criteria, not viability but conserving inferability, while then chilled to -20°C and stored for over even at the level of individual cells. “One with the alternative of conserving viability six months, showed recognizable brain reason [for fixation] is to kill the tissue but the unavoidable sacrifice of inferability, waves on rewarming. A summary of the so that postmortem decay (autolysis and they would not. This is an important point work appeared in the major science journal putrefaction) is prevented.”10 A good to ponder. It does not necessarily follow Nature the following year, and there would fixation, however, will preserve the fine that conserving viability is the best course be follow-up studies several years later details of cell structure so that, arguably, to follow in biostatic preservation where in which recovery of some level of brain it should be possible to infer the necessary revival of the patient is a goal. activity was reported after as much as seven structural details in fixed brain tissue to Perhaps this is not a significant issue years of subfreezing storage.14 determine what identity-critical details when cryoprotection is performed under were originally present. With future good conditions. Many cryopreservations methods, then, restoration of the tissue to are done under much less than ideal its original function could occur as outlined circumstances, however, and fixation has above. The inferability criterion will have sometimes been used as a preliminary, as been met though not the viability criterion. with a “salvage job” in which some sizable Both viability and inferability are not interval of time elapses before the brain binary, on-off properties but will inevitably of the patient can be cryopreserved.12 The occur in “shades of gray.” Of course, one question could also be raised whether great unknown is how well such a method some fixation as a curb on ischemic injury as ASC would actually meet the inferability would be advisable even under the best criterion, yet the same question can be raised of circumstances. What about reversible concerning an NFC alternative. Thus for fixation—is there any possibility of this, instance, we cannot assume, unequivocally, and how would it compare with methods that “viability must imply inferability.” that are presently irreversible? Research Dr. Suda’s work is noted in cryonics Viability is much easier to test for and assess could shed some much-needed light on publication from 1970. than inferability. (An attempt nevertheless these issues. to accomplish the latter is BPF’s definition and assessment of the “connectome” in the Historical Perspectives: The Suda results started to appear just preserved brain—more below.) If we could Cryonics and Biopreservation before there were any cryonics patients, depend on viability as a sure-fire predictor in the Past and there was much initial jubilation. of inferability, then research might rightly Fixation kills—says conventional wisdom The demonstration of viability signaled place almost exclusive emphasis on non- (see quote above). On the other hand, to many in the fledgling movement that

www.alcor.org Cryonics / March-April 2018 27 Brain ultrastructure illustrating different preservation methods. Left: rabbit brain synaptic cleft, vesicles and other structures preserved by vitrification (cryopreservation with cryoprotectant but no fixative). Right: mouse brain with similar structures preserved by room temperature chemical fixation. (Source: from material used in MP3 below; left is from 21st Century Medicine, right from Narayanan Kasthuri and Ken Hayworth, both 2007; further details in MP3).

this approach was the right one. Cryonics important milestone in making the case for It should also be remarked that, while a meanwhile garnered some scientific critics, the credibility of cryonics. Cryopreserved chemopreserved brain “can be embedded in and there were exchanges between the two patients, Drexler argued, might be restored a plastic” such a plastination technique, that groups, particularly in the pages of FWR. to functioning through tiny devices would reliably capture ultrastructural details The idea was broached by one of the critics, operating at the atomic and molecular throughout the brain and be suitable for the cryobiologist Armand Karow, Jr., of using scale (nanotechnology). But not just the sort of procedure sketched above, has yet to fixation or “pickling” as an alternative to cryopreserved. Chemical preservation also be perfected. Shawn Mikula’s progress with cryopreservation. This was vetoed in light offered basically similar possibilities since it mouse brains notwithstanding (see below), of the Suda results.15 “Fixation killeth, too preserved the fine-scale structure that much more will be needed if humans are but cryopreservation giveth life,”16 was molecular machines could manipulate and to benefit. Some additional advantages of the lesson of the day. But was this the best maybe, finally restore functioning.20 chemopreservation noted by Olson relate judgment all around? Fixation already was Shortly afterward, in 1988, Charles to cost and convenience: in wide laboratory use, where it proved Olson made the case for chemical brain “First of all, it is far less expensive: adequate in capturing structure down to preservation as “a possible cure for death,” whereas cryopreservation requires the finest levels microscopically observable in a paper that appeared in the journal long-term liquid nitrogen storage, (including with the electron microscope),17 Medical Hypotheses.21 Some possible chemopreservation is a one-time and was inexpensive. advantages of the chemical alternative are expense. A chemopreserved brain, Cryonics by comparison was noted: embedded in a block of plastic, expensive and uncertain. Ev Cooper’s “The molecules in a is inherently resistant to damage, own organization, LES, never did any chemopreserved brain have been and it can be easily stored nearly cryopreservations despite his heroic extensively crosslinked and can be anywhere with additional forms efforts to create a laboratory and storage embedded in a plastic which was of protection if desired. In center. Discouraged, Cooper instead left designed for electron microscopy. contrast, a cryopreserved brain the movement and eventually was lost Consequently they will be is at risk of thawing, and any at sea.18 Other early organizations which resistant to the heat and damage additional protection must be did do cryopreservations eventually failed generated by whatever beam of done in conjunction with the with loss of nearly all their patients. (Of particles (or other investigative liquid nitrogen storage. Finally, approximately 17 patients who were device) is used to determine the a form of chemopreservation of cryopreserved prior to 1974, only James details of the internal structure. the brains of the recently deceased Bedford remains preserved today, now at In contrast, a frozen brain is not (i.e., funereal embalming) is Alcor.) Later cryonics organizations were particularly prepared to resist already highly developed and less charitable and more demanding of damage, and is acutely sensitive to widely practiced today, albeit up-front payments before launching a any heat generated. This problem for quite a different purpose. cryopreservation and have fared better, of information extraction applies Indeed, the cost of brain with most of their patients still preserved. to any proposed repair of the chemopreservation could be less But the price paid was that relatively few cryopreserved brain as well— than that of a typical funeral. For have been preserved, surely in no small part repairs can be made only after the these reasons, chemopreservation because of the cost.19 relevant details of the structure are may succeed in the marketplace In the decades since the 1970s a few voices known. Of course, these technical where cryopreservation has thus have been raised concerning the possibility problems may eventually be far had only limited success.” of chemical preservation as an alternative to overcome; one should hesitate Again, the plastic embedding process that cryopreservation. One was K. Eric Drexler, before placing limits upon the would optimize long-term preservation has whose 1986 book Engines of Creation was an technology of the limitless future.” yet to be perfected. There is an additional

28 Cryonics / March-April 2018 www.alcor.org difficulty with any high-temperature end. And perhaps the chemical preservative roundworm Caenorhabditis elegans, about (noncryogenic) tissue storage: any areas process would have been teamed up with 1.3 mm long and .08mm thick25 (about not perfused with fixative, as might occur, cryopreservation to produce a technique the size and shape of a tiny but visible stub for example, with arterial blockage, are superior to both, with better inferability of human hair). The C. elegans brain has at risk of decay, particularly with room- and ability to weather bouts of thawing about 300 neurons, compared to roughly temperature storage. This would have to and refreezing in times of crisis. Such a 100 billion (1011) for a human. C. elegans be addressed but work should proceed in technique, among other advantages, would also has about 7,000 synaptic connections trying to address it. be more adaptable to lower-cost brain- versus about 700 trillion (7 x 1014) for a only preservation inasmuch as fixed brain human. “Construction of the C. elegans tissue is much tougher and easier to handle [lesser] connectome took a dozen years of The idea was broached by without serious injury than its unfixed tedious scientific manpower; every neuron counterpart. was individually identified, its precise one of the critics, location determined, and its projections cryobiologist Armand BPF and the Connectome to other neurons traced and catalogued.” We noted that the team that developed the As for completing the lesser connectome Karow, Jr., of using ASC procedure won the Small Mammal to obtain the greater connectome, we still fixation or “pickling” Prize of the Brain Preservation Foundation lack any comprehensive map of the C. (BPF). The BPF, headed by Dr. Kenneth elegans synaptome or epigenome or “full as an alternative to Hayworth, is focused on preserving the knowledge of what these maps should cryopreservation. brain’s “connectome,” as described at their contain.” website:24 A human brain is roughly 100 billion “A connectome is the complete times as complex in its connectivity as that of Olson’s work is now three decades old. map of the neural connections in a C. elegans. Currently recording a complete During this long interval others have a brain. It is sometimes referred human greater or even lesser connectome occasionally been heard from, including to as a ‘wiring diagram’ of the is far out of reach. There aren’t enough this author (2007), Greg Jordan (2008), molecular connections between electron microscopes (EMs), and there and Michael Cerullo (2015), advocating neurons, trading on the analogy aren’t enough scientists to painstakingly consideration of chemopreservation as of a brain to an electronic device, interpret all the EM images it would take. a possible means of rescue from death.22 where axons and dendrites are Hopes for eventually being able to map an Such usage might have flourished, as Olson wires and neuron bodies are entire, greater human connectome, rest on speculated, yet it didn’t. The funeral industry components. Depending on the the prospects of future technology. Great uses it as much as ever. But if you are trying scientist, the term connectome improvements in automation could bypass for more, to eventually recover the patient, may or may not also include the need for vast armies of scientists, greatly chemopreservation is only, at best, a minor learning-relevant molecular states reducing the time and doubtless error in accompaniment to cryopreservation, at each synaptic connection (the the bargain, and would be assisted by very which itself, on the scale of the world’s ‘synaptome’) and any learning- many small, inexpensive EMs which could population, is marginalized almost to the relevant changes in the nucleus operate massively in parallel. vanishing point. (Worth noting here is of each neuron (the ‘epigenome’). The hope eventually is to capture that one organization, Oregon Cryonics, At the level of whole brains, human identity in a recoverable form. “As offers chemical brain fixation as a low-cost there can be fly connectomes, neuroscience continues to advance, BPF alternative to cryopreservation, though mouse connectomes, human will do our best to help science to determine presently their operation is very limited.23) connectomes, whale connectomes, whether reliable and affordable protocols Had the “pickling” option not been and so on. We can also speak can be found to preserve those brain shouted down with such force early on, and of connectomes of specific structures that give rise to our memories almost ignored later, perhaps many more brain subsystems, such as and identities, according to our best would have been preserved, and would still hippocampal connectomes, evidence to date.” So far the work has built be preserved today. Whether this would thalamic connectomes, and cortical on the idea of deriving connectome data have been adequate for eventual revival connectomes.” through a destructive process: slicing the is, I would say, highly dependent on the There is some confusion above in just fixative-preserved brain (original material) details of the procedure used, the storage what connectome should mean. Here, into ultrathin sections and examining the afterward, and/or other circumstances. focusing on the whole brain rather than ultrastructure microscopically, after which (The same can be said about those few who parts, we use lesser connectome to denote the original material may be discarded. If actually were preserved by cryogenic, non- just the wiring diagram of the brain’s axons, the whole brain is processed in this way fixation means.) But I think many of us dendrites and neural bodies, while greater the connectome could be recorded, part would agree that it would have been better connectome includes also the synaptome by part, and eventually the record could be (I would say far better) than what actually and the epigenome. To date only the lesser uploaded so the original personality could did happen in which the few early patients connectome of one organism has been emerge (for those who accept the uploading who were preserved were mostly lost in the fully mapped. This is the small, slender idea).

www.alcor.org Cryonics / March-April 2018 29 Extracting brain information through brain for long-term (>100 years) storage been won by researchers at 21st essentially a destructive process is not ….” The preservation should have “such Century Medicine. Using a the only scenario imagined for restoring fidelity that the structure of every neuronal combination of ultrafast chemical the patient, however. The alternative of process and every synaptic connection fixation and cryogenic storage, biological revival using original material is remains intact and traceable using today’s it is the first demonstration that given its due: “We could also revive people electron microscopic (EM) imaging near perfect, long-term structural by restoring biological function. This may techniques.” This is not to say that actual preservation of an intact or may not be feasible depending on the human brain preservation would figure in mammalian brain is achievable. exact way in which the brain is preserved.”26 the competition but only that a technique …This result directly answers However, a point I’ve tried to make is that, would be demonstrated that is capable of what has been a main scientific if uploading the patient in copy form is feasible accomplishing it, according to the BPF’s criticism against cryonics, and by a destructive method of extracting brain rather stringent standards. sets the stage for renewed interest, information, biological revival of substantially research, and debate within the original material should also be feasible, the mainstream scientific and given mature nanotechnology. One reason medical communities. … The to have confidence in the revival scenario There is an additional key breakthrough was the quick is that, in fixation, little of the original difficulty with any high- perfusion of a deadly chemical material is either lost, replaced, or moved fixative (glutaraldehyde) through far from its original surroundings. (At least temperature (noncryogenic) the brain’s vascular system, this seems to follow from the fact that, for tissue storage: any areas not rapidly stopping metabolic example, glutaraldehyde or formaldehyde decay and fixing proteins in molecules bind to surrounding molecules perfused with fixative, place by covalent crosslinks. This in the tissue but do not either strongly as might occur, for example, stabilized the tissue and, along disrupt or replace most of these other with other chemicals, enabled molecules.) So if the brain is well enough with arterial blockage, cryoprotectants to be perfused preserved for the uploading scenario it is are at risk of decay, at an optimal temperature and likely well-enough preserved for the revival rate for the prevention of brain scenario. particularly with room- shrinkage. The result was an intact temperature storage. rabbit brain uniformly filled The BPF Prize: Winning and with such a high concentration Losing of cryoprotectants that it could Overall, cryonicists should be grateful for be vitrified solid and stored at the BPF, despite some stated objections The two stages of the competition are to -135 degrees Celsius. Electron to the current practice of cryonics which demonstrate adequate preservation of (1) microscope images from across the can be found at the website (more later). a small mammalian brain (Small Mammal rabbit brain showed beautifully Quoting from the mission statement: Prize), and (2) a larger mammalian brain preserved neural circuits which “The central objective of the (Large Mammal Prize).28 In early 2016 the look identical to fixation-only Brain Preservation Foundation is Small Mammal Prize totaling $26,735 was control brains.” to promote scientific research and awarded to Robert McIntyre’s group at It was noted that the Mikula results services development in the field 21CM for their work preserving a rabbit (whole mouse brain plastination) “also of whole brain preservation for brain using their technique of ASC. There came extremely close to meeting the prize long-term static storage. Through were two other competitors: (1) Shawn requirement.” A less positive assessment, outreach to appropriate scientific Mikula at the Winfred Denk lab of the however, was given of the results obtained communities, online activities, Max Planck Institute in Germany focused by cryopreservation without fixation presentations and articles, on whole mouse brain plastination and (trying for viability):30 directed research grants, challenge room-temperature storage. (2) Another “How well does 21CM’s prizes, and other methods, we rabbit brain entry from 21CM used a ‘straight’ cryopreservation seek to explore the scientific more conventional cryonics approach, technique preserve the brain? Is hypothesis of whether a reliable with cryoprotection and cryogenic cooling the brain preserved well enough surgical procedure exists that is (vitrification) but no chemical fixation.29 to meet the requirements of capable of preserving the neural (The Large Mammal Prize, which would the Brain Preservation Prize? circuitry of the human brain at use the brain of a pig or comparably sized Unfortunately the answers to these nanometer scale.”27 or larger mammalian brain, has not been questions are a bit complicated. In 2015 the BPF announced a prize awarded as of writing.) 21CM’s cryopreservation competition, in two stages, with the goal BPF was generous in praising the protocol is designed to prevent all of rigorously demonstrating “a surgical winning entry: ice crystal formation in the brain technique capable of inexpensively and “The Small Mammal Brain even as the brain’s temperature completely preserving an entire human Preservation Prize has officially is slowly lowered to below -130

30 Cryonics / March-April 2018 www.alcor.org degrees C. To accomplish this Directions for Future room temperature, eliminating the need they must remove most of the Research altogether for ultracold storage and greatly water from the brain (both inside It goes without saying that more reducing both the cost and complexity of and outside cells) and replace examination and testing of tissues preserved long-term storage over present cryonics it with a highly concentrated under current, NFS cryonics protocols is practice. We have noted how Shaun CPA solution called M22. They called for. It may indeed be true that the Mikula’s group at Max Planck Institute claim that for technical reasons connectome is well-preserved by the criteria in Germany achieved good preservation (having to do with, among other of the BPF but it needs to be demonstrated. of a mouse brain, as judged by the BPF, things, the blood brain barrier (As I write this I understand that some through a plastination technique. The and increased viscosity of CPA at interesting results of such testing are soon fixed and dehydrated brain is embedded low temperatures) the ramp up to be made public.) Even if fears of the in a permeating, hardening plastic resin, in perfused CPA concentration inadequacy of such preservation were to be and can then remain indefinitely at room cannot be delivered in a way that allayed, however, it still would not obviate temperature. Dr. Mikula’s protocol is based avoids osmotic shrinkage of the the possible usefulness of an FSC protocol, on a standard procedure for preserving brain. In fact the protocol calls for the other reasons we’ve considered. tissue for laboratory analysis. An important for the brain to be shrunken in part is to preserve and stain the lipid size by approximately 50%! And membrane of cells, for which a mixture 21CM has so far been unable to of osmium tetroxide and potassium reverse this shrinkage effect prior Had the “pickling” option ferrocyanide is used. This, however, is prone to preparing and staining brain not been shouted down with to precipitation and barrier formation slices for electron microscopic within cells, which limits high-quality evaluation. As a result it has been such force early on, and ultrastructure preservation and staining to impossible so far to adequately almost ignored later, perhaps a depth of only a few tenths of a millimeter, assess how well the connectome far inadequate even for a mouse brain. is preserved. 21CM believes that many more would have been Dr. Mikula overcame this limitation by the connectome is preserved but preserved, and would still be adding formamide to the mixture. Barrier in a shrunken, compressed form. formation was eliminated and an entire We at the BPF must remain preserved today. mouse brain could be uniformly perfused. skeptical since even if such Some problems still occurred: tissue dramatic shrinkage did not itself cracking with one specimen, nonuniform cause damage, it could certainly At the 2015 Alcor Conference perfusion with another, and the prize was be hiding damage coming from presentation on ASC Robert McIntyre awarded for the ASC work instead. Still, other parts of the process.” noted that, despite the generally excellent the research looks promising.32 Note that the BPF is not claiming preservation of the rabbit brain as Yet, there are other problems with that the desired brain ultrastructure (the revealed by electron microscopy, there Mikula’s plastination technique, such as connectome) is not preserved by the were some signs that all was not perfect. the high cost and toxicity of the crucial “straight,” no-fixation protocol. But if Concerns centered on the action of the fixative ingredient, osmium tetroxide. It it is, it was impossible to verify, unlike fixative glutaraldehyde in crosslinking the appears also that very long permeation the case with the ASC method (and also molecules defining the brain structure. times, stretching to months or years, would the plastination method of Mikula). Presently this crosslinking cannot be be needed to scale up the preservation to It is also worth noting that a more reversed, so future major advances such a human brain. An alternative might be positive assessment is given for results as mature nanotechnology may well be to develop an ASC technique that, while obtained with small brain samples. “In required, with the usual uncertainties as to not safe indefinitely at room temperature, stark contrast to the above whole brain whether and how this will be accomplished. could be trusted to be stable at -20°C, the results, similar cryoprotectant formulas The cross-linking, moreover, causes specific temperature of an inexpensive food freezer and protocols applied to half millimeter changes which raise concerns, including that uses a modest amount of house current thick slices of living brain have shown denaturing of proteins, washing away of per year. Or perhaps there is a method of good ultrastructure preservation and small molecules such as neurotransmitters, plastination that would avoid the use of amazingly good recovery of function after and fraying of the myelin sheaths that a problematic ingredient like osmium rewarming from weeks of -130 degrees enclose nerve fibers. Whether these changes tetroxide and also not require so much C storage.” But for the whole brain (of a are serious enough to put a hold for now permeation time. Here I am not proposing rabbit, in this case, and all the more so for on this sort of preservation, considering answers to these issues but only suggesting the much larger human brain) there is at the possible downsides of NFC, and what that research should move forward along least reason to be concerned. The quality might be done to reduce or eliminate them, several different lines. of preservation of the method which are topics to investigate.31 favors structural preservation (inferability) Another topic of interest is the attempt Go or No Go: Paternalism appears to be superior to that which to achieve an adequate brain preservation versus the Right to Choose emphasizes viability. where the brain would be stored at In the early days of cryonics, a commonly

www.alcor.org Cryonics / March-April 2018 31 voiced objection, particularly noted among testing and endorsed by the scientific and possible therapeutic treatment, particularly scientists, was that it should not be applied medical establishments. in the case of a condition that is terminal. until the process is perfected.33 Others In the case of Hayworth, people ask Should the patient who faces certain death disagreed, some of them also with scientific whether, given the success of the ASC otherwise have the right to choose, even backgrounds and supporting, scientific procedure which won the prize for its if the proposed treatment has not gone arguments, though these were a minority. excellence, cryonics organizations should through all the usual steps of verification and The scientific mainstream never endorsed start offering the procdure to their refinement and been approved for clinical cryonics but the practice persisted, in members. His personal answer (speaking use by a government agency? Many of us feel part because of the tradition in the U.S., for himself, not on behalf of the BPF) very much that they should, at least under where cryonics got its start and still has its “has been a steadfast NO.” His reasoning broad conditions that are far from generally largest following, of respecting the right of is that these same organizations have met today, and the controversy with others personal choice, particularly in matters of been offering for years a procedure “that who do not goes on. life and death. was not able to demonstrate, to even my Robert McIntyre, for his part, also minimal expectations, preservation of does not think the ASC method should the brain’s neural circuitry. This result, be used immediately (though he does not I must say, surprised and disappointed level criticism like Hayworth does against The cross-linking, moreover, me personally, leading me to give up my existing cryonics organizations). Instead, causes specific changes membership in one such organization and more or less agreeing here with Hayworth, to become extremely skeptical of all since.” he feels it should be further tested, which raise concerns, The ASC technique was tested under validated, et cetera. He says: “Developing including denaturing of “ideal laboratory conditions” and he asks: human brain preservation is a worthy and “Should we really expect that these same important goal, which is why I started proteins, washing away organizations can now be trusted to further Nectome in order to pursue it. But rushing of small molecules such as develop and properly implement such a to preserve people with ASC right now new, independently-invented technique for without a fully vetted technique would be neurotransmitters, and use under non-ideal conditions?” recklessly premature.”35 fraying of the myelin sheaths Ah yes, but these same organizations did Certainly there is nothing wrong not have a Ken Hayworth method to do with testing, refining, and vetting your that enclose nerve fibers. the testing he was able to carry out. Are technique. It should be done, just as they “irresponsible” just because they went Hayworth and McIntyre insist. Let it be ahead anyway, given that the alternative done! However, doing it will take time. So Carried to a logical conclusion, the right was just to give up and lose the patient let it be done concurrently with current of personal choice should mean that I can do altogether? And what about the Hayworth cryonics practice. Techniques which very whatever I want so long as the corresponding method anyway? Is it true that unless clearly might be superior but still haven’t rights of others are respected. So for instance this one method can show, today, that been as exhaustively vindicated as we I might take substances that I thought might the neural circuitry is preserved it is not would like could be offered on an elective extend my life or enhance my well-being, preserved in any form and will never be basis. Unavoidably, at some point the based on my own judgment, or might arrange inferable by any technology of the future? cryonics organization is going to have to for a premortem cryopreservation in case I Some light would be shed by further testing make what, in its judgment, is the best was diagnosed with early-stage Alzheimer’s of the non-fixative protocol that failed the choice to make given that just giving up disease. Today the right of personal choice is Hayworth test—results of such testing on the patient is not an option. This is in limited, both in the U.S. and elsewhere, and could be forthcoming soon as we’ve noted. contrast to postponing all its activity until many of us think it should extend farther, For now, Hayworth does not advocate the some point in the future when it’s clear that but clearly such an outcome will take time. immediate use of the ACS method either, all the scientific and medical obstacles have On the cryonics front, there has been despite its apparent excellence: “If this was been overcome and the practice, were it to recent criticism, notably by Kenneth a new drug for cancer therapy, or a new start up at that point, would no longer be Hayworth of BPF, that somewhat echoes type of heart surgery, many additional steps controversial. By that time we could all be the opposition of half a century ago, to the would be expected before even clinical trials dead, and some of us will have our time of effect that current methods are “unproven” could start. Why should our expectations need, very likely, long before that. Existing and need more work before being offered be any lower for this?” Well, because the cryonics organizations should, of course, to the public.34 (So if meanwhile someone patient is lost unless you do something, use the best-appearing methods currently arrests do we just give up on them? And and, most importantly, this is what many available, as far as they are able (funding what about those already cryopreserved? Do of us want to be done, when it’s our turn, may sometimes be a limitation), and should we give up on them too?) Presumably this rather than passively submitting to the Reaper. update these methods according to reliable, means that those wanting cryonics would It is our choice. Should we have the right ongoing research and testing. be denied their wish, much as new medical to choose, given we are not imposing our So far, a method of preservation not procedures are kept away from potential choice on anybody else? The same issue using fixation has been judged by BPF to users until they are fully authenticated by could be raised, of course, with any type of be wanting and inferior to two that do

32 Cryonics / March-April 2018 www.alcor.org use fixation. Whether this is actually the fixation could induce significant damage Members could choose which they preferred, case remains to be decided. But even if that would not happen in its absence. But much as today with whole body versus the verdict is to vindicate the non-fixation so far there is no strong indication that neuropreservation. And research meanwhile approach, it will not demonstrate the memory-bearing structure or other identity- could press forward to further validate and superiority of that approach in all respects critical elements would be seriously affected refine, or substitute, the methods to be to one which incorporates fixation as part of by, for example, a procedure such as ASC. used. I mentioned some possible options the protocol. To summarize, we noted that For these reasons I am in favor of quickly such as a lower-cost alternative that might fixation could reduce the ischemic insult implementing a hybrid technique for use conventional rather than cryogenic to the patient prior to deep cooling, and brain preservation that combines chemical freezing, and such possibilities could be could also provide a safety net against (at fixation with cryoprotection and long-term, investigated also. In any case, it is better to least temporary) interruption of cryogenic cryogenic storage. Such a procedure should act than remain inactive on such important storage, particularly if revival must be long only be elective, of course—a non-fixative issues as these.  postponed. We have to allow, also, that alternative would still be available as before.

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34 Cryonics / March-April 2018 www.alcor.org Suspended Animation

uspended Animation (SA) was and equipment to enable low-temperature to vitrification than a full-service cryonics established in 2002 in South Florida. human vitrification. By intervening as organization that must divide its attention And in 2014, opened a California rapidly as possible after cardiac arrest, we over a wider range of tasks. Soffice as a for-profit corporation with the aim to reduce the need for cellular repair To fulfill its mission to develop and goal of providing the best possible standby, when future scientists attempt to revive deliver state-of-the-art standby, stabilization stabilization, and transportation procedures patients who have been cryopreserved. and transport technology and services, for members of cryonics organizations. In Besides the portable liquid ventilation Suspended Animation employs and contracts September 2016, SA became certified as an system the following types of equipment with a variety of physicians, perfusionists, ISO 9001:2015 compliant organization, acquired or developed by SA are medical- emergency medical technicians, scientists, indicating SA adheres to the International grade Sorin Centrifugal Pump Console engineers, and designers. SA has a staff of Standards of Organization quality (SCPC), several types of Portable Ice Baths four full time employees and more than 30 management system. (PIB), the AutoPulse cardiopulmonary emergency medical professionals across the The founders of SA believed that if the support system, a mobile operating vehicle country, who are ready to respond to clients company did not seek members or provide specially modified for cryonics, and an 24/7. patient storage, it would be better able to auxiliary support vehicle. On a day-to-day basis, Suspended focus on research and development work. Animation staffs are dedicated to Also, when Suspended Animation assisted developing and refining new equipment, other organizations instead of attempting To fulfill its mission treatment modalities, and procedures while to compete with them, cryonics generally maintaining contact with clients, and would benefit. to develop and deliver organizing training sessions and emergency SA develops new equipment, techniques, state-of-the-art standby, simulations to insure readiness. and technologies to minimize the cellular When one of SA’s partner organizations injury that normally occur after legal death. stabilization and transport requests our assistance, SA will deploy a SA is a company devoted to research and technology and services, team and equipment as near as possible to development of advanced technologies the patient, and prepare for an outcome. If to improve human cryopreservation. We Suspended Animation legal death is pronounced, SA will perform apply our procedures to clients who have employs and contracts with stabilization procedures as defined in our made separate arrangements for long- contracted organization’s approved protocol. term cryopreservation with cryonics a variety of physicians, Suspended Animation, Inc. is an organizations. Currently, Suspended perfusionists, emergency innovative biotechnology company Animation provides standby stabilization, whose mission is to deliver donor tissue initial cooling, and transport services to medical technicians, stabilization services for our clients. To the Alcor Life Extension Foundation, scientists, engineers, accomplish this, we maintain a state of the Cryonics Institute, and the American constant readiness so that we are able to Cryonics Society. SA is able to deploy for and designers. achieve efficient and timely deployment up to three cases at any given time within of trained health professionals to the the continental United States. patient’s site. Our practices are quality- and Our research projects include a portable Through specializing in standby, customer-centric with a focus on meeting liquid ventilation system to enhance rapid stabilization, and transportation, Suspended applicable requirements and maintaining an cooling in the field, custom modification Animation can make faster progress effective quality management system driven of advanced rescue and transport vehicles, toward reducing ischemic damage prior by continual improvement. 

www.alcor.org Cryonics / March-April 2018 35 Revival Update Reported by R. Michael Perry

Young Again: How One Cell research shows that the formation of fully from University College London, the Turns Back Time functional blood vessels requires activation University of Kent and University of of protein kinase Akt by a protein called Groningen, found that the survival of The lineage of cells that joins one generation R-Ras, and this mechanism is necessary for yeast cells, and the lifespans of flies and to the next—called the germline—is, in a the formation of the hollow structure, or worms were extended by an average of sense, immortal. Biologists have puzzled lumen, of a blood vessel.” says Masanobu 10% following a modest reduction in Pol over the resilience of the germline for 130 Komatsu, Ph.D., associate professor at III activity in adulthood. “We’ve uncovered years, but the phenomenon is still deeply SBP’s Lake Nona campus. “The findings a fundamental role for Pol III in adult mysterious. Over time, a cell’s proteins are important because they shed new light flies and worms: its activity negatively become deformed and clump together. on the biological process needed to increase impacts stem cell function, gut health and When cells divide, they pass that damage blood flow in ischemic tissues.” Previous the animal’s survival. When we inhibit its to their descendants. Over millions of efforts to treat ischemia by creating new activity, we can improve all these. As Pol III years, the germline ought to become too blood vessels have focused on delivering has the same structure and function across devastated to produce healthy new life. angiogenic growth factors like vascular species, we think its role in mammals, and On [Nov. 22] in the journal Nature, Dr. endothelial growth factor (VEGF) to humans, warrants investigation as it may K. Adam Bohnert, postdoctoral researcher ischemic sites. But all…have failed…. lead to important therapies,” said first at Calico Life Sciences in South San author, Danny Filer (UCL Institute of Francisco, Calif., and Cynthia Kenyon, Healthy Ageing). The effects of inhibiting vice president for aging research at Calico, Pol III were found to be comparable to the reported the discovery of one way in which action of the immune-suppressing drug the germline stays young. Right before rapamycin … an egg is fertilized, it is swept clean of deformed proteins in a dramatic burst of University College London / ScienceDaily housecleaning. The researchers discovered 29 Nov. 2017 this process by studying a tiny worm called https://www.sciencedaily.com/ Caenorhabditis elegans. The worm has been releases/2017/11/171129131437.htm a favorite of biologists for 50 years because its inner workings are much the same as our The laboratory of Masanobu Komatsu, own. … Ph.D., studies the regulation of blood Biotemplates Breakthrough vessel growth and remodeling to aid the Paves Way for Carl Zimmer / New York Times treatment of cancer and heart disease. Cheaper Nanobots 22 Nov. 2017 Credit: SBP. Usage Restrictions: None. https://www.nytimes.com/2017/11/22/ An international research team has science/youth-cells-aging-worms.html SBP / EurekAlert! demonstrated a new technique for plating 23 Nov. 2017 silica onto flagella, the helix-shaped tails found on many bacteria, to produce Scientists Find Key to https://eurekalert.org/pub_ releases/2017-11/spmd-sfk112017.php nanoscale swimming robots. As reported Regenerating Blood Vessels this week in APL Materials, from AIP Publishing, the group’s biotemplated A new study led by researchers at Sanford Lifespan Prolonged by nanoswimmers spin their flagella thanks to Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery rotating magnetic fields and can perform Institute (SBP) identifies a signaling Inhibiting Common Enzyme nearly as well as living bacteria. “We have pathway that is essential for angiogenesis, shown for the first time the ability to use the growth of new blood vessels from pre- The enzyme RNA polymerase III (Pol III) bacterial flagella as a template for building existing vessels. The findings, published is present in most cells across all animal inorganic helices,” said Min Jun Kim, in Nature Communications, may improve species, including humans. While it is one of the authors of the paper. “This is current strategies to improve blood flow known to be essential for making proteins quite a transformative idea and will have in ischemic tissue, such as that found in and for cell growth, its involvement in a great impact on not only medicine but atherosclerosis and peripheral vascular ageing was unexplored until now. A study, also other fields.” Other recently developed disease associated with diabetes. “Our published Nov. 29 in Nature by researchers methods for constructing these helical

36 Cryonics / March-April 2018 www.alcor.org structures employ complicated top-down Medicine at the University of Florida Breakthrough Sensor for approaches, including techniques that and was not involved in the trials. “We Photography, Life sciences, involve self-scrolling nanobelts or lasers. looked at a variety of measures, and what Security The use of this specialized equipment can was exciting to us was we saw four or five lead to very high startup costs for building different things in different organ systems Engineers from Dartmouth’s Thayer School nanorobots. Instead, Kim’s team used a that improved—and this was repeated of Engineering have produced a new bottom-up approach, first culturing a strain in two studies, in two separate groups of imaging technology that may revolutionize of Salmonella typhimurium and removing people,” says Longeveron cofounder Joshua medical and life sciences research, security, the flagella. … Hare. photography, cinematography and other applications that rely on high quality, low Shawna Williams / The Scientist light imaging. Called the Quanta Image 11 Dec. 2017 Sensor, or QIS, this next generation of light https://www.the-scientist.com/?articles. sensing technology enables highly sensitive, view/articleNo/51135/title/Can-Young- more easily manipulated and higher quality Stem-Cells-Make-Older-People-Stronger-/ digital imaging than is currently available, even in low light situations, according to co-inventor Eric R. Fossum, professor of DNA-Based Chemical engineering at Dartmouth. Fossum also Oscillator Offers New Level invented the CMOS image sensor found of Molecular Control in nearly all smartphones and cameras across the world today. Documented in the Trajectory of a templated helical silica In a new study, David Soloveichik and Dec. 20 issue of The Optical Society’s OSA nanoswimmer manually controlled his research team in the Cockrell School Optica, the new QIS technology is able to to move in an approximate figure- of Engineering at The University of reliably capture and count the lowest level eight pattern; scale bar is 5 µm. Texas at Austin show how to program of light, single photons, with resolution Credit: Jamel Ali synthetic oscillators and other systems as high as one megapixel, or one million by building DNA molecules that follow pixels, and as fast as thousands of frames per second. Plus, the QIS can accomplish American Institute of Physics / specific instructions. Soloveichik, an this in low light, at room temperature ScienceDaily assistant professor in the Cockrell School’s and while using mainstream image sensor 30 Nov. 2017 Department of Electrical and Computer technology … https://www.sciencedaily.com/ Engineering, along with Niranjan Srinivas, releases/2017/11/171130150414.htm a graduate student at the California Institute of Technology, and the study’s co-authors, Dartmouth Engineer Magazine have successfully constructed a first-of-its- 18 Dec. 2017 https://engineering.dartmouth.edu/ Can Young Stem Cells Make kind chemical oscillator that uses DNA components—and no proteins, enzymes or news/dartmouth-engineers-produce- Older People Stronger? other cellular components—demonstrating breakthrough-imaging-sensor that DNA alone is capable of complex Can one grow old without growing frail? behavior. According to the researchers, One company is banking on the idea that their discovery suggests that DNA can be Inflammation Drives with the right treatment, the answer can much more than simply passive molecule Progression of Alzheimer’s be “yes” for many more people. In clinical used solely to carry genetic information. trials published in October in the Journals “DNA can be used in a much more active According to a study by scientists of the of Gerontology, Longeveron, the firm manner,” Soloveichik said. “We can actually German Center for Neurodegenerative developing the therapy, reports that a single make it dance—with a rhythm, if you will. Diseases (DZNE) and the University infusion of mesenchymal stem cells from This suggests that nucleic acids (DNA of Bonn now published in the journal younger donors had no apparent safety and RNA) might be doing more than we Nature, inflammatory mechanisms caused downsides for people with aging-related thought…” by the brain’s immune system drive the frailty—and spurred improvement in many progression of Alzheimer’s disease. These of their symptoms. The work is “one of the Cockrell School of Engineering, findings, which rely on a series of laboratory first studies that actually attempts to address Univ. of Texas at Austin experiments, provide new insights into [frailty] in a well-defined or well-described 14 Dec. 2017 pathogenetic mechanisms that are believed fashion, and certainly, to my knowledge, http://www.engr.utexas.edu/news/8288- to hold potential for tackling Alzheimer’s the first such study with mesenchymal chemical-oscillator before symptoms manifest. The researchers stem cells,” says Keith March, a cardiologist envision that one day this may lead to new who directs the Center for Regenerative

www.alcor.org Cryonics / March-April 2018 37 ways of treatment. Other institutions from approaches. Building on their previous National Academy of Sciences, shows that Europe and the US also contributed to work, researchers at Osaka University have removal of the nets disrupts distant but not the current results. Alzheimer’s disease is now refined an enzyme-driven approach to recent memories. Previously, researchers a devastating neurodegenerative condition sticking biological ink droplets together, have mainly focused on molecules inside ultimately leading to dementia. An effective enabling complex biological structures the nerve cells. The team of investigators, treatment does not yet exist. The disease is to be printed. They recently published led by Drs. Marianne Fyhn and Torkel associated with the aberrant aggregation their findings in Macromolecular Rapid Hafting, studied perineuronal nets that of small proteins called “Amyloid-beta” Communications. Lead author, Shinji Sakai tightly cover the outside of neurons. The (Abeta) that accumulate in the brain and says, “Printing any kind of tissue structure nets are made up of sugar-coated proteins, appear to harm neurons. In recent years, is a complex process. The bio-ink must forming a rigid structure that contains studies revealed that deposits of Abeta, have low enough viscosity to flow through holes where connections to other neurons known as “plaques,” trigger inflammatory the inkjet printer, but also needs to rapidly are kept in place. When new memories are mechanisms by the brain’s innate immune form a highly viscous gel-like structure formed, the connections between neurons system. when printed. Our new approach meets change. The authors hypothesized that these requirements while avoiding sodium perineuronal nets might stabilize the new, alginate. In fact, the polymer we used offers memory-related connections to support excellent potential for tailoring the scaffold long-term memories. To test memory material for specific purposes.” function, the team performed a classical conditioning experiment …

Inflammatory mechanisms caused by This is a photograph of a 3-D hydrogel the brain’s immune system drive the construct obtained through drop- progression of Alzheimer’s disease, on-drop multi-material bioprintinig. The image shows a perineuronal according to new research. CREDIT:Osaka University net (green) surrounding a neuron Credit: © Dmitry / Fotolia Credit: Kristian K. Lensjø

Eurekalert! / Osaka University Medical Express German Center for Neurodegenerative 27 Dec. 2017 27 Dec. 2017 Diseases / ScienceDaily https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_ https://medicalxpress.com/news/2017-12- 20 Dec. 2017 releases/2017-12/ou-goa122717.php neurons-sugar-coating-essential-long-term. https://www.sciencedaily.com/ html releases/2017/12/171220131656.htm Neurons’ Sugar Coating Is Essential for Long-Term Double Strike against Growing Organs a Few Ink Memories Tuberculosis Drops at a Time How the brain is able to store memories over In search of new strategies against life- Before any real applications, “bioprinting” long periods of time has been a persistent threatening tuberculosis infections, a team of human organs still faces many technical mystery to neuroscientists. In a new study from the Technical University of Munich challenges. Processing the bio-ink and using a rat model, researchers from the (TUM), as well as Harvard University and making it stick to itself and hold the Centre for Integrative Neuroplasticity Texas A&M University in the USA have desired structure have been proving (CINPLA) at the University of Oslo found a new ally. They discovered a substance particularly difficult. Few methodsshow that long-lived extracellular matrix that interferes with the mycomembrane currently exist for gluing bio-ink droplets molecules called perineuronal nets are formation of the bacterium. It is effective together and these do not work for every essential for distant memories. The new even in low concentrations and when kind of cell, motivating new alternative research published in Proceedings of the combined with known antibiotics their

38 Cryonics / March-April 2018 www.alcor.org effectiveness is improved up to 100-fold. Engineers Hack Cell Biology the fundamental biology,” says senior Among the greatest challenges when treating to Create 3-D Shapes from author Zev Gartner, part of the Center for life-threatening tuberculosis infections is the Living Tissue Cellular Construction at the University of increasing resistance to antibiotics. But the California, San Francisco. “In this case, pathogen itself also makes the life of doctors the intrinsic ability of mechanically active Many of the complex folded shapes that difficult: its dense mycomembrane hampers cells to promote changes in tissue shape is form mammalian tissues can be recreated the effect of many medications. A team a fantastic chassis for building complex and with very simple instructions, UC San of scientists headed by Stephan A. Sieber, functional synthetic tissues.” Francisco bioengineers report December Professor of Organic Chemistry at TUM, 28 in the journal Developmental Cell. By has discovered a substance that perturbs the Cell Press / ScienceDaily patterning mechanically active mouse or formation of this membrane significantly: 28 Dec. 2017 human cells to thin layers of extracellular the beta lactone EZ120. It inhibits the https://www.sciencedaily.com/ matrix fibers, the researchers could create biosynthesis of the mycomembrane and releases/2017/12/171228132039.htm bowls, coils, and ripples out of living tissue. kills mycobacteria effectively. It is effective The cells collaborated mechanically through even in low doses, and exhibits only low a web of these fibers to fold themselves up toxicity to human cells. in predictable ways, mimicking natural developmental processes. “Development is Technical University of Munich starting to become a canvas for engineering, (TUM) / ScienceDaily and by breaking the complexity of 28 Dec. 2017 development down into simpler engineering https://www.sciencedaily.com/ principles, scientists are beginning to releases/2017/12/171228100908.htm better understand, and ultimately control,

A Roadmap to Revival uccessful revival of cryonics patients will require three Gregory M. Fahy, “A ‘Realistic’ Scenario for Sdistinct technologies: (1) A cure for the disease that put Nanotechnological Repair of the Frozen Human Brain,” in the patient in a critical condition prior to cryopreservation; Brian Wowk, Michael Darwin, eds., Cryonics: Reaching for (2) biological or mechanical cell repair technologies that Tomorrow, Alcor Life Extension Foundation, 1991. can reverse any injury associated with the cryopreservation process and long-term care at low temperatures; (3) Ralph C. Merkle, “The Molecular Repair of the Brain,” rejuvenation biotechnologies that restore the patient to good Cryonics 15(1) (January 1994):16-31 (Part I) & Cryonics 15(2) health prior to resuscitation. OR it will require some entirely (April 1994):20-32 (Part II). new approach such as (1) mapping the ultrastructure of Ralph C. Merkle, “Cryonics, Cryptography, and Maximum cryopreserved brain tissue using nanotechnology, and (2) Likelihood Estimation,” First Extropy Institute Conference, using this information to deduce the original structure and Sunnyvale CA, 1994, updated version at http://www.merkle. repairing, replicating or simulating tissue or structure in com/cryo/cryptoCryo.html. some viable form so the person “comes back.” Aubrey de Grey & Michael Rae, “Ending Aging: The The following is a list of landmark papers and books that Rejuvenation Breakthroughs That Could Reverse Human reflect ongoing progress towards the revival of cryonics Aging in Our Lifetime.” St. Martin’s Press, 2007. patients: Robert A. Freitas Jr., “Comprehensive Nanorobotic Control Jerome B. White, “Viral-Induced Repair of Damaged of Human Morbidity and Aging,” in Gregory M. Fahy, Neurons with Preservation of Long-Term Information Michael D. West, L. Stephen Coles, and Steven B. Harris, Content,” Second Annual Conference of the Cryonics eds, The Future of Aging: Pathways to Human Life Extension, Societies of America, University of Michigan at Ann Arbor, Springer, New York, 2010, 685-805. April 11-12, 1969, by J. B. White. Reprinted in Cryonics 35(10) (October 2014): 8-17. Chana Phaedra, “Reconstructive Connectomics,” Cryonics 34(7) (July 2013): 26-28. Michael G. Darwin, “The Anabolocyte: A Biological Approach to Repairing Cryoinjury,” Life Extension Magazine Robert A. Freitas Jr., “The Alzheimer Protocols: A (July-August 1977):80-83. Reprinted in Cryonics 29(4) (4th Nanorobotic Cure for Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Quarter 2008):14-17. Neurodegenerative Conditions,” IMM Report No. 48, June 2016.

www.alcor.org Cryonics / March-April 2018 39 Start preparing your Memory Box ...now!

Start your own time-capsule! ......

Create a Memory Box with items to augment your memories when you are resuscitated.

No one knows better than you what you will want to have with you.

Alcor makes available to every member and patient, without charge, one acid free Memory Box about the size of a standard banker’s box (H10” x W12” x L15”) for memorabilia to be stored underground at a commercial storage site called Underground Vaults and Storage (UGVS) in Kansas. Additional Boxes are a one-time charge of $250 each for perpetual storage.

Some of the most popular items that have been placed into storage are such things as letters, cards, photographs, diaries, journals, notebooks, books, clippings, army records, directories, recipes, video tapes, cassettes, medical records, flash drives, and external drives.

If you would like to begin working on your own Memory Box, or perhaps contribute items to a Box for an Alcor Member already in stasis, or if you have any questions, please contact Linda Chamberlain at [email protected] or call toll free at 877-462-5267 ext 115.

40 Cryonics / March-April 2018 www.alcor.org POWER UP! TURN ON YOUR CELLULAR ENERGY

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MKAQAV171106 Alcor_NovDec_NAD_Ad.indd 1 10/4/17 10:31 AM MEETINGS

About the Alcor Foundation area but other locations are possible, too. The The Alcor Life Extension Foundation is a nonprofit tax-exempt scientific and contact person for the meetings is Aschwin educational organization dedicated to advancing the science of cryopreservation de Wolf: [email protected]. See also: https:// and promoting cryonics as a rational option. Being an Alcor member means www.facebook.com/alcor.pnw/ knowing that—should the worst happen—Alcor’s Emergency Response Team is ready to respond for you, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Oregon: The contact person for meetings in the Portland area is Aschwin de Wolf: Alcor’s Emergency Response capability includes specially trained technicians and [email protected]. See also: https://www. customized equipment in Arizona, northern California, southern California, and facebook.com/portland.life.extension. south Florida, as well as many additional certified technicians on-call around the United States. Alcor’s Arizona facility includes a full-time staff, and the Patient British Columbia (Canada): CryoBC, Care Bay is personally monitored 24 hours a day. a special interest group within the nonprofit Lifespan Society of BC (http://www.lifespanbc. ARIZONA at (650) 772-1251 or email mark_galeck@ ca/) holds meetings for cryonicists in the Flagstaff: Arizona without the inferno. pacbell.net. Vancouver area. To be notified of meetings join Cryonics group in beautiful, high-altitude the CryoBC mailing list: https://groups.yahoo. Flagstaff. Two-hour drive to Alcor. Contact FLORIDA com/neo/groups/cryobc/info. [email protected] for more information. Central Florida Life Extension group meets once a month in the Tampa Bay area TEXAS PHOENIX: This group meets monthly, usually (Tampa and St. Petersburg) for discussion and Dallas/North Texas: Please join us at in the third week of the month. Dates are socializing. The group has been active since www.meetup.com/North-Texas-Cryonauts/ or determined by the activity or event planned. 2007. Email [email protected] for contact David Wallace Croft at (214) 636-3790. For more information or to RSVP, visit http:// more information. cryonics.meetup.com/45/ or email Bonnie Austin/Central Texas: A new group Magee at [email protected]. NEVADA for the Austin area has been started for those LAS VEGAS: A new group for the Las Vegas interested in discussion and understanding At Alcor: Alcor Board of Directors areas has been started for those interested. of the relevant technologies and issues for Meetings and Facility Tours—Alcor business Contact Gilda Cabral at [email protected] or cryopreservation, genomics, epigenetics and meetings are generally held on the second Mike Korns at [email protected] for details medical research for increased life/health span. Saturday of every month starting at 11:00 AM on upcoming meetings. Contact Tom Miller, 760-803-4107 or tom@ MST. Guests are welcome to attend the fully- blackmagicmissileworks.com. public board meetings. Facility tours are held NEW ENGLAND every Tuesday at 10:00 AM and Friday at 2:00 Cambridge: The New England regional JAPAN PM. For more information or to schedule a group strives to meet monthly in Cambridge, Cryonics meetings are held monthly in tour, call Marji Klima at (877) 462-5267 x101 MA—for information or to be added to Tokyo. Send queries to [email protected]. or email [email protected]. the Alcor NE mailing list, please contact Bret Kulakovich at 617-824-8982, alcor@ ALCOR PORTUGAL CALIFORNIA bonfireproductions.com, or on FACEBOOK Alcor Portugal is working to have good Los Angeles: Alcor Southern California via the Cryonics Special Interest Group. stabilization and transport capabilities. The Meetings—For information, call Peter Voss at group meets every Saturday for two hours. For (310) 822-4533 or e-mail him at peter@ NEW YORK CITY information about meetings, contact Nuno optimal.org. Although monthly meetings are Alcor members in the NYC area can contact Martins at [email protected]. The Alcor not held regularly, you can meet Los Angeles Javier El-Hage at [email protected] for Portugal website is: www.alcorportugal.com. Alcor members by contacting Peter. information about local meetings which are held once a month at a midtown location. UNITED KINGDOM San Francisco Bay: Alcor Northern Alcor members in the UK can contact Garret California Meetings are held quarterly in PACIFIC NORTHWEST Smyth at [email protected] for information January, April, July, and October. A CryoFeast Alcor Pacific Northwest organizes meetings about local meetings. is held once a year. For information on for Alcor members in the Pacific Northwest. Northern California meetings, call Mark Galeck Meetings are usually held in the Portland

If you are interested in hosting regular meetings in your area, contact Alcor at 877-462-5267, ext. 113. Meetings are a great way to learn about cryonics, meet others with similar interests, and introduce your friends and family to Alcor members!

42 Cryonics / March-April 2018 www.alcor.org What is Cryonics?

ryonics is an attempt to preserve and protect human life, not reverse death. It is the practice of using extreme Ccold to attempt to preserve the life of a person who can no longer be supported by today’s medicine. Will future medicine, including mature nanotechnology, have the ability to heal at the cellular and molecular levels? Can cryonics successfully carry the cryopreserved person forward through time, for however many decades or centuries might be necessary, until the cryopreservation process can be reversed and the person restored to full health? While cryonics may sound like science fiction, there is a basis for it in real science. The complete scientific story of cryonics is seldom told in media reports, leaving cryonics widely misunderstood. We invite you to reach your own conclusions.

How do I find out more?

he Alcor Life Extension Foundation is the world leader in cryonics research and technology. Alcor is a non- Tprofit organization located in Scottsdale, Arizona, founded in 1972. Our website is one of the best sources of detailed introductory information about Alcor and cryopreservation (www.alcor.org). We also invite you to request our FREE information package on the “Free Information” section of our website. It includes:

• A fully illustrated color brochure • A sample of our magazine • An application for membership and brochure explaining how to join • And more!

Your free package should arrive in 1-2 weeks. (The complete package will be sent free in the U.S., Canada, and the United Kingdom.)

How do I enroll? Signing up for cryopreservation is easy! Step 1: Fill out an application and submit it with your $90 application fee. Step 2: You will then be sent a set of contracts to review and sign. Step 3: Fund your cryopreservation. While most people use life insurance to fund their cryopreservation, other forms of prepayment are also accepted. Alcor’s Membership Coordinator can provide you with a list of insurance agents familiar with satisfying Alcor’s current funding requirements. Finally: After enrolling, you will wear emergency alert tags or carry a special card in your wallet. This is your confirmation that Alcor will respond immediately to an emergency call on your behalf.

Not ready to make full arrangements for cryopreservation? Thenbecome an Associate Member for $5/month (or $15/ quarter or $60 annually). Associate Members will receive: • Cryonics magazine by mail • Discounts on Alcor conferences • Access to post in the Alcor Member Forums • A dollar-for-dollar credit toward full membership sign-up fees for any dues paid for Associate Membership

To become an Associate Member send a check or money order ($5/month or $15/quarter or $60 annually) to Alcor Life Extension Foundation, 7895 E. Acoma Dr., Suite 110, Scottsdale, Arizona 85260, or call Marji Klima at (480) 905-1906 ext. 101 with your credit card information. You can also pay using PayPal (and get the Declaration of Intent to Be Cryopreserved) here: http://www.alcor.org/BecomeMember/associate.html

Call toll-free TODAY to start your application:

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