X-Message-Number: 10812
From: 
Date: Thu, 19 Nov 1998 10:56:00 EST
Subject: 21 CM

First, in view of Thomas Donaldson's comments, and Saul Kent's note, perhaps I
should clarify my view of the relation between 21 CM announcements and current
Cryonics Institute practice and research plans.

I had said that certain aspects of planned CI research might be put on hold
for a couple of months, until we had a clearer picture of what has been done
at 21 CM. Of course we realize that the 21 CM work might be of such a nature
that its application in the field, or its licensing, will not be feasible any
time soon. But hints dropped indicate a new class of cryoprotectants (better
permeation, less toxicity, better vitrification characteristics, fewer demands
in rewarming), and such might represent an important advance even when used
without optimum conditions. If so, we need to know.

Naturally, we understand the constraints of a for-profit company with respect
to proprietary information and pending patents. We also realize that any CI
research in this area will be on a far smaller scale than that of 21 CM,
because of our much smaller resources. Nevertheless, there remains (as far as
I know) the possibility that the new cryoprotectants might supersede
glycerine. We will investigate that, and try to do whatever is likely to
benefit our members and future patients.

Robert Ettinger
Cryonics Institute
Immortalist Society
http://www.cryonics.org

Rate This Message: http://www.cryonet.org/cgi-bin/rate.cgi?msg=10812