X-Message-Number: 12638
Date: Mon, 25 Oct 1999 21:45:01 -0400
From: Saul Kent <>
Subject: Funding Brain Cryopreservation

        In msg. #12626, Alex Berg wrote:

        >  If we want to really move ahead, means must exist 
>  for interested and not very wealthy individuals to finance re-
>  search specifically for brain cryopreservation. Even if 21CM 
>  will trade its shares, the bulk of its applications are NOT 
>  brain-related, so this is still NOT a way to finance. Then, 
>  what is?

        I agree that means must exist for cryonicists to finance
brain cryopreservation research directly, and I agree that invest-
ing in 21st Century Medicine (21CM) is "NOT a way to finance" 
this research.  But it is still worthwhile, I believe, for cryonicists
to invest in 21CM.

        21CM is making fundamental advances in cryobiology
that are applicable to the cryopreservation of all systems, including
the brain.  It is well worth it, I believe, for cryonicists to help this 
research continue by investing in 21CM.

        Secondly, it is likely that, to some degree, the research
that 21CM is (and will be) conducting to cryopreserve tissues and 
organs other than the brain will lead to results which may be useful 
in learning how to cryopreserve the brain.

        Third is the fact that, if 21CM succeeds in cryopreserving
other organs, such as the kidney, it will lead to major publicity and
credibility for 21CM, and for the field of cryobiology in general. This
will make brain cryopreservation a more credible research project,
and will make it easier to raise money for brain cryopreservation 
research from current and future potential investors.

        Fourth is the fact that, if 21CM succeeds in cryopre-
serving kidneys, and/or other of its research projects, it will be
a major step forward towards the financial success of 21CM.
If and when 21CM becomes a successful public company, 
those of its shareholders who want to fund brain cryopreser-
vation research will be able to cash in on some of their equity 
in 21CM to invest in such research.

        None of the above reasons, however, obviate the
need for brain cryopreservation research itself, which should, 
indeed, be proceeding right now.  21CM has already made 
advances, which researchers should be applying to the brain. 
Moreover, Critical Care Research (CCR) has also made re-
search advances, such as liquid ventilation for rapid whole-
body cooling, which require further research before they can
be applied to cryonics patients.

        There have been discussions with principals in
BioTransport, a new cryonics services company, which 
recently completed its first round of fundraising, about 
BioTransport conducting research to apply CCR's liquid 
ventilation technology to cryonics.

        Earlier this year, I formed a company called Ad-
vanced BioSciences (ABS).  ABS will be funding some brain
cryopreservation research in the near future.  It is my inten-
tion to make it possible for both wealthy (and not so wealthy) 
cryonicists to invest in ABS sometime next year. 

        Berg concluded his message, as follows:

         >  I must admit there's currently NO reasons for 
>  optimism that reversible brain cryopreservation will be even 
>  demonstrated in the next 10-20 years, if at all. Apparently 
>  there's not enough business people interested in solving 
>  this problem and false feeling of security among cryonicists 
>  caused by nanotech guys. Sad conclusion, indeed. 

        I disagree that there are currently "...NO reasons for
optimism that reversible brain cryopreservation will be even
demonstrated in the next 10-20 years, if at all..."  I believe there
are several reasons for optimism.  First, is that promising fun-
damental research advances have recently been accomplished.
Second is that the little applied research that *was* done last
year was also promising.  Third is that more applied research
will be funded in the near future.  Fourth is that there is, I believe,
enough potential investment capital in the cryonics community 
today to achieve perfected brain cryopreservation in the foresee-
able future, even if it takes hundreds of millions of dollars to 
do so.

        I don't know how much it will cost to achieve per-
fected brain cryopreservation in the foreseeable future.  It might
only cost tens of millions of dollars.  However, I *do* know that 
significant progress has already been made for far less than 
that, and that the greater the funding for brain cryopreservation 
research, the more likely (and the sooner) it will be for success
to come.  

        By the end of next year, we will have some idea of the
extent to which the cryonics community is willing to fund brain
cryopreservation and other cryonics related research.

---Saul Kent

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