X-Message-Number: 32755
Date: Mon, 9 Aug 2010 15:48:11 -0400
Subject: NIH grants for cryonics?
From: Rudi Hoffman <>

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I thank David Stodolsky for putting the info re: NIH grants on the site.

While it may sound "nuts" to some, I wonder if it would be possible to get
an NIH grant to study the relative health, outlook, and metrics of
cryonicists vs. the general population?

I frankly do not the expertise or background to write this grant, or
something like it.  But perhaps someone on this list or somewhere off this
list does have this skillset.

My sister is a college professor who has written and received grants for
social and educational programs over many years.  There are, I am told,
literally millions of dollars looking to fund legitimate science, and we all
have heard examples of government largess malinvestments.

When I was discussing cryonics and funding with her, she asked if anyone had
ever even tried for any type of government funding.

I replied that to my knowledge the answer is "no."  Most cryonicists are
ideologically loathe to deal with the necessary paperwork and not oriented
toward "government" solutions.

 And, ideology aside, it struck me then and now that government and NIH
grants are an unlikely funding source.  I further opined that mostly what
cryonicists think of when it comes to government is simply how to make sure
that cryonics is not regulated or legislated out of business.   Getting
money from Big Brother?  No way!   Mostly we are happy that we are still by
in large under government radar.

But, in this, as in many other things, I could be way wrong.  In this
instance, in fact, I would be happy to BE wrong.  We need a thousand labs
studying the problems and challenges of cryonics...not one.  We need
multiple sources of funding...not one heroic team doing all the heavy
lifting.  The reality is that most large scale research today REQUIRES
multiple parties and stakeholders working collaboratively (witness
supercollider funding, cancer research, name your Big Science project.)

The packaging and grant writing would ideally be in collaboration with a
university or some established and credentialed extant program.

I am going to copy some people who might have some ideas on this.  While it
is almost certainly too early in the game for a cryonics oriented grant to
be...well...granted, it is axiomatic that ideas and initiatives have to have
their start somewhere.

Any ideas on this?  While I sometimes find David Stodolsky's postings a bit
too academic for my tastes, I think this posting and idea is at least
potentially a good one.  Thank you, David!

And, I apologize in advance if this is a question so stupid that it should
not even be asked.  Those of us who feel we really DO the heavy lifting in
cryonics are justifiably suspicious of any suggestion in the format "Why in
the world don't you guys...(insert seemingly obvious simple solution to the
problems of cryonics here)?   Dilettantes of all stripes, and those merely
and merrily offering criticisms instead of wading in and making cryonics
work, are pretty annoying.   So, I don't want to be one.  Thanks for your
time.

Respectfully Submitted,

Rudi

-- 
Rudi Richard Hoffman CFP CLU ChFC

World's Leading Cryonics Insuror rudihoffman.com
Former Board Member Financial Planning Association fpafla.com
Board Member Salvation Army salvationarmy.org
Member Alcor Life Extension Foundation alcor.org,
Member Cryonics Institute cryonics.org
Certified Financial Planner(TM) CFP Board of Standards
Member World Transhumanist Association http://transhumanism.org/
Securities offered through Broker Dealer Financial Services Corp. Member
FINRA and SIPC.

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