Dear Members and Friends,
For a long time, cryonics asked people to bet on a future that the science hadn’t fully caught up to yet. With some breaking cryobiology research, that gap just got a little bit narrower.
Here’s what’s happening behind the scenes at Alcor:
Cryonics is a marathon, not a sprint. It’s not everyday that we get to highlight some truly groundbreaking research… but today is one of those days! Some long awaited research has been made public by Greg Fahy Ph.D and the folks over at 21st Century Medicine.
Dr. Fahy is a renowned cryobiologist, and one of the key developers of the M22 vitrification solution that Alcor uses. His new paper examines whether M22 vitrification preserves the ultrastructure of the brain – the microscopic architecture that matters most for assessing preservation quality. The research was done in concert with Alcor and a patient volunteer, and finds some very encouraging results, even under conditions that weren’t ideal.
Among the co-authors are several current and former Alcor researchers including Steve Graber, Hugh Hixon, and Brian Wowk. The depth of shared research and collaboration behind this paper spans decades.
There’s more work ahead, as there always is – but this adds meaningfully to the evidence base supporting the approach Alcor has used for decades, and it’s the kind of paper that opens doors for serious research to follow.
[Editor’s note: The release of this research after so much anticipation has the insider cryonics community abuzz. For those who want to get into the weeds, I’m planning a full article and dedicated Alcor podcast episode on this research in the near future, so stay tuned.]
New Molecular Biology Capabilities
The lab has been quietly expanding what it can actually do. Nick and the team have established new molecular biology capabilities and begun experiments to create lentiviral constructs – a tool for delivering genetic material into cells that encode various antifreeze proteins. These constructs are then expressed in different cell types to test whether the proteins help cells survive cryopreservation.
This connects directly to the antifreeze protein project introduced in the January newsletter. The work is still early-stage – screening candidate proteins from fish, beetles, and other cold-tolerant organisms. Having this infrastructure in place to run these experiments in-house is a meaningful step in the right direction.
University of Arizona Research Collaboration
Alcor has finalized a research collaboration with the University of Arizona that will enable the team to conduct the kind of rigorous, properly structured studies required for peer-reviewed publication. Research conducted in partnership with an accredited institution, following established protocols, is research the broader scientific community can actually engage with. That’s the standard Alcor’s research program is being built to meet.
The Next Generation Clocks In
The research team has brought on two high school interns this month, and they’re getting a rare opportunity to assist on active cryonics-based research projects.
One project involves building and testing a panel of cryoprotective agents (CPAs) for vitrification and toxicity – mapping out which formulations work best and at what concentrations. The other has them assisting with antifreeze protein insertion into cell lines.
[Editor’s note: Typical high school internships usually involve a lot of uninteresting busywork, so the fact that these interns get to work on such advanced research is so frakking cool.]
Equipment Update: Funding the Calorimeter
The new differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) is already in the lab and the team has begun working with it – but there’s still an open chapter on the funding side. When the opportunity came up to acquire this equipment, we moved quickly rather than waiting. The $25,000 matching donation announced to help fund this purchase is still active, and directed donations go toward retroactively funding an acquisition that was too good to pass up.
The calorimeter still needs one additional accessory: an LN2 pump that enables cooling to ultralow temperatures. The team is sourcing that now.
Directed donations are matched 1:1 up to $25,000.
Dewar Monitoring Upgrades
The engineering team is upgrading the liquid level monitoring system in the Patient Care Bay, including a new fill sensing system to more reliably control dewar refilling and track conditions over time. More specifics to come as these near deployment.
A Ridiculously Large Liquid Nitrogen Tank Is Being Installed
If you’ve been following along in previous newsletters, you know Alcor approved an expansion of bulk liquid nitrogen storage from 900 gallons to 13,000 gallons – roughly 14x the current capacity. The tank has been manufactured, delivered to Phoenix, and as of this month, construction behind the building has started. It’s scheduled to come online in early April.
Along with the tank itself, the engineering team is building out all the supporting infrastructure: new cooldown equipment, lids, manifolds, and redundant valve systems – everything needed to put 13,000 gallons of liquid nitrogen to work properly.
[Editor’s note: I have been told the tank is large. I haven’t gotten a chance to see it firsthand yet, but this is roughly what I’m imagining.]
US and Canada Training
In April, Alcor will host one of its regular DART training sessions. These sessions involve significant planning and coordination – bringing together team members, running through scenarios, and tightening up the protocols that underpin every deployment. There’s a lot that goes into making sure everyone is operating at the same standard, and this is how that gets done.
There’s also been solid cross-departmental work: collaborating with Nick on protocol refinement and testing, and with Steve and Jacob on new tools and instruments for cases. The DART van got some interior upgrades while they were at it.
European Expansion
Alcor is actively working to enhance and streamline its existing international structure to support eventual local European operations – building out the infrastructure and protocols so that standing up regional capabilities is a smooth process when the time comes.
Building on this groundwork, James Arrowood will be traveling through Europe in mid-March, meeting with members across multiple countries and laying the foundation for Alcor’s growing European presence. These visits are a chance to connect face-to-face with members who’ve been part of this community from afar, and to strengthen the relationships that will matter as European operations take shape. See Member Meetups in the Community section below for details.
Nine Years in the Making: The Case Report Project
Alcor co-founder Linda Chamberlain has spent the better part of a decade on a project that started in 2017: taking every Alcor case report going back to the very beginning and modernizing them to current standards, properly de-identifying each one, and getting them ready for publication. Every historical record is also being brought up to a stronger standard of privacy protection, replacing the older practice of using member numbers as case identifiers. That work is nearly done.
[Editor’s note: Nine years of quietly and diligently working through over half-a-century’s worth of records, while simultaneously being one of the only living cryonicists who has been around long enough to have actually been involved with many of those cases first-hand.
Linda, thank you for your service.]
🌍 Member Meetups – UK, Germany & Sweden
James Arrowood is planning to travel through Europe in the second half of March, and would love to connect with members in person. The dates below are still tentative, but here’s where things currently stand:
If you’re in or near any of these cities and think you’d want to join us, please reach out to [email protected] as soon as possible – it helps us get a sense of interest and plan accordingly.
Public Board Meeting Recap – March 3rd
The March 3rd board meeting had a solid turnout – over 50 people joining virtually, with members from across the country in attendance. James gave a high-level overview of the organization’s direction, and the meeting covered several items worth flagging here.
James recapped his recent trip to California, where a handful of scheduled member meetings quietly snowballed into something bigger – the kind of gathering where at least one attendee met a fellow cryonicist face-to-face for the first time in over 30 years of membership. Amya also landed a speaking engagement at Cal State Fullerton while the team was in town, well-received enough that the university wants to keep working with Alcor. More travel is on the calendar this year, with meetups planned for Texas, the East Coast, and Chicago.
On the staffing front, the board announced that Alana Salinas has joined as Membership Coordinator, working alongside Diane and Cam. A more organized volunteer program is also in the works – if contributing to Alcor in some capacity has crossed your mind, keep an eye out for more details soon.
The board also formally wrapped up the contract language updates members have been asking about. The changes came directly from member feedback – specific concerns raised about confidentiality language and NDAs were taken seriously and addressed. No re-signing required. Members will receive a full communication explaining the changes once the rollout is organized.
📱 Member Portal Mobile Apps
Work continues on the member portal mobile apps for iPhone and Android. Development has been making solid progress, and once live, members will have clean, streamlined access to everything in the portal right from their phone. More once there’s a release timeline to share.
[Editor’s note: Over two-thirds of Alcor members have already made the switch to the new member portal, and our goal is 100% adoption by the end of 2026. It’s easy to join and will make managing your Alcor membership considerably more convenient than before – take a few minutes and get started now.]
🐶 Puppy Party
To celebrate Mike Perry’s birthday – and because Mike loves animals about as much as anyone we know – a staff member who volunteers at a local animal charity brought in some puppies for the office to enjoy.
As evidenced by the pure look of contentment on his face, Mike adores puppies.
Only to be outdone by Garrett, who took the assignment considerably more seriously. Rumor has it Garrett refused to give the puppy back and is now on the run somewhere in Mexico. We can neither confirm nor deny this.
Meanwhile, Wonjin looks like someone interrupted him mid-experiment, handed him a dog, and told him to smile.
[Editor’s note: You may not know this, but Wonjin is the hardest working researcher in all of cryonics – seriously. Even the magical power of puppies cannot come between him and his workflow.]
🐾 On a related note: if you’ve ever wondered whether Alcor’s preservation services extend to four-legged family members – they do. Learn more about our pet services here.
💀 Frozen Dead Guy Days – March 27-29, Estes Park CO
FDGD is almost here. If you’ve been on the fence, now is the time to commit – lodging at The Stanley fills fast and the weekend is shaping up to be a good one.
For the uninitiated: Bredo Morstoel spent years in a DIY cryopreservation arrangement stored on dry ice in a shed in Colorado until Alcor stepped in and relocated him to The Stanley Hotel in Estes Park, where he’s now properly maintained in liquid nitrogen at the International Cryonics Museum as Alcor’s sole remote patient. The festival grew around his story and has become a genuinely fun, quirky weekend that also happens to be a surprisingly good venue for real cryonics conversations.
The science team is running two liquid nitrogen stage shows this year, up from one in 2025 – something that was particularly well attended by children and adults alike last year and proved to be a great segue for curiosity and good questions from participants.
Full weekend details were included in previous FDGD member emails. If you have questions or want to RSVP for Alcor-hosted events, reach out to [email protected].
🎤 Biostasis Summit – May 17, Berkeley CA
Many of you joined us in Miami for the Global Cryonics Summit in 2024 – one of the largest industrywide cryonics gatherings ever held, where Alcor played a significant role. It’s happening again this year, this time in Berkeley as part of Vitalist Bay, a four-day longevity festival whose past speakers include Tim Urban, Bryan Johnson, and Peter Diamandis.
You may have noticed the name change – Global Cryonics Summit is now the Biostasis Summit. The Cryosphere Foundation is behind it again, same mission, just a broader tent. And since it’s a full industry event, expect representation from all the major cryonics organizations and most of the smaller ones – essentially everyone actively moving this field forward, all under one roof.
One thing worth highlighting this year is Vision 2031: the major cryonics organizations each get up and make a case for what the field should be prioritizing over the next five years – and defend those priorities in front of their peers and the broader audience. It’s a format designed to keep things focused on forward momentum and real commitments rather than just discussion.
Alcor will be participating in a serious way – CEO James Arrowood, Director of Research Dr. Nick Llewellyn, and board member Ralph Merkle will all be there representing the organization.
Tickets are on sale now. Use code CRYOSPHERE20 for 20% off.
The research is advancing, Alcor’s services keep improving, and that biological clock of yours keeps on ticking. No pressure… but maybe it’s time to sign up here.
Feel free to check out last month’s newsletter if you missed it, and as always you can send your feedback to [email protected] or [email protected].
👋 For those who made it all the way through – take my virtual high five, and my bonus meme. Till next time.
