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Support our new research initiative: RAPID! (Readiness And Procedure Innovation/Deployment)

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In order to advance the science and reputation of cryonics, Alcor plans to conduct ongoing research to develop novel and near-future products related to cryopreservation procedures and protocols. The RAPID team is developing relationships and contracts to procure recently deceased human cadavers, which are not Alcor members or patients, but are already earmarked for medical research. The idea is to procure one to two cadavers per month to conduct research. We would go a “light standby” to enable fast access to cadavers.

The RAPID initiative will support cryonics research in multiple ways. Most immediately, it will help advance research into liquid ventilation – using a patient’s lungs as a heat exchanger to induce very rapid hypothermia. Animal studies along cannot take LV development to the next level due to different chest anatomy. LV research will include cooling rate control; chest compression studies; and timing and sensor feedback.

RAPID will also enable research comparing chemical fixation to perfusion and will support rewarming studies. Another benefit will be a great improvement in cryonics-specific surgical training. That includes raising and cannulating the carotids; cephalic isolation; raising and cannulating the femoral arteries; field neuro procedure training; median sternotomy training; and alternate surgical approaches.

Alcor is requesting donations through gofundme. All donors will receive quarterly reports from Alcor regarding the progress with fundraising and milestone achievements rising from the RAPID program! Please donate today to support Alcor’s RAPID initiative. Alcor is a non-profit, federally tax-exempt, 501(c)(3) corporation and your donation may be tax deductible. Donate here. For more information, see the presentation here.

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New Medical Response Director

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Starting today (July 18), we welcome Josh Lado as he steps into the role of Medical Response Director. Josh comes to us from John C. Lincoln hospital where he had a range of roles and responsibilities. In addition to having been an EMT for over 10 years, he assisted the nurses in Pre-Op and Post-Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU) with patient care, recovery of patients after anesthesia and assisting family members to answer questions they have. He also operated the Stealth Machine. This is a navigation unit surgeons use to help place screws into vertebra, assist in brain tumor resections, and placement of shunts into a patient’s brain.

He has also been in charge of Human Tissue Tracking for the hospital’s In-Patient and Out-Patient Surgery. He maintained a database that controls inventory and helped the hospital stay compliant with federal laws and competed a weekly inventory for all tissue in the hospital and worked with vendors for outdated product.

He also worked with the Emergency Preparedness Coordinator and Trauma Service personnel to train hospital employees for emergencies including Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear and Explosive (CBRNE) events. He has an Applied Science Degree in Paramedic Studies, and Applied Science degree in Fire Science, with numerous FEMA and related certificates.

During his time at John C. Lincoln, Josh was exposed to many different areas and, by all accounts, was highly proactive in solving problems beyond his required role. While working in surgery, he became very familiar with many instruments used and how to pass them to a surgeon. He assisted anesthesiologists with intubation of patients and IV access points. He has worked in high stress areas such as the trauma room in the Emergency Department and the OR Trauma Room and helped in the ICU with critical patients.

In talking with Josh, we were impressed not only by his range of skills but also by his attitude and interest in learning more about the science behind cryonics. Josh will receive thorough training by his predecessor, Aaron Drake. (We are also bringing in several other individuals to refresh and update their training.) Aaron will continue to be available to consult with Alcor during parts of the year, to take on special projects, and to provide relief to Josh so that he is not on-call 24/7/365.

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Arizona Response Team Training Session

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Alcor will host a training session for the Arizona Response Team on Saturday, June 25th, 2011. This will be held at Alcor Central in Scottsdale, AZ starting at 10:00 am. Aaron Drake, Alcor’s Medical Response Director will conduct the training.

This is the follow-up training to the session held earlier this year in March.  After a review of the objectives and procedures learned previously, there will be scenario based exercise for everyone to practice their skills in real-time.  Please contact Aaron Drake at if you plan to attend this training session.
—
Aaron Drake, NREMT-P, CCT
Medical Response Director
Alcor Foundation

Office:      877-462-5267×104
Fax:         480-922-9027

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Alcor Response Team Training

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There are currently two training opportunities scheduled for the March and May.

  • Arizona – March 19th, 2011
  • Pacific Northwest (Portland) – May 7th & 8th, 2011

These training sessions will be conducted by Alcor personnel followed by an informal gathering among team members to build strong relationships.

Please contact Aaron Drake to rsvp:

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Upcoming Training Session

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PHOENIX
Alcor will host a training session for the Arizona Response Team on Saturday, October 16th. This will be held at Alcor Central in Scottsdale, AZ starting at 1:00 pm. Aaron Drake, Alcor’s Medical Response Director will conduct the training.

Topics to be covered include learning the operation of Alcor’s new Lucas 2 chest compression system, obtaining rapid vascular access with a Bone Injection Gun and establishing an advanced airway using the King Airway. This will also be a great opportunity to meet and interact with Alcor’s new Readiness Coordinator, Steve Graber.

Immediately following the training, the monthly cryonics meetup will be held at its usual location, just down the street. Come and enjoy an afternoon AND evening of cryonics fun!

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Team Training

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Team Training
The Terasem Response Team will have their annual refresher course in early April. Last year, their training was held at Alcor in Scottsdale, AZ and the team learned their skills on our in-house equipment. Now that they have a complete response kit of their own, they will be able to practice using their own equipment, in their own environment. In conjunction with the training, the Cryonics Technology Progress Conference will be held, where the team will have an opportunity to demonstrate their proficiency to the general cryonics community. This interaction between a professional response team and cryonicists should create greater understanding of the progress that has been made in response capabilities and help foster increased confidence in the overall probability that our patients will receive a quality stabilization and cool down.

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Team Training

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Team Training
The Arizona Regional Response Team held an afternoon of training on January 23rd at Alcor Central. With 19 volunteers attending, not including Alcor staff, this session was the largest turnout that Alcor has had in a long time. It is encouraging to see the return of strong local enthusiasm not only for our local members, but also for members that relocate to Scottsdale/Phoenix when they are facing terminal health issues. This training event was followed by a CryoFeast that was hosted by Bonnie Magee, Alcor’s Finance Director. Thanks to Jack St. Claire for offering his home as the cryonics clubhouse in Scottsdale.

Read more

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Team Training

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Team Training
The Southern California Regional Response Team received a two-day training session in December. The focus of this session was to provide hands-on training with the equipment in their new response kits. These new kits are streamlined and simplified versions of their predecessors and the feedback has been very positive. Highly technical procedures needing unrealistic amounts of training and experience for volunteers to become proficient have been replaced with more fundamental tools and processes that even the most timid volunteer would feel comfortable in performing. A big thanks to Peter Voss and Louise Gold for providing the training location and hosting the CryoFeast that was held in conjunction with the weekend.

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Team Training

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Team Training
There will be a team training session in Scottsdale, Arizona on Saturday, January 23, 2010 at 3:00 pm at the Alcor facility. Please contact Aaron Drake at if you would like to attend the training session.

A CryoFeast will follow the training session at 7:00 pm. This will be a potluck dinner at a nearby home of an Alcor member. Please contact Bonnie Magee at for the address, directions and to RSVP for the potluck CryoFeast!

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Team Training

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Update–Southern California Transport Team Training
The times for the training sessions are as follows:
Saturday, December 12, 2009, 10:00 a.m to 5:00 p.m.
Sunday, December 13, 2009, 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

To read more about “Southern California Transport Team Training & CryoFeast”

Team Training
The Northern California Response Team training was held on October 10th and 11th. John Schloendorn and Eri Gentry graciously provided their home in Mountain View, California to host and participate in the meeting. Eleven (11) people attended the training session which also included members that have previously participated in case work and new team members becoming acquainted with our process for the very first time. The team received all brand new equipment and supplies. The training was conducted by Aaron Drake and Eric Vogt.