Press Kit

About Alcor

Alcor Life Extension Foundation is a nonprofit dedicated to cryonics – the practice of preserving individuals at ultra-low temperatures after legal death, with the goal that future medicine may enable restoration to health. Alcor also conducts active research in organ and tissue cryopreservation, with implications for transplant medicine well beyond cryonics.

Founded in 1972, Alcor has operated continuously for over 50 years from its Scottsdale, Arizona facility, serving members in 28 countries.

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✓ Approved for publication Alcor Life Extension Foundation is the world leader in cryopreservation research and technology. Alcor’s mission is the preservation of human life after legal death, with the goal that future advances in medicine may enable restoration to health. Established in 1972 and headquartered in Scottsdale, Arizona, Alcor is a nonprofit scientific research foundation serving over 1,500 members across 28 countries. In addition to cryonics, Alcor conducts research in organ and tissue preservation with applications for mainstream transplant medicine. Learn more at alcor.org.

Key Facts

Founded

1972

Headquarters

Scottsdale, AZ

Members

1,500+

Patients in Storage

250+

Countries

28

Years Operating

53

Storage Temp

-196°C

Organization

501(c)(3)

Whole-Body

$220,000

Neuropreservation

$80,000

What Is Cryonics?

Cryonics is an attempt to preserve human life once current medicine has reached its limits – using a medical-grade antifreeze process to protect tissues from ice crystal damage, then cooling patients to -196°C in liquid nitrogen. Restoration is not currently possible, but supporters believe future advances in medicine and biotechnology may eventually make it feasible, and that preservation buys time for that science to develop.

The Broader Case: Organ Preservation Research

Every year, thousands of people die waiting for a transplant – and thousands more viable organs are discarded simply because they couldn’t reach a recipient in time. The underlying problem is preservation. Alcor’s researchers are working to prove that a full-scale organ can be frozen, stored, and successfully transplanted later – something no organization has accomplished yet. Kidneys are the starting point, but the same science applies to hearts, livers, and lungs. If it works, the organ shortage changes overnight.

How the Process Works

1

Legal death is declared

Cryonics procedures begin only after a person has been legally pronounced dead.

2

Stabilization and cooling

A trained response team works to cool the body and protect tissues as quickly as possible.

3

Cryoprotectant perfusion

Medical-grade antifreeze solutions replace water in the tissues to prevent ice crystal formation.

4

Long-term storage

The patient is cooled to -196°C and placed in a liquid nitrogen storage vessel at Alcor’s Scottsdale facility.

Suggested Story Angles

🎖️ Ex-Special Forces. Now On Call for Cryonics. Alcor’s Deployment and Recovery Team (DART) is the only fully in-house cryonics response team in the world – staffed by former Navy SEALs and other elite military veterans, deployable anywhere, 24/7. Most people have no idea this team exists.
🫀 Alcor’s Bid to Solve the Organ Shortage Every year, thousands of people die waiting for a transplant and thousands more viable organs are discarded because they can’t reach a recipient in time. Alcor’s researchers are working on the preservation protocols that could change that – with implications far beyond cryonics.
💲 Cryonics Is More Affordable Than You Think Most Alcor members fund their membership through a life insurance policy – often for just a few dollars a day. For younger, healthier members, premiums can be especially low.
🌍 Alcor Is Taking Cryonics to Europe Alcor is actively expanding into Europe – building partnerships with European special forces to extend response capabilities internationally. Cryonics is no longer just an American story.