Dear Members and Friends,
February flew by with remarkable progress on multiple research fronts. The lab team has been advancing their preservation techniques, new equipment is expanding our capabilities, and we’re getting ready for some exciting public events. Here’s what’s been happening behind the scenes at Alcor:
Nick and Wonjin took their preservation research to the next level this month, successfully maintaining tissues at normal body temperature to assess post-preservation viability. To ensure the freshest possible samples, they didn’t just wait for standard deliveries—they created an innovative mobile collection and processing station in the back of a van, bringing their lab capabilities directly to the field. Wonjin worked with surgical precision, even as the road put his dexterity to the test under some—let’s say—dynamic conditions.
Cryonics is rarely afforded perfect conditions, and the Alcor science team knows how to make the most of any situation. If pushing the limits of science means adapting on the fly, they’re more than ready. Honestly, at this point, we wouldn’t be surprised if they performed a perfusion on a rollercoaster just to shave off a few extra minutes.
The lab got some cool new toys this month. An advanced fluorescence microscope is arriving that can take pictures of four different fluorescent markers at once and even watch living tissue in real-time. We’ve already received a CO2 incubator and a tissue slicer that will let us work with brain slice cultures. These tools help us see what happens to cell toxicity and function after cryopreservation – the basic science we need to keep improving our methods.
The CT scanner saga might finally be ending. After months of bureaucratic hurdles, inspections, building modifications, and waiting on APS (the local utility), we have a confirmed installation date this month. The transformer has been delivered, APS has given us a firm schedule, and we’re crossing all our fingers and toes that this time it actually happens. We’ve been ready for three months, but we’re at the mercy of their schedulers. The good news? Soon we’ll be scanning organs and patients to see exactly how well our preservation techniques are working throughout the tissues.
Remember that 3D printer we mentioned last month? It’s a Form Labs Form 4B SLA and it’s now fully operational and already proving its worth. Since its installation, the engineering team has been putting it through its paces, creating custom biomedical-grade components for our kidney experiments, specialized connectors for perfusion equipment, and tailored inserts for the centrifuge system—all at a fraction of what off-the-shelf options would cost.
Wonjin needs to work on his camera-ready smile, but Jacob has it down pat. If you look closely, though, you can see the unmistakable rage bubbling just beneath Jacob’s pleasant facade—the eyes of a man calculating exactly how many custom components he could have designed in the time he was forced to participate in this meaningless photo op.
👋 Membership
Diane is hard at work with member onboarding. We want to remind all members who have not signed updated contracts to please reach out to us as soon as possible and we’ll walk you through the process. We know it’s a bit of a hassle, but it’s necessary.
We’ve added two new faces to the Alcor team this month: a new Membership Coordinator who will handle accounting issues and process new applicants, and a new executive assistant to help increase everyone’s efficiency and keep the office running smoothly. These additions should free up some bandwidth for our existing staff to focus on their core responsibilities. We’ll give them a chance to settle in and then introduce them properly with employee profiles in an upcoming newsletter.
🎙️ New Alcor Podcast Episode
Ever wonder how cryonics gets set up in places without established facilities? Our latest podcast “Bringing DART to Your Doorstep” takes you behind the scenes with Alcor Canada to show you how it’s done. Jeremy Wiggins walks us through their donor-supported model and how it can be scaled globally. What makes this episode cool is seeing how a small team with determination can create a functional cryonics capability from scratch. The lessons apply no matter where you live!
Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or through our website.
🇨🇦 Alcor Canada
Jeremy and the Canadian Team are charging ahead with international growth. They’re working to place complete emergency response kits in strategic locations across Canada and Europe, while discussing partnerships with a Swedish paramedic service that could deploy throughout the continent with full medical teams and ambulances.
They’re also moving Canadian headquarters near a partnering funeral home outside Ottawa. While also being right next-door to an airport, it will create an all-in-one solution for movement and surgery of our members.
And don’t forget: Western Canada Emergency Kit fundraising continues. The team needs $70k for a complete kit including equipment, M22 cryoprotectant, and essential medications to support both neuro and whole-body cases in Western Canada. If you’d like to help, please contribute here (specify it’s for the Western Canada kit) or contact [email protected].
📈 Stock Donations
Good news for members interested in supporting Alcor through stock transfers: we’ve streamlined the process, and it may offer significant tax advantages. By donating appreciated shares directly, you may be able to claim the appreciated value as your donation without calculating it as part of your income.
💼 Membership Tax Benefits
Speaking of tax advantages, here’s another financial tip: your Alcor membership dues and payments may qualify as tax-deductible charitable contributions. As a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, both your annual membership fees and any additional contributions toward research, operations, or patient care funds could reduce your tax burden. Many members don’t realize these potential savings!
(Note: please consult your tax advisor about your specific situation—we’re not giving tax advice here.)
💀 Frozen Dead Guy Days (March 14-16th)
Last call! Alcor is headlining this quirky festival this weekend, and our team is preparing several spectacular science demonstrations featuring liquid nitrogen. Nick and Wonjin are putting together a stage show that promises to be both educational and entertaining.
If you’re planning to attend, please reach out to [email protected] ASAP. We’re organizing an informal Alcor member meetup during the weekend and need a final headcount to make arrangements. Don’t miss this chance to connect with fellow members while enjoying the festival’s unique atmosphere!
🧬 Announcing Biostasis Week at Vitalist Bay!
Alcor will have a strong presence at the upcoming Biostasis Week at Vitalist Bay in Berkeley, California. This exciting event is part of an eight-week longevity-focused gathering, with the main conference happening May 17-18, followed by additional talks and sessions throughout the week until May 22.
Alcor will be well-represented with CEO James Arrowood, Director of Research Nick Llewellyn, and board member Ralph Merkle all presenting at the conference. This is a great opportunity to see cryonics take center stage in the broader longevity conversation.
We’re organizing an Alcor member dinner during the conference – let us know if you’ll be attending so we can include you!
Wanna spend your precious Saturday morning discussing the finer details of Alcor’s inner workings? We do too! 🤓 Join us here!
Still warming up to the idea of cryonics? The science keeps getting better, our services keep improving, and that biological clock keeps on ticking. No pressure… but maybe it’s time to stop cryocrastinating on that whole future thing? Sign up here before your atoms decide to spontaneously rearrange themselves in a less-than-ideal configuration.
Hope you enjoyed this newsletter. As always, feel free to send feedback to [email protected].
