X-Message-Number: 10515 Date: Fri, 02 Oct 1998 10:25:52 -0700 From: Fred Chamberlain <> Subject: Reposting of Message #10508 in "Plain Vanilla" Courier (re: Date: October 2, 1998 From: Fred Chamberlain <> and <> Re: Reposting of #10508 in "Plain Vanilla" Courier (re: BioTransport) Posting #10508 contains numerous control code glitches, due to the email system used (Eudora Pro 4.0). For those of you who might have found it unreadable, the below (hopefully) "cleaned up" version may help. >From: "B. F. Shelton" <> (Whose posting no. #10499 asked: "Whatever Happened to BioTransport?") >I think that was the name of it - being promoted >as a joint effort among various cryonics organization >to provide early response, stabilization and transport, etc. >Did someone on here mention that talks between Alcor >and CryoCare did not produce an agreement? If anyone >who knows would care to comment, I'd be interested >to hear what happened, and what future prospects are. >B.F. SIX PHASE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM BioTransport, Inc.'s development plan involves a step by step progression, so far as services are concerned. There is an active contract between BioTransport and Alcor for the first three phases at this point, encompassing: (1) training, (2) logistics support and (3) internet linked consulting services. Even these three phases are dependent to a large extent on capitalization (as discussed further on). Later phases, still to be negotiated with Alcor, include (4) providing contract "team leaders" in field operations to better coordinate volunteer activities, (5) providing complete teams for field operations (to perform standbys and transports up to and including circulatory system washout), or providing teams for cryoprotection and/or cooldown, and (6) turnkey "system contractor" services where BioTransport assumes end-to-end responsibilities for all suspensions. The degree to which all six phases are implemented will depend on Alcor's needs for those levels of support, as well as BioTransport's ability to demonstrate that it has a reliable capability with adequate quality controls, satisfying Alcor management. ORIGINAL CONCEPT AND PRESENT STATUS BioTransport was originally conceived as a for-profit entity that could take over Alcor's cryotransport. The thought was that a separate for-profit would increase the chances of greater suspension team efficiency, faster progress in technology improvements, and the possibility of better funding through investment. In addition, there were two possible advantages in separating the riskiest (from a legal standpoint) part of the suspension procedure from Alcor itself and in creating an entity outside of Alcor that might have the potential to contract with other cryonics organizations someday. This last advantage became the center of many people's discussions for several months, and for a while it did seem that a "joint effort" to develop BioTransport would be possible. However, different groups had different priorities, so that discussion has been shelved for now. At this time, BioTransport is again being developed strictly to take over Alcor's cryotransport. --We all hope that, once BioTransport is solidly established, we can again visit the question of cooperation with other cryonics organizations. IMMEDIATE PLANS BioTransport's immediate plans involve adjusting its internal corporate documentation to support the registration of a DPO (Direct Public Offering), which would eliminate many of the qualification barriers to purchase of shares. The intent is *not* to seek funding from the general public (which the name suggests), but rather to be able to open up BioTransport to shareholder participation among interested cryonicists. In the beginning, the supporters might mainly be Alcor Members who want to facilitate the beefing up of rescue capabilities in their local areas (limited to the Phase I/II/III activity areas discussed above). Later, when we have managed to establish capabilities all the way to Phase VI (full service), with negotiated service to organizations other than Alcor, the support base may broaden still further. Associated with the Phase I/II/III level development activities, in addition to preparing for registration of a DPO, we are planning a research project in which BioTransport and Alcor would cooperate in exploring new technologies to evaluate and compare existing protocols, as well as monitor the quality of actual suspensions. A detailed article will appear in the next issue of Cryonics Magazine on this subject, and it cannot be reduced to a simple summary in a CryoNet posting. Once that issue of Cryonics Magazine is out, if questions begin cropping up on CryoNet, I'll try to address them. The only purpose of mentioning this work is to indicate that BioTransport will not solely be a 'service' corporation. Copies of the research plan for this project (new technologies to evaluate/compare protocols and monitor suspensions) will be distributed to Alcor's Scientific and Medical Advisory Boards (now on Alcor's letterhead), for comment and recommendations, before we expend any large-scale dollars or manpower. Parts of that plan will also appear in BioTransport's prospectus (DPO registration package), for the benefit of any who want to support this work by investing in BioTransport vs. donations (tax exempt) to Alcor. Finally, at the earliest possible time, BioTransport's goal is to facilitate suspension members' "investing in their own rescue infrastructure". Many have stated that they would prefer to invest in a "rescue network", rather than separately financing their own localized operations. They would prefer, from all indications, systematic integration with other groups and a wide diversification of interests (including research), to either "going it alone" or being totally dependent on a distant entity, in the event they need to be frozen. SUMMARY BioTransport, Inc. has an active contract with Alcor and is planning how to implement this. The overall activities will be a blend of rescue infrastructure building and research. Within a month or so, I'll post a more detailed summary of where BioTransport, Inc. stands, what it's doing, and what it plans to get done over the next year or so. As mentioned above, those who subscribe to Cryonics Magazine will soon be getting an introduction to what may develop into a central technology for the joint Alcor/BioTransport research effort. Thanks for asking about BioTransport, Inc., B.F. For the record, in addition to serving as Alcor's Pres/CEO as shown below, I am holding down (part time) the job of being BioTransport's "corporate planner." Boundless Life, Fred Chamberlain, President/CEO () Alcor Life Extension Foundation Non-profit cryonic suspension services since 1972. 7895 E. Acoma Dr., Suite 110, Scottsdale AZ 85260-6916 Membership Information: (877) GO-ALCOR (462-5267) Phone (602) 905-1906 FAX (602) 922-9027 for general requests <http://www.alcor.org/>http://www.alcor.org Rate This Message: http://www.cryonet.org/cgi-bin/rate.cgi?msg=10515