X-Message-Number: 6899
From: 
Date: Fri, 13 Sep 1996 23:45:20 -0400
Subject: SCI. CRYONICS research donations

To Saul Kent's questions:

Yes, there is a signed contract with the Vissers, giving CI and Alcor
exclusive rights to use of present and future Visser technology for cryonics
purposes, and including the right to sublicense. Beyond that, details are
confidential. 

On the question of the Visser method possibly not being compatible with slow
cooling/warming:

As I understand it, Mrs. Visser first tried rapid (but not "flash")cooling
because that would be most convenient, if it worked--and itdid. I know of no
reason why slower cooling would not work also--and there are theoretical and
empirical reasons to think it will.

The fact that warming was not as rapid also lends some support here. There
have also been additional experiments, with other organs, that lend
encouragement--work done by collaborators at other universities, still
confidential. Remember also that Mrs.Visser's single pig heart experiment was
partly successful. 

The IMPORTANT thing is that the Visser method is NEW and HAS produced
dramatic results and ipso facto is worthy of a LOT of further work.

Re Charles Platt's questions:

The Prometheus pledgers relied mainly on assertions of a qualified
cryobiologist that the goals were reasonable. For individual pledgers to try
to second-guess the researchers on details is generally not a practical
route. For potential donors to the Immortalist Society and Alcor for
IMMEDIATE Visser-related work,the important things to know are the
following--looking now at IS in particular:

Our work is expected to be done, at first, mainly (1) in the Ukraine by Dr.
Yuri Pichugin, an experienced cryobiologist specializing in cryoprotective
agents, with specialist colleagues available for e.m. work etc.; he will work
with sheep brains and possibly sheep hearts; and (2) at the CI facility in
Michigan, by Andy Zawacki et al, and perhaps by biologists from Wayne State
U., with sheep hearts and also sheep heads, plus some other tissues of other
species. (We expect to do the sheep heart work MUCH more quickly than anyone
else could, because we have good slaughterhouse connections, allowing us to
obtain organs with minimal delay after slaughter, so we don't need surgeons
or veterinarians etc.)

I remind readers that the Immortalist Society is the oldest extant active
cryonics organization, dating from 1967, and to my knowledge no one has ever
questioned our ethics or reliability. Your research donation will be put to
good use, with ZERO administrative expense. (Who else can say that?)  We ask
you to rely on our judgment, and that of our collaborators, as to specifics
of the research plan.

PP pledgers--how about it? Send the Immortalist Society and Alcor each RIGHT
NOW one half of your annual PP pledge. (PP money is not due until probably a
year or more from now.) That will help PP and everyone else--first, by
allowing PP to launch from a higher research base (even though the PP
company, when formed, and others will have to negotiate licenses in certain
areas); second, by proving that we can indeed all work together. (With a
decent response, I will personally pledge to PP and encourage others to do
so.) 

And those who have not pledged to PP: Here is an extraordinary opportunity to
get big bang for the buck. Please send your maximum donation to the
Immortalist Society and Alcor NOW. Memo your checks "Research fund." Tax
deductible.

The life you save may be your own.

Robert Ettinger
Cryonics Institute
Immortalist Society
24355 Sorrentino Court
Clinton township MI 48035  


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