Hello everyone,
I wish to tell you about a very worthwhile organization which deserves
donations from extropian list members. It is the Institute for Neural
Cryobiology. The research program for it is called the Cryopreservation of
Hippocampal Slices Project. The goal is perfected vitrification of the
brain.
I now share with you a list of the leadership who are trying to push the
work forward.
The founder and chairman of the board is Thomas Donaldson, Ph.D. - Founder
and Chairman of the Board Thomas Donaldson has a PhD in mathematics and has
published one technical book and several long papers on partial differential
equations and related techniques. He has published many articles of
speculative science in the popular magazine Analog Science Fiction and Fact.
One of these, 24th Century Medicine, has been reprinted and anthologized. He
has also written a reference book for anyone seriously interested in using
some of the drugs known to increase lifespan in animals - A Guide To
Antiaging Drugs.
Thomas Donaldson has been reading and teaching himself about cryobiology and
neuroscience, since the early 1970's. Since 1991 he has been publisher and
editor of Periastron, his own newsletter about cryobiology, neuroscience,
memory, consciousness and identity.
He can be reached at
tdonald@hubble.dialix.com.au
Peter Gouras, M. D. - Director
Peter Gouras is an ophthalmologist and vision research scientist. He
received his education in New York City, obtaining his MD from Johns Hopkins
University in 1955, and surgery internship at Johns Hopkins Hospital in
1955-56.
Dr. Gouras has held fellow, research, instructor, and/or leadership
positions at:
National Institute of Neurological Diseases & Blindness, National Institute
of Health
National Foundation, Physiology Laboratory, Cambridge, England
Physiology Department, School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania
Neurological Institute, University of Freiburg, Breisgau, Germany
Since 1978, Dr. Gouras has been Attending Ophthalmologist at Columbia
Presbyterian Medical Center, and, since 1981, Professor of Ophthalmology,
Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons.
Paul Wakfer - Director and President
Paul Wakfer is a 62 year old Canadian whose home is in Toronto, but who has
spent much time in Southern California. Paul is family oriented, treasures
the innocence and wonder of bright young minds, and enjoys spending time
with his grandchildren. Since childhood Paul has believed that the
degeneration of aging was to be fought, prevented and overcome, especially
in regard to age related mental diseases and decline. While working to
promote this, he practices a healthy and mentally enhancing lifestyle to the
extent that this is determinable from current knowledge. This includes a
calorie restricted diet, extensive use of nutritional supplements, and
significant mental and physical exercise.
Paul is an honors graduate of the University of Toronto in Engineering
Physics (BASc - 1959) and received a master's degree in Applied Mathematics
(1960). In 1959, he won the Canadian Association of Physicist's prize in a
nationwide competition of undergraduate physics students.
Paul has held the following positions:
Research Assistant & Graduate Student, Courant Institute of Mathematical
Sciences, New York Univ (1960-1962)
RCAF Flight Lieutenant and Mathematics Instructor, College Militaire Royale,
St. Jean, Quebec (1962-1964)
Assistant Professor of Mathematics, Scarborough College, University of
Toronto (1964-1970)
Canada Council Fellow and Graduate Student, McMaster University, (1970-1972)
Computer Analyst & Consultant, Hardware/Software Instructor, Control Data
Corporation (1973-1983)
Chief Systems Integrator of postal automation systems, Computing Devices of
Canada (1978-1981)
Designer/instructor of "Microcomputer Hardware for the Technically Oriented"
(1983-1990)
President, Cryovita Laboratories, Inc. (1992-1996)
Cofounder and Executive Director, 21st Century Medicine (1993-1994)
Paul has been a self-employed computer consultant for over 20 years. In
Toronto, from 1983 to 1991, he started and operated a very successful full
service computer business.
Paul has always maintained a burning interest in all the sciences and in
bettering the human condition by rational means. After selling his business
in 1991, Paul became a frequent visitor to the US in order to further this
interest. Since then he has been very active in the life extension movement
and instrumental in funding and encouraging life extension research, as
president of Cryovita Laboratories, as a founder of 21st Century Medicine,
and now, as President of The Institute for Neural Cryobiology. Paul is also
a member of the American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine.
Paul Wakfer may be contacted by email, Voice: 416-968-6291, Fax:
559-663-5511,
or by postal mail at: 238 Davenport Rd, #240, Toronto, ON M5R 1J6 Canada
Gregory M. Fahy, Ph. D . - Director of Research
Personal Information
Born on April 27, 1950 in Los Angeles, California.
Married with no children.
Education
University of California, Irvine, B.S. (Biology), 1972
Medical College of Georgia, Augusta, Ph.D. (Pharmacology and Cryobiology),
1977
American Red Cross, Postdoctoral Fellow, 1977-1980
Winter Neurobiology Course, Woods Hole Marine Biological Laboratory, 1980
Positions Held
Medical College of Georgia, Teaching Assistant, 1972-1977
American Red Cross, Research Associate, 1980-1984
American Red Cross, Research Scientist, 1984
American Red Cross, Scientist II, 1984-1994
American Red Cross, Project Leader, 1987-1994
Life Resuscitation Technologies, Inc., Chief Scientist, 1995-1997
Organ, Inc., Chief Scientist, 1995-1997
Head, Tissue Cryopreservation Section, Naval Medical Research Institute,
1995-1997
Visiting Scholar, Dept. of Biochemistry, University of California at
Riverside, 1997-present
Director of Research, The Institute for Neural Cryobiology, 1998-present
Vice President for Cryopreservation Research, 21st Century Medicine,
1998-present
Honors Awarded
Grand Prize for Medicine, 1995, INPEX
Tiffany Award, American Red Cross, 1984
Who's Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges, 1977
"Honors in the Biological Sciences", UCI, 1972
Professional Activities
Treasurer, Society for Cryobiology, 1985-1987
Editor, News Notes, Society for Cryobiology, 1986-1987
Symposia/workshop organizer, Society for Cryobiology, 1981, 1985, 1989
Symposia/workshop editor, Cryobiology, 1986, 1989
Referee for: Cryobiology, American J. Physiol., Clinical Chemistry, J.
Phycology, J. Insect Physiol., International Science Foundation, Australian
Research Council, and NSF Board of Directors, American Aging Association
(AGE), 1991-1994, 1996-present
Editor, AGE News, 1995-present
News & Views Editor, AGE, 1995-present
Board of Directors, American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine (A4M), 1993
Symposium organizer, A4M, 1995, 1996
Program Committee, A4M, 1993-1996
Senior Consultant for Medical and Pharmaceutical Technologies, Center for
Constitutional Issues in Technology, 1993-1995
Medical Advisory Board, National Defense Council Foundation, 1994-1996
Science Advisory Board, Nanothinc, 1994-present
Board of Advisors, TN 2000, 1994-1996
Participant, Military Health Service System 2020, 1996
Consultant, U.S. Pharmacopeial Convention, 1993, 1994
Frequently invited speaker at workshops, symposia, courses, and corporate
meetings involving organ cryopreservation and cryobiology
Frequent media spokesman on cryobiological topics
Author of numerous popular scientific articles, mostly on aging
Professional Society Membership
American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine
American Aging Association
American Association for the Advancement of Science
New York Academy of Sciences
Society for Cryobiology
Transplantation Society
Research Interests
Organ preservation by conventional and cryobiological means, particularly by
vitrification
Biochemical mechanisms of cryoprotectant toxicity
Mechanisms of aging and experimental and clinical intervention in aging
Molecular nanotechnology
Grants Awarded
Molecular Approaches to Ice Control for Engineered Tissue Storage $1,894,000
October 1997-September 2000; National Institute of Standards and Technology
(co-applicant)
Basic Mechanisms Underlying Extended 4oC Storage of Red Cells $360,551
Oct-Dec, 1994; Naval Medical Research and Development Command
Resuscitation of Ischemically Damaged Organs $26,500 July 1993-June 1994;
Life Resuscitation Technologies, Inc.
Key (but not primary) author of many other funded grants on cryopreservation
of organs (1977-1992)
So now you know the caliber of people involved in this organization. To
learn more go to their website at http://www.neurocryo.org/ and investigate
for yourself.
Donations of equipment, property or any assets are acceptable. All cash
donations show be made payable and sent to:
The Institute for Neural Cryobiology
1606 E Washington St #308, Colton, CA 92324
I have donated twenty dollars to the organization myself. Not very much,
but at least it is something. Considering my income it is actually a
generous donation. I would ask all of you to please seriously consider a
financial donation.
This organization desperately needs funding to keep going and Ben Best has
donated ten thousand himself; though he is not by any means a rich man. Dr.
Greg Fahy is a strong believer in the project and for those of you who know
of his reputation that should say something. Please, just donate what you
can.
sincerely,
John Grigg
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