Brain Preservation prize for large mammal
Posted: Wed Mar 14, 2018 9:51 am
The Brain Preservation Foundation (BPF) has awarded the Large Mammal Brain Preservation Prize to 21CM, Robert McIntyre, and Greg Fahy.
http://www.brainpreservation.org/large- ... ouncement/
There are also a slew of related news articles. For example:
https://www.technologyreview.com/s/6104 ... ent-fatal/
Also, here is Alcor's position statement:
http://www.alcor.org/blog/http-www-alco ... ion-prize/
Let me get right to the point. Nectome will not be providing any brain preservation services. I challenge the extraordinary claim that 25 people have deposited $10,000 in advance. People simply won't pay for services that don't yet exist, Musk being the seeming exception. I feel that collecting advance deposits for a non-existent service or product that is still years away falls under the category of charlatanism, Musk included. Step one is to build a facility and build the capability to provide service. Step two is to offer said service. Nectome is not doing that. They are trying to build the second story without any foundation. One proof of concept does not in any way equate to the required proficiency. I've performed carotid cannulation on over 50 cadavers, and it wasn't until the last few that I felt the technique was refined enough. It required custom fabrication of cannulae and other equipment. Even hiring a pathologist to perform the cannulation would not address the many unique issues with this procedure. Their learning curve might be a little shorter, but it would not just magically go away.
So, while I'm certain McIntyre will fail to provide adequate services, I'm still a huge fan of what he's doing. We are in absolute agreement on the fundamental concept that fixation is a very useful approach to brain preservation, and that it must be part of the standard protocol. All current cryonics cases are so damaged that simple biological revival will never be possible. So aldehyde is certainly not making the situation any worse, and is demonstrably making it better.
http://www.brainpreservation.org/large- ... ouncement/
There are also a slew of related news articles. For example:
https://www.technologyreview.com/s/6104 ... ent-fatal/
Also, here is Alcor's position statement:
http://www.alcor.org/blog/http-www-alco ... ion-prize/
Let me get right to the point. Nectome will not be providing any brain preservation services. I challenge the extraordinary claim that 25 people have deposited $10,000 in advance. People simply won't pay for services that don't yet exist, Musk being the seeming exception. I feel that collecting advance deposits for a non-existent service or product that is still years away falls under the category of charlatanism, Musk included. Step one is to build a facility and build the capability to provide service. Step two is to offer said service. Nectome is not doing that. They are trying to build the second story without any foundation. One proof of concept does not in any way equate to the required proficiency. I've performed carotid cannulation on over 50 cadavers, and it wasn't until the last few that I felt the technique was refined enough. It required custom fabrication of cannulae and other equipment. Even hiring a pathologist to perform the cannulation would not address the many unique issues with this procedure. Their learning curve might be a little shorter, but it would not just magically go away.
So, while I'm certain McIntyre will fail to provide adequate services, I'm still a huge fan of what he's doing. We are in absolute agreement on the fundamental concept that fixation is a very useful approach to brain preservation, and that it must be part of the standard protocol. All current cryonics cases are so damaged that simple biological revival will never be possible. So aldehyde is certainly not making the situation any worse, and is demonstrably making it better.