Preserving Life

Preserving Life
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R&D Roadmap

INTRODUCTION

What we’re working on

Looking into our future timeline

2026

Jan – New Platform and Market started
Mar – First 120 Member
Dez – Biostasis Conference

2027

Jan – Facilities was completed
Mar – Receive nomination
Dez – 220 members

2028

Jan – First crypreserved pacient
Mar – First crypreserved pet
Dez – Second ambulance operational

INTRODUCTION

INTRODUCTION

What we’ve created so far

OUR PRODUCTS

Passive-cooling dry ice transport box

 
If a patient passes away far from the long-term storage facility, their body (after cryoprotection by the medical team) needs to be transported to the facility by plane. Past patient transport boxes kept the body at a steady dry ice temperature, which is a temperature known to favor ice nucleation. Tomorrow Bio’s newly developed box can gradually cool down the patient while in transit and thereby minimize ice nucleation.
Read the report

To us, research and development mean two different things:

Research

Improving the existing human cryopreservation procedures and making them more robust and reliable in the short term.

Development

Advancing the overall field of cryonics in the long run — these are the most ambitious, long-shot projects.

INTRODUCTION

PERFUSION & PROCEDURES

We’re working on improving the following processes to make human cryopreservation better and more efficient.

Perfusion Protocols (Whole-Body Field Cryoprotection)

Problem

In most cases, either field washout (i.e. no on site perfusion of cryoprotective agent) or a neuro-focus CPA perfusion is used. This means that the patient is at a warmer temperature at the end of standby procedures, leading to more degradation before vitrification occurs at the long-term care facility.

Solution

Protocols and equipment targeted at whole-body field cryoprotection/perfusion allows for local cooldown to dry ice temperatures, enabling longer transport times without degradation and higher quality cryopreservations.

Perfusion Technology

Problem
Perfusion equipment differs significantly between countries and organizations — from gravity-feed perfusion and embalmer pumps to medical-grade perfusion circuits . Historically, Europe has been rather rudimentary in this regard. Employing professional perfusion equipment and procedures is an important step to improve quality.
 
Solution
For our whole-body cryoprotection procedure we will use professional medical-grade pumps and circuit setups (practically heart-lung machines) to improve quality with ideal pressure control, bubble-avoidance, pulsative flow, overpressure protection, etc. This setup will be enhanced continuously and additional local teams will be trained to perfect response times.

Storage

Problem
A good cryoprotection needs speed and skill. Speed to start cooling as soon as possible after circulatory arrest (and legally speaking after pronouncement) and skill to perform a high-quality cryoprotection. Unfortunately, member numbers even for the largest organizations are not large enough yet to allow for multiple professional teams that can be at the patients site without significant delay.
 
Solution
For now, a combination of local teams to allow for fast initial cooling combined with centrally positioned professional teams is the best solution. In most cases those local team are part-time and volunteer organizations. To support them as best as possible, we’re organizing trainings, offer hands-on support and advice and developing extensive digital support tools to allow good standby even in remote locations.

INTRODUCTION

QUALITY

We’re working on improving the following processes to make human cryopreservation better and more efficient.

Cooling Technology

Problem
Cooling technology is well established in lab or hospital settings, but complexity comes from field application. Techniques likes liquid ventilation, gastric lavage or fast extracorporeal bypass (before significant cooling) all require significant skill, comprehensive training and last but not least procedures and equipment that is realistically and reproducibly usable.
 
Solution
Apart from implementing robust external and internal cooling (via cooled perfusate), novel cooling methods promise faster cooling rates leading to less warm ischemia.

Toxicity Reduction and Markers

Problem
Some of the ingredients of CPAs are toxic. Understanding toxicity better (by establishing markers) and reduction of toxicity are important topics to limit the amount of cellular damage that needs to be repaired.
 
Solution
Toxicity can be reduced for example by combining ingredients that in combination are less toxic than they would be individually.
 
Solution
For now, a combination of local teams to allow for fast initial cooling combined with centrally positioned professional teams is the best solution. In most cases those local team are part-time and volunteer organizations. To support them as best as possible, we’re organizing trainings, offer hands-on support and advice and developing extensive digital support tools to allow good standby even in remote locations.

Quality Metrics

Problem
To improve in a goal-driven fashion, comprehensive outcome metrics are required. Similar to those in medicine such as 5-year survival rate in cancer treatments or re-hospitalization and complication rate in operations.
Solution
While some quality metrics exist (extent of dehydration and ice formation measured by CT scan), significant more work is required. Establishing new and improving existing metrics is a short/mid-term focus for us.

INTRODUCTION

IMPROVEMENTS & ISCHEMIA

We’re working on improving the following processes to make human cryopreservation better and more efficient.

Improvement of Cryoprotective Agents (CPA)

Problem
The quality of cryoprotective agents is one of the most crucial factors determining overall quality.
 
Solution
Our primary focus is the optimization for “real-world situation” as opposed to lab-settings. Lab settings are usually the well controlled and ideal, real world situations are less. Topics include the addition of blood-brain-barrier openers, optimization for transport times, edema reduction, optimization for different tissues, etc.

New CPAs

Problem
Creating new CPAs has been tried in the past by multiple organizations without much/no improvement over existing options.
 
Solution
Similar to improving existing CPAs, creating new ones purpose-built for non-ideal (non-lab) situations is a valuable endeavour. There is interesting and promising basic research but translating it might pose significant challenges.

Ischemia

Problem
Ischemia is one of the fundamental problems of today’s cryopreservation practise. It leads to diverse issues such as perfusion impairment, edema, pressure increase, etc.
 
Solution
Our research projects focus on improving the handling of non-ideal cases with different degrees of ischemia. Approaches include different CPAs, perfusion techniques,  decompressive craniotomie, etc. We also work on logistical optimization to reduce ischemia in the first place.

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