Alcor Life Extension Foundation

Cryopreservation, cryonics, vitrification, organ preservation

USnon-profitest. 1972alcor.org (opens alcor.org)Checked 11 Oct

The brief

Analyst view
  • Alcor preserves 263 patients (humans and pets) and manages 1,535 living members worldwide.
  • Rothblatt family donated one of Alcor's largest gifts in 2025, funding research lab expansion.
  • Current research includes whole-body CT scanning, kidney vitrification at 40% success, and antifreeze-protein gene therapy.

Technical approach

As reported
Cryopreservation Protocol

Vitrification to -196°C

Multi-step perfusion replaces body water with cryoprotectant solutions, cooling to liquid nitrogen temperature without ice-crystal formation.

Imaging

In-house whole-body CT scanning

Alcor scans cryopreserved patients to verify cryoprotectant penetration and protocol adherence.

Organ Vitrification

Kidney preservation without freezing damage

Alcor tests kidney vitrification achieving successful preservation in ~40% of preclinical cases.

Antifreeze Proteins

Gene therapy to reduce ice formation

Research integrates antifreeze-protein genes into cells for survival at liquid nitrogen temperature.

Primer