Greg Fahy
Encyclopedia
Gregory M. Fahy is a cryobiologist
and biogerontologist
, and is also Vice President and Chief Scientific Officer at Twenty-First Century Medicine
, Inc. Fahy is the world's foremost expert in organ cryopreservation by vitrification. Fahy introduced the modern successful approach to vitrification for cryopreservation
in cryobiology
and he is widely credited, along with William F. Rall, for introducing vitrification into the field of reproductive biology
.
In the summer of 2005, where he was a keynote speaker at the annual Society for Cryobiology meeting, Fahy announced that Twenty-First Century Medicine
had successfully cryopreserved
a rabbit kidney at -130°C by vitrification and transplanted it into a rabbit after rewarming, with subsequent long-term life support by the vitrified-rewarmed kidney as the sole kidney. This research breakthrough was later published in the peer-reviewed journal Organogenesis.
Fahy is also a well-known biogerontologist
and is the originator and Editor-in-Chief of The Future of Aging: Pathways to Human Life Extension, a multi-authored book on the future of biogerontology. He currently serves on the editorial boards of Rejuvenation Research
and the Open Geriatric Medicine Journal and served for 16 years as a Director of the American Aging Association
and for 6 years as the editor of AGE News, the organization's newsletter.
. As a scientist with the American Red Cross
, he was the originator of the first practical method of cryopreservation by vitrification and the inventor of computer
-based systems to apply this technology to whole organs
. Before joining Twenty-First Century Medicine, he was the chief scientist for Organ, Inc and of LRT, Inc. He was also Head of the Tissue Cryopreservation Section of the Transfusion
and Cryopreservation Research Program of the U.S. Naval Medical Research Institute
in Bethesda, Maryland
where he spearheaded the original concept of ice blocking agents.
, Fahy holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology
from the University of California, Irvine
and a Ph.D. in pharmacology
from the Medical College of Georgia in Augusta
.
He currently serves on the board of directors of two organizations, as a referee for numerous scientific journals and funding agencies, and holds nearly 30 patents on cryopreservation methods, aging interventions, transplantation, and other topics.
Cryobiology
Cryobiology is the branch of biology that studies the effects of low temperatures on living things. The word cryobiology is derived from the Greek words "cryo" = cold, "bios" = life, and "logos" = science. In practice, cryobiology is the study of biological material or systems at temperatures below...
and biogerontologist
Gerontology
Gerontology is the study of the social, psychological and biological aspects of aging...
, and is also Vice President and Chief Scientific Officer at Twenty-First Century Medicine
Twenty-First Century Medicine
21st Century Medicine is a California cryobiological research company which has as its primary focus the development of perfusates and protocols for viable long-term cryopreservation of human organs, tissues and cells at cryogenic temperatures through the use of vitrification. Dr. Gregory M...
, Inc. Fahy is the world's foremost expert in organ cryopreservation by vitrification. Fahy introduced the modern successful approach to vitrification for cryopreservation
Cryopreservation
Cryopreservation is a process where cells or whole tissues are preserved by cooling to low sub-zero temperatures, such as 77 K or −196 °C . At these low temperatures, any biological activity, including the biochemical reactions that would lead to cell death, is effectively stopped...
in cryobiology
Cryobiology
Cryobiology is the branch of biology that studies the effects of low temperatures on living things. The word cryobiology is derived from the Greek words "cryo" = cold, "bios" = life, and "logos" = science. In practice, cryobiology is the study of biological material or systems at temperatures below...
and he is widely credited, along with William F. Rall, for introducing vitrification into the field of reproductive biology
Reproductive biology
Reproductive biology is a study mainly involving the reproductive system and sex organs. It is closely related to reproductive endocrinology and infertility. also is miotosis and miosis...
.
In the summer of 2005, where he was a keynote speaker at the annual Society for Cryobiology meeting, Fahy announced that Twenty-First Century Medicine
Twenty-First Century Medicine
21st Century Medicine is a California cryobiological research company which has as its primary focus the development of perfusates and protocols for viable long-term cryopreservation of human organs, tissues and cells at cryogenic temperatures through the use of vitrification. Dr. Gregory M...
had successfully cryopreserved
Cryopreservation
Cryopreservation is a process where cells or whole tissues are preserved by cooling to low sub-zero temperatures, such as 77 K or −196 °C . At these low temperatures, any biological activity, including the biochemical reactions that would lead to cell death, is effectively stopped...
a rabbit kidney at -130°C by vitrification and transplanted it into a rabbit after rewarming, with subsequent long-term life support by the vitrified-rewarmed kidney as the sole kidney. This research breakthrough was later published in the peer-reviewed journal Organogenesis.
Fahy is also a well-known biogerontologist
Gerontology
Gerontology is the study of the social, psychological and biological aspects of aging...
and is the originator and Editor-in-Chief of The Future of Aging: Pathways to Human Life Extension, a multi-authored book on the future of biogerontology. He currently serves on the editorial boards of Rejuvenation Research
Rejuvenation Research
Rejuvenation Research is a multidisciplinary peer-reviewed bimonthly scientific journal published by Mary Ann Liebert that investigates rejuvenation therapies.The editor-in-chief is Aubrey de Grey...
and the Open Geriatric Medicine Journal and served for 16 years as a Director of the American Aging Association
American Aging Association
The American Aging Association is a non-profit, tax-exempt biogerontology organization of scientists and laypeople dedicated to biomedical aging studies intended to slow the aging process. The abbreviation AGE is intended to be representative of the organization, even though it is not an acronym...
and for 6 years as the editor of AGE News, the organization's newsletter.
Previous research experience
Fahy has over thirty years of experience in the field of cryopreservationCryopreservation
Cryopreservation is a process where cells or whole tissues are preserved by cooling to low sub-zero temperatures, such as 77 K or −196 °C . At these low temperatures, any biological activity, including the biochemical reactions that would lead to cell death, is effectively stopped...
. As a scientist with the American Red Cross
American Red Cross
The American Red Cross , also known as the American National Red Cross, is a volunteer-led, humanitarian organization that provides emergency assistance, disaster relief and education inside the United States. It is the designated U.S...
, he was the originator of the first practical method of cryopreservation by vitrification and the inventor of computer
Computer
A computer is a programmable machine designed to sequentially and automatically carry out a sequence of arithmetic or logical operations. The particular sequence of operations can be changed readily, allowing the computer to solve more than one kind of problem...
-based systems to apply this technology to whole organs
Organ (anatomy)
In biology, an organ is a collection of tissues joined in structural unit to serve a common function. Usually there is a main tissue and sporadic tissues . The main tissue is the one that is unique for the specific organ. For example, main tissue in the heart is the myocardium, while sporadic are...
. Before joining Twenty-First Century Medicine, he was the chief scientist for Organ, Inc and of LRT, Inc. He was also Head of the Tissue Cryopreservation Section of the Transfusion
Blood transfusion
Blood transfusion is the process of receiving blood products into one's circulation intravenously. Transfusions are used in a variety of medical conditions to replace lost components of the blood...
and Cryopreservation Research Program of the U.S. Naval Medical Research Institute
National Naval Medical Center
The National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland, USA — commonly known as the Bethesda Naval Hospital — was for decades the flagship of the United States Navy's system of medical centers. A federal institution, it conducted medical and dental research as well as providing health care for...
in Bethesda, Maryland
Bethesda, Maryland
Bethesda is a census designated place in southern Montgomery County, Maryland, United States, just northwest of Washington, D.C. It takes its name from a local church, the Bethesda Meeting House , which in turn took its name from Jerusalem's Pool of Bethesda...
where he spearheaded the original concept of ice blocking agents.
Education
A native of CaliforniaCalifornia
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, Fahy holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology
Biology
Biology is a natural science concerned with the study of life and living organisms, including their structure, function, growth, origin, evolution, distribution, and taxonomy. Biology is a vast subject containing many subdivisions, topics, and disciplines...
from the University of California, Irvine
University of California, Irvine
The University of California, Irvine , founded in 1965, is one of the ten campuses of the University of California, located in Irvine, California, USA...
and a Ph.D. in pharmacology
Pharmacology
Pharmacology is the branch of medicine and biology concerned with the study of drug action. More specifically, it is the study of the interactions that occur between a living organism and chemicals that affect normal or abnormal biochemical function...
from the Medical College of Georgia in Augusta
Medical College of Georgia
Georgia Health Sciences University formerly known as, and now home of the, Medical College of Georgia , is a public academic health center, with its main campus located in the Medical District of Augusta, Georgia. It is the smallest of four research universities in the University System of Georgia...
.
He currently serves on the board of directors of two organizations, as a referee for numerous scientific journals and funding agencies, and holds nearly 30 patents on cryopreservation methods, aging interventions, transplantation, and other topics.
See also
- BiogerontologyGerontologyGerontology is the study of the social, psychological and biological aspects of aging...
- CryobiologyCryobiologyCryobiology is the branch of biology that studies the effects of low temperatures on living things. The word cryobiology is derived from the Greek words "cryo" = cold, "bios" = life, and "logos" = science. In practice, cryobiology is the study of biological material or systems at temperatures below...
- Life extensionLife extensionLife extension science, also known as anti-aging medicine, experimental gerontology, and biomedical gerontology, is the study of slowing down or reversing the processes of aging to extend both the maximum and average lifespan...
- Twenty-First Century MedicineTwenty-First Century Medicine21st Century Medicine is a California cryobiological research company which has as its primary focus the development of perfusates and protocols for viable long-term cryopreservation of human organs, tissues and cells at cryogenic temperatures through the use of vitrification. Dr. Gregory M...
, Inc. - Cryopreservation#Vitrification