Adventures in Suspended Animation - Dr. Mark Roth

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A virtual conversation with world-renowned cell biologist Dr. Mark Roth, Principal Investigator, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center // More ↓

About: Like a hibernating bear, some organisms can induce a state of reversible suspended animation to survive the damage caused by extreme conditions or trauma.

On April 22, 2021, cell biologist Mark Roth illustrated this biological phenomenon by describing his work to treat heart attack, an emergency in which part of the heart muscle rapidly enters into suspended animation while the rest of the body attempts to remain animated.

Roth is trying to understand the fundamental similarities between naturally occurring suspended animation and anecdotal examples of human “near-death” experiences—like surviving a heart attack. This knowledge could potentially lead to the development of life-saving treatments.

With this aim, he is working with a series of essential elements—including iodine and hydrogen selenide—that redistribute inside an animal’s cells during altered states of animation. Roth found that some of these same elements can not only create states of suspended animation in animals; when administered, they can also improve the ability to reanimate.

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The Carnegie Institution for Science, Department of Embryology

Carnegie's Department of Embryology has become recognized worldwide as one of the premier research centers in cellular, developmental, and genetic biology. The department has a unique atmosphere and research style that have allowed a small enterprise to have a disproportionately large impact on science. We revere this atmosphere as the source of our inspiration and strive to further improve it as the department evolves within the current milieu of intensive activity, investment, and opportunity in the biological sciences.