• Comprehensive paper about the persistence of the fine structure of the brain after prolonged normothermic and cold ischemia: de Wolf A, Phaedra C, Perry RM, Maire M, in: Rejuvenation Research, (2020, vol. 23 (3), “Ultrastructural Characterization of Prolonged Normothermic and Cold Cerebral Ischemia in the Adult Rat”, pg. 193-206.
• First demonstration of whole brain vitrification with perfect preservation of neural connectivity (“connectome”) throughout the entire brain: McIntyre RM, Fahy GM, in: Cryobiology, (2015, vol. 71), “Aldehyde-stabilized cryopreservation“, pg. 448-458. PDF here.
• First demonstration of memory retention in a cryopreserved and revived animal: Vita-More N, Barranco D, in: Rejuvenation Research, (2015, vol. 18), “Persistence of Long-Term Memory in Vitrified and Revived Caenorhabditis elegans“, pg. 458-463. PDF here.
• First successful vitrification, transplantation, and long-term survival of a vital mammalian organ.
  Fahy GM, Wowk B, Pagotan R, Chang A, Phan J, Thomson B, Phan L, in: Organogensis (2009, vol. 5), “Physical and biological aspects of renal vitrification“, pg. 167-175. Full paper here [PDF].
• Review of scientific justifications of cryonics:
  Best BP, in: Rejuvenation Research (2008, vol. 11), “Scientific justification of cryonics practice“, pg. 493-503. Full paper here PDF.
• First demonstration that both the viability and structure of complex neural networks can be well preserved by vitrification.
  Pichugin Y, Fahy GM, Morin R, in: Cryobiology (2006, vol. 52), “Cryopreservation of rat hippocampal slices by vitrification“, pg. 228-240. Full paper here [PDF].
• First discussion of cryonics in a major medical journal.
  Whetstine L, Streat S, Darwin M, Crippen D, in: Critical Care (2005, vol. 9), “Pro/con ethics debate: When is dead really dead?“, pg. 538-542. PDF version here.
• First paper showing good ultrastructure of vitrified/rewarmed mammalian brains and the reversibility of prolonged warm ischemic injury in dogs without subsequent neurological deficits, and setting forth the present scientific evidence in support of cryonics.    
  Lemler J, Harris SB, Platt C, Huffman T, in: Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences (2004, vol. 1019), “The Arrest of Biological Time as a Bridge to Engineered Negligible Senescence“, pg. 559-563. Full paper here.
• First report of the consistent survival of transplanted kidneys after cooling to and rewarming from -45°C.
  Fahy GM, Wowk B, Wu J, Phan J, Rasch C, Chang A, Zendejas E, in: Cryobiology (2004, vol. 48), “Cryopreservation of organs by vitrification: perspectives and recent advances“, pg. 157-178. Full paper here [PDF].
• Rigorous demonstration of memory retention following profound hypothermia, confirming theoretical expectation and clinical experience.
  Alam HB, Bowyer MW, Koustova E, Gushchin V, Anderson D, Stanton K, Kreishman P, Cryer CM, Hancock T, Rhee P, in: Surgery (2002, vol. 132), “Learning and memory is preserved after induced asanguineous hyperkalemic hypothermic arrest in a swine model of traumatic exsanguination“, pg. 278-88.
• First successful application of vitrification to a relatively large tissue of medical interest.
  Song YC, Khirabadi BS, Lightfoot F, Brockbank KG, Taylor MJ, in: Nature Biotechnology (2000, vol. 18), “Vitreous cryopreservation maintains the function of vascular grafts“, pg. 296-299.
• First detailed discussion of the application of nanotechnology to revive cryonics patients.
  Merkle RC, in: Medical Hypotheses (1992, vol. 39), “The technical feasibility of cryonics“, pg. 6-16. Expanded full paper version here.
• First paper showing that dogs can be recovered after three hours of total circulatory arrest (“clinical death”) at 0°C (32°F). This supports the reversibility of the hypothermic phase of cryonics.
  Haneda K, Thomas R, Sands MP, Breazeale DG, Dillard DH, in: Cryobiology (1986, vol. 23), Whole body protection during three hours of total circulatory arrest: an experimental study“, pg. 483-494.
• First paper showing that large organs can be cryopreserved without structural damage from ice.
  Fahy GM, MacFarlane DR, Angell CA, Meryman HT, in: Cryobiology (1984, vol. 21), “Vitrification as an approach to cryopreservation“, pg. 407-426.
• First paper suggesting that nanotechnology could reverse freezing injury.
  Drexler KE, in: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (1981,vol. 78), “Molecular engineering: An approach to the development of general capabilities for molecular manipulation“, pg. 5275-5278. Full paper here.
• First paper showing partial recovery of brain electrical activity
  after 7 years of frozen storage.
  Suda I, Kito K, Adachi C, in: Brain Research (1974, vol. 70), “Bioelectric discharges of isolated cat brain after revival from years of frozen storage“, pg. 527-531.
• First paper showing recovery of a mammalian organ after cooling to -196°C (liquid nitrogen temperature) and subsequent transplantation.
  Hamilton R, Holst HI, Lehr HB, in: Journal of Surgical Research (1973, vol 14), “Successful preservation of canine small intestine by freezing“, pg. 313-318.
• First paper to propose cryonics by neuropreservation.
  Martin G, in: Perspectives in Biology and Medicine (1971, vol. 14), “Brief proposal on immortality: an interim solution“, pg. 339.
• Paper showing recovery of brain electrical activity after freezing to -20°C.
  Suda I, Kito K, Adachi C, in: Nature (1966, vol. 212), “Viability of long term frozen cat brain in vitro“, 268-270.

For many more references, see the articles in the Alcor Library section on The Scientific Basis for Cryonics.