# Key Points from #hplusroadmap IRC Discussion

• The Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP) was highlighted as an 8-year dual MD-PhD program with government funding, showing pathways for formal education in transhumanist-relevant research fields.

• Open-source design tools were being actively developed, with technical discussions about SKDB (Software Knowledge Database) implementation and compatibility issues with PythonOCC, reflecting the community's commitment to accessible design technologies.

• The growth of organized transhumanism was evident with the mention of "Människa Plus," a new initiative started by philosophy students in Stockholm, demonstrating the international spread of transhumanist communities.

• Bioinformatics and genomics were key areas of interest, with GitHub repositories for fungal genomics tools being shared among participants, indicating ongoing open-source development in biological sciences.

• Sleep research was a significant topic, covering non-24-hour sleep-wake syndrome, polyphasic sleep patterns, and scientific studies showing how 90-minute naps improve learning ability.

• The intersection of transhumanism with maker culture was apparent through discussions of hackerspaces (including Austin Hackerspace and Confusion Research Center) and comparisons of open-source fabrication technologies like RepRap versus MakerBot 3D printers.

• Resource repositories like DesignFiles.org were referenced as hosting papers related to transhumanism and longevity research, showing the community's focus on knowledge sharing and scientific advancement.