Principal Investigator: Dr. Michail Kastellorizios
Affiliation: Biorasis, Inc.
This project seeks to improve the accuracy of a wireless medically implantable continuous glucose biosensor (Glucowizzard) for day-to-day diabetes management. Slow glucose transport within human tissue (through the capillary walls and surrounding tissue toward the sensing site of the biosensor) can create delays of up to 20 minutes in real-time monitoring of glucose levels. This delay can be detrimental in achieving tight glycemic control, which has been linked to serious secondary complications in patients with diabetes. The ISS provides a microgravity environment in which reduced fluid movement allows precise monitoring of the role of diffusion in glucose transport, thus improving the mathematical models that determine the accuracy of the Glucowizzard continuous glucose monitoring biosensor.

Principal Investigator: Dr. Yang D. Teng
Affiliation: Brigham and Women’s Hospital
Clarify microgravity’s effects on the growth and differentiation of human cranial mesenchymal stromal stem cells (hCMSCs). The undifferentiated state of hCMSCs advocates pluripotency that enables efficient recovery from neural damage. Microgravity provides an advantage to produce pluripotent stem cells without any potential risk of genetic manipulations and chemical contamination.

Principal Investigator: Dr. Robert Schwartz
Affiliation: University of Houston System
This project seeks to evaluate a new approach, which has proven practical in ground-based simulated microgravity, to growing human tissue for transplant. This project will exploit microgravity onboard ISS to improve cell growth and development and 3-D tissue formation, enabling discoveries that will advance translational disease treatments. Specifically, this project will further refine tissue growth processes and identify the role of several cell proteins in growth, development, and disease (specifically, ischemic heart disease).

Principal Investigator: Dr. Alessandro Grattoni
Affiliation: Houston Methodist Research Institute
An implantable drug delivery system that circumvents the need for daily injections will be tested in a rodent model with microgravity-induced muscle atrophy. Specifically, the drug formoterol (an adrenalin substitute) will be administered by controlled release from a nanochannel implant to achieve a constant and reliable dosage. If successful, this system could serve as a universal technology for drug delivery and animal testing. In collaboration with Novartis and NanoMedical Systems, this validated system may rapidly translate into a commercial product.

Principal Investigator: Dr. Timothy Mueser
Affiliation: University of Toledo
The proposal seeks to utilize the International Space Station to improve protein crystal production and crystal quality for neutron diffraction (ND). The investigators propose to exploit microgravity environment of space to produce larger and higher quality crystals of a Salmonellatryptophan synthase (TS), cytosolic aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and a protein complex of a bacteriophage RNase H and single stranded DNA binding protein. The TS enzyme is not present in humans and important for bacterial growth. Inhibitors of this enzyme could have an impact on controlling Salmonella infections. The AST enzyme in humans is a biomarker for myocardial infarction or liver disease.

Principal Investigator: Dr. Alessandro Grattoni
Affiliation: Houston Methodist Research Institute
Study the effects of microgravity and radiation on mesenchymal stem cells grown on a novel scaffold of human acellularized lung tissue. More deeply understanding the kinetics and mechanisms of delivery and bio-distribution of the particles used for nanovector delivery of critical growth factors may impact how to administer these particles on Earth. The knowledge provided by this study will develop a stem cell mediated regeneration capability for human acellular lungs to engineer a functional new organ.

Principal Investigator: Dr. Mary Kearns-Jonker
Affiliation: Loma Linda University
Study aging of neonatal and adult cardiac stem cells in microgravity, toward improving cardiac cell therapy.

Principal Investigator: Andrey Kovalevsky
Affiliation: Oak Ridge National Lab
This project seeks to produce crystals of suitable size and quality for macromolecular neutron crystallography (MNC) analysis of the medically important enzyme acetylcholinesterase. In humans, this enzyme is responsible for degrading a specific neurotransmitter in the brain, and malfunction of the enzyme leads to a fatal increase of this neurotransmitter. Analysis using MNC has the unique ability to locate the position of hydrogen atoms within a crystal structure, providing essential insights into how an enzyme functions in the human body and how it might be altered by nerve agents to become toxic. However, even with recent advances in instrumentation, MNC still requires very large crystals for analysis, the production of which may be enabled by microgravity, which allows for more uniform crystal growth.

Principal Investigator: Dr. Chia Soo
Affiliation: University of California, Los Angeles
Test a drug that is both an anabolic and anti-osteoclastic agent (based on a protein, NELL-1) in mice experiencing spaceflight-induced accelerated bone loss. In general, current therapies for osteoporosis work by preventing bone loss. Because osteoporosis affects more than 200 million people worldwide, we need new, innovative treatments that promote bone formation.

Principal Investigator: Dr. Nikolaos Tapinos
Affiliation: LaunchPad Medical
The goal of this investigation is to explore the ability of Tetranite, a synthetic bone material capable of adhering bone to metal within minutes, to accelerate bone repair. It is well known that microgravity affects bone cell growth and healing, mimicking the symptoms observed in osteoporosis. The investigators seek to evaluate the response of osteoblasts (a bone cell subtype responsible for renewing bones) to Tetranite. Understanding bone cell-Tetranite interactions could provide insight into the post-fracture bone healing response and assist in the development of more effective treatments for patients with osteoporosis. In addition, this cell culture project should provide the basis for follow-on studies of the bone healing response in small rodents.