Houston and Bellevue, WA, October 24, 2016

Seattle Photonics Associates, a recent National Space Biomedical Research Institute (NSBRI) grant recipient, is developing in-flight retinal imaging technology for possible use in space. The novel imaging technology builds on work supported by Intellectual Ventures’ Invention Science Fund (ISF). The aim is for Seattle Photonics Associates to enhance capabilities to unobtrusively and accurately monitor changes in astronauts’ eyes due to extended exposure to microgravity.

“We are really excited to work with NSBRI along with ISF on a project that makes human space travel safer. The opportunity to expand optical diagnostic capabilities to space-based platforms is technically challenging, however we’re very well positioned with our expertise and experience to be able to leverage much of the new technology in the medical and commercial arenas,” said Ned Nestorovic, President and Chief Optical Officer at Seattle Photonics Associates.

“ISF has developed a number of imaging innovations with exciting applications in the health and medical sectors and we’re proud to work with Seattle Photonics Associates, along with the support of NSBRI, to demonstrate how these innovations can provide benefits in such a unique environment,” said Kate Sharadin a Senior Director at ISF. “The technologies being studied are at the front and center of the future of healthcare delivery where patients will benefit from unobtrusive, passive technologies known as healthcare anytime, anywhere.” ISF is providing Seattle Photonics Associates with a development license pertaining to the novel imaging technology on which the study is based.

“This type of partnership facilitated by the Space Medical And Related Technologies Commercialization Assistance Program (SMARTCAP) grant is exactly what is needed to attain space-relevant medical solutions in a timely and cost-effective manner. We approached ISF and Seattle Photonics with this out-of-this-world challenge because we believe that they can deliver,” said Dr. Dorit Donoviel, Deputy Chief Scientist and Industry Forum Lead for NSBRI.

The proof of concept of the novel imaging technology being developed by Seattle Photonic Associates is scheduled for demonstration by mid-2017. If operationalized, this technology may have utility in the early diagnosis of the pathology developed by some astronauts during long duration missions on the International Space Station.

About NSBRI

NSBRI, a 501(c)(3) organization partnered with NASA, is studying the health risks related to long-duration spaceflight and developing the technologies and countermeasures needed for human space exploration missions. The Institute’s science, technology and career development projects take place at approximately 60 institutions, distributed across the United States. For more information, please visit www.nsbri.org. The Industry Forum engages the private sector to develop medical products for both space and Earth through commercialization activities and seed funding. For media inquiries, please contact Graham B.I. Scott, Ph.D. Vice President, Chief Scientist & Institute Associate Director, NSBRI. Graham.scott@bcm.edu. 713-798-7227.

About Seattle Photonics Associates
Over the last 15 years Seattle Photonics Associates has helped clients find solutions to a wide variety of challenges in many different optical systems. These solutions have ranged from low cost off the shelf recommendations for commercial products, to highly detailed analyses on complex space based platforms.  We have worked independently to help our clients, and we have also worked on-site with the engineering teams of our clients.

About Intellectual Ventures

Intellectual Ventures is a global inventions company. Founded in 2000, we provide the world’s most innovative companies with access to valuable patents and invention related services while creating a wide range of technology-focused partnerships and wholly new companies. Our Invention Science Fund supports 11 of the top 50 U.S. inventors in history, inventing, developing and commercializing breakthrough inventions in fields as broad as agriculture, energy, healthcare, metamaterials, advanced applications of physics and more. These inventions have led to an array of spinout companies and products that have received hundreds of millions of investment dollars. For press inquiries, please contact press@intven.com. For all other inquiries, please contact info@intven.com or follow us on Twitter @IVinvents.

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Houston, May 17, 2016. Two small companies developing products to protect humans from the damaging effects of radiation exposure have been selected to receive grants from the National Space Biomedical Research Institute (NSBRI).  Entrinsic Health Solutions, Inc. (EHS), located in Norwood, MA, is an innovative health sciences company dedicated to the development and commercialization of amino acid based medical foods to address critical digestive health, nutrition and hydration related health issues.  The Company is involved in several on-going clinical trials designed to test the efficacy of their proprietary Amino Acid Coupled Transport (A₂CT) Technology for oncology and digestive health applications. Humanetics Corporation, headquartered in Edina, MN, is developing BIO 300, a uniquely formulated isoflavone, derived from soy, as a genomic stabilizer of healthy tissues exposed to medical radiation received during cancer therapy or from diagnostic procedures such at computed tomography (CT) scans.

Radiation is the number one health risk facing humans in deep space.  Physical or magnetic shielding from space radiation is not currently feasible. In particular it is difficult to protect astronauts from the harmful health effects of high energy galactic cosmic rays (GCR) and unexpected solar particle events (SPEs). Hence, the development and validation of biological countermeasures is an important step in protecting astronauts from the adverse effects of ionizing radiation during long-duration deep space travel. The NSBRI Industry Forum’s SMARTCAP2016 initiative, BioShield 4 Mars, was designed to address this mission critical risk by awarding grants to companies developing a biological countermeasure.

EHS’ proprietary A₂CT platform leverages gold-standard science and game-changing amino acid technology to address critical digestive- and hydration-related health issues. A₂CT technology uses select amino acids to facilitate active transport of electrolytes throughout the body which delivers rapid hydration, decreased gut permeability and improved nutrient absorption, supporting long-term digestive health. The Company’s first commercial product, enterade®, is a first-in-class amino acid based medical food beverage that hydrates, rebuilds, and protects the gut lining and helps manage certain side effects of radiation as well as chemotherapy.  Using a prior SMARTCAP grant, the company demonstrated that enterade® protected mice exposed to low and high doses of proton irradiation, reducing nausea and weight loss, and increasing survival.  EHS will use the BioShield 4 Mars grant to fund a Phase II clinical trial in patients undergoing myelo-ablative treatment with melphalan, a radiation mimetic, prior to bone marrow transplant.  Stephen J. Gatto, Chairman and CEO of EHS stated “We are honored to again work with the scientists at NSBRI and NASA to ascertain the utility of enterade® as a biological countermeasure that may protect our astronauts while in space and also mitigate the debilitating gastrointestinal side effects of commonly used oncology treatments on Earth.”

Humanetics Corporation will use the BioShield 4 Mars grant from NSBRI to evaluate BIO 300 as a radio-protectant in animals exposed to high energy proton radiation.  The company has already evaluated BIO 300 extensively using lower energy conventional radiation. This new study will test the efficacy against exposure(s) that more closely resemble space radiation.  “It is important to explore the radio-protectant capabilities of BIO 300 against space-like radiation and Humanetics is benefiting greatly from the experience of NSBRI and NASA in designing studies to evaluate this technology.” said Ronald J. Zenk, MBA, President and CEO.

“Entrinsic Health Solutions and Humanetics Corporation are both advancing new approaches to mitigate the damaging effects of radiation on healthy tissues. These promising products have the potential of alleviating radiation induced symptoms experienced by astronauts as well as by patients on Earth. Our job is to accelerate promising technologies by providing seed funding and direction,” said Dorit Donoviel, Ph.D., NSBRI Deputy Chief Scientist and Industry Forum Lead. “The Space Medical and Related Technologies Commercialization Assistance Program (SMARTCAP) offers grants that help small companies broaden the reach of their products, open new market opportunities, and simultaneously address the significant challenges faced by humans living and working in space.” The program is administered by NSBRI’s Industry Forum and funding requires a 100-percent match from non-federal sources.

A video describing the program along with company interviews can be accessed at BioShield 4 Mars.  Additional information regarding SMARTCAP and other grant recipients is located at www.smartcap.org.  All grant recipients secured a 100-percent match in funding, which leveraged the federal funding and actively fostered public-private collaborations and partnerships.

NSBRI, a 501(c)(3) organization partnered with NASA, is studying the health risks related to long-duration spaceflight and developing the technologies and countermeasures needed for human space exploration missions. The Institute’s science, technology and career development projects take place at approximately 60 institutions, distributed across the United States. For more information, please visit www.nsbri.org. The Industry Forum engages the private sector to develop medical products for both space and Earth through commercialization activities and seed funding. Find out more at www.NSBRIforum.org and follow the NSBRI Industry Forum on Twitter and Facebook.

Contact:
Graham B.I. Scott, Ph.D.
Vice President, Chief Scientist & Institute Associate Director
National Space Biomedical Research Institute (NSBRI)
Graham.scott@bcm.edu
713-798-7227

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The Program and NSBRI work together to address the practical problems of spaceflight that impact astronaut health and their research may provide knowledge and technologies that could improve human health and performance during space exploration and develop potential countermeasures for problems experienced during space travel. The organizations’ goals are to help astronauts complete their challenging missions successfully and to preserve their long-term health.

These investigations will take place on the International Space Station as well as in ground-analog settings that mimic the spaceflight environment. Among those studies, Dr. Ashley Weaver, Assistant Professor in Biomedical Engineering at Wake Forest University, will measure changes in astronauts’ vertebrae and spinal muscles before and after long duration spaceflight.

Dr. Lori Ploutz-Snyder, Lead Scientist for Exercise Physiology and Countermeasures at NASA Johnson Space Center, will characterize the relationship between gravitational dose and acute physiologic responses of the cardiovascular, cerebrovascular, ocular, muscular, and sensorimotor systems using parabolic flight.

Dr. Michael Bailey, Assistant Professor in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Washington in Seattle, will refine methods to treat kidney stones in crewmembers participating in long duration spaceflight missions.

The selected proposals are from 19 institutions in 11 states and will receive a total of approximately $12 million during a one- to three-year period. The 27 projects were selected from 131 proposals received in response to the research announcements entitled, “Research and Technology Development to Support Crew Health and Performance in Space Exploration Missions” and “NASA’s Human Research Program Artificial Gravity Opportunity.” Science and technology experts from academia, government and industry reviewed the proposals. NASA will manage 20 of the projects and NSBRI will manage seven. Ten of the investigators are new to both organizations, and two of the selected projects will be jointly funded by the Human Research Program and NASA’s Space Biology Program.

The Human Research Program quantifies crew health and performance risks during spaceflight and develops strategies that mission planners and system developers can use to monitor and mitigate these risks. These studies often lead to advancements in understanding and treating illnesses in patients on Earth.

NSBRI is studying the health risks related to long-duration spaceflight and developing the technologies and countermeasures needed for human space exploration missions. The Institute’s science, technology and career development projects take place at approximately 60 institutions across the United States.

For information about NSBRI’s science, technology and career development programs, visit www.nsbri.org.

The complete list of the selected proposals, principal investigators and organizations is below:

• Michael Bailey, University Of Washington, Seattle, “A Phantom and Test Bed to Enhance Kidney Stone Comminution by Therapeutic Ultrasound”
• Laura Barger, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, “Environmental Factors Associated with Sleep Deficiency During Spaceflight”
• Laura Barger, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, “The Impact of Objectively Measured Sleep Deficiency and Circadian Misalignment on Performance During Spaceflight”
• Silvia Blemker, University of Virginia, “Development of a Muscle Adaptation in Space-Flight Simulator”
• Susan Bloomfield, Texas A&M University, “Mitigating Radiation-Induced Bone Loss via Dietary Modulation of Inflammatory Cytokines”
• Lung-Chi Chen, New York University School of Medicine, “Adverse Cardiopulmonary Effects of Exposure to Extraterrestrial Dusts – Implications for Space Travel”
• Christopher Ethier, Georgia Institute of Technology, “VIIP Simulations of CSF, Hemodynamics and Ocular Risk”
• Karen Feigh, Georgia Institute of Technology, “Objective Function Allocation Method for Human-Automation/Robotic Interaction using Work Models that Compute”
• Stephen Fiore, University Of Central Florida, “Macrocognition in Teams:  Examining and Developing Team Cognitive Processes and Products in the Context of Long Duration Exploration Missions”
• Ute Fischer, Georgia Institute of Technology, “Understanding Key Components of Successful Autonomous Space Missions”
• Charles Fuller, University of California, Davis, “Partial-Gravity Dose Response: Roles of Vestibular Input and Sex in Response to Artificial Gravity”
• Jeffrey Hoffman, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, “Quantifying and Preventing EVA Injury in Exploration Environments”
• Vera Khokhlova, University Of Washington, Seattle, “Development and Validation of Therapeutic Ultrasound for Bloodless Surgery in Clinical Simulation in an Analog Environment”
• Steve Kozlowski, Michigan State University, “Team Cohesion Monitoring Badge: Development of Galvanic Skin Resistance Modality”
• David Martin, NASA Johnson Space Center, “Autonomous Diagnostic Imaging Performed by Untrained Operators Using Augmented Reality as a Form of ‘Just-in-Time’ Training”
• Christopher Mason, Weill Medical College of Cornell University, “An Integrated Framework for Characterization of the Noncoding Genome and Epigenome in Astronauts”
• Anne McLaughlin, North Carolina State University, “Creating a Taxonomy of Variables Affecting Cognitive Aid Design via an Investigation of Hybrid Aids”
• Jeevan Perera, NASA Johnson Space Center, “NextGen Crew Countermeasure Software for Exploration Mission Support”
• Lori Ploutz-Snyder, NASA Johnson Space Center, “Gravitational Dose and Multi-System Physiologic Response”
• Brinda Rana, University Of California, San Diego, “Identification of Functional Metabolomic Profiles Contributing to Physiological Adaptations to Simulated Spaceflight”
• Seward Rutkove, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, “Musculoskeletal Response to a Partial-Gravity Analog in Rats: Structural, Functional and Molecular Alterations”
• Ann-Sofie Schreurs, NASA Ames Research Center, “Candidate Nutritional Countermeasure to Mitigate Adverse Effects of Spaceflight”
• Guillaume Spielmann, Louisiana State University, “The Impact of Long Duration Spaceflight on the Function of B-cells and Biomarkers of Inflammation”
• Michael Stenger, NASA Johnson Space Center, “Impact of +Gz and -Gz Induced Fluid Shifts on Ocular and Cerebral Parameters during Simulated Orion Re-Entry”
• Scott Tannenbaum, The Group for Organizational Effectiveness, “A Multi-Faceted Approach to Examine Team Adaptation and Resilience within Isolated, Confined, and Extreme Environments”
• Ashley Weaver, Wake Forest University, “Quantitative CT and MRI-based Modeling Assessment of Dynamic Vertebral Strength and Injury Risk Following Long-Duration Spaceflight”
• Steven Yule, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, “Developing and Validating Specific Medical Event Management Training Protocols for Flight Crews on Deep Space, Long-Duration Space Exploration Missions”

NASA Contact:

John B. Charles, Ph.D.
Chief Scientist
NASA Human Research Program
john.b.charles@nasa.gov
281-483-7224

NSBRI Contact:

Graham B.I. Scott, Ph.D.
Vice President, Chief Scientist & Institute Associate Director
National Space Biomedical Research Institute (NSBRI)
graham.scott@bcm.edu
713-798-7227

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Houston — Small U.S.-based companies developing countermeasures to protect healthy tissue from the effects of radiation exposures may be eligible for a unique funding opportunity offered through the National Space Biomedical Research Institute (NSBRI). NSBRI’s Industry Forum is soliciting applications for its Space Medical and Related Technologies Commercialization Assistance Program (SMARTCAP). SMARTCAP grants are used to accelerate the development of products meeting a need on Earth as well as in space.

Physical or magnetic shielding from space radiation, particularly protecting against high energy galactic cosmic rays (GCR) and sudden solar particle events (SPEs), is not currently feasible. Hence, the development and validation of biological countermeasures are required to protect astronauts against the adverse effects of ionizing radiation during long-duration space travel. Ionizing radiation affects a plurality of organ systems. It is highly unlikely that one countermeasure will address all facets of radiation toxicity. Hence, applicants should focus on certain tissue-specific effects. Of particular interest are foods, pharmaceuticals, drinks or nutraceuticals that protect the gastrointestinal tract, the brain, the lung, the heart, and the immune and hematopoietic systems from insults due to radiation and other environmental influences.

“SMARTCAP 2016 offers non-dilutive grants to assist small companies with scientifically proven countermeasures to mitigate and/or protect healthy tissue from the adverse effects of radiation exposure. This funding typically broadens the reach of a company’s products, opens new market opportunities, while simultaneously addressing the significant challenges faced by humans living and working in space,” said Dr. Dorit Donoviel, NSBRI’s Deputy Chief Scientist and Industry Forum Lead. Having learned that the Earth market for radiation protectants is relatively small, making it difficult to raise sufficient capital to gain regulatory approvals, the BioShield4Mars grant should be used to support a new application of the countermeasure for an indication other than radiation protection in order to de-risk the investment. “We are looking for promising products that protect healthy tissues from radiation damage but also have other medical applications. This would ensure that the products are commercialized faster to benefit both astronauts and folks on Earth,” explained Dr. Donoviel. Examples of desirable project goals are proof-of-concept studies, pre-clinical or pilot clinical studies for the new indication, or reformulation and safety testing.

Funding is provided through the Space Medical and Related Technologies Commercialization Assistance Program (SMARTCAP), administered by NSBRI’s Industry Forum. SMARTCAP grants are used to partner with the private sector to accelerate the development of products meeting a need in space as well as on Earth and advance the product’s commercialization. To be considered for a BioShield4Mars grant, applications must be received no later than 5 p.m. Central Time, November 30, 2015. The submission guidelines and additional information regarding SMARTCAP can be found at www.smartcap.org. Grant recipients must secure a 100-percent match in funding. This leveraging of federal funding actively fosters public-private collaborations and partnerships.

Annidis Corporation and Equinox LLC were selected to receive SMARTCAP 2015 Vision4Mars grants in March 2015. Balance Goggles, a simple and comfortable eyewear device designed to regulate intraocular pressure, is being developed by Equinox. The Annidis RHA is a multispectral ophthalmoscope with multi-image software processing that quickly and non-invasively images the retina with exceptional detail. ZetrOZ, Inc. of Trumbull, CT, a 2014 SMARTCAP grantee, is completing a clinical trial designed to evaluate the efficacy of its multi-hour ultrasound therapy device for back pain. To date, ten SMARTCAP grants have been awarded to small U.S.-based companies. Updates on companies who received grants from 2011 – 2015 may be found here: Updates-SMARTCAP Grantees.

NSBRI, a 501(c)(3) organization partnered with NASA, is studying the health risks related to long-duration spaceflight and developing the technologies and countermeasures needed for human space exploration missions. The Institute’s science, technology and career development projects take place at approximately 60 institutions across the United States. For more information, please visit www.nsbri.org. The Industry Forum engages the private sector to develop medical products for both space and Earth through commercialization activities and seed funding. Find out more at www.NSBRIforum.org and follow the NSBRI Industry Forum on Twitter and Facebook .

Contact:
Graham B.I. Scott, Ph.D.
Vice President, Chief Scientist & Institute Associate Director
National Space Biomedical Research Institute (NSBRI)
graham.scott@bcm.edu
713-798-7227

The post Funding Opportunity Seeks Countermeasures that Can Address the #1 Risk to Humans in Space appeared first on NSBRI.

In addition to receiving mentorship from a faculty member at their home institution, the new First Award Fellows will become members of one of NSBRI’s seven science and technology teams. This will allow them to interact with some of the nation’s leading researchers in their respective fields and participate in scientific meetings organized by NSBRI, as well as by NASA’s Human Research Program (HRP).

“Since the launch of the First Award Fellowship Program twelve years ago, over sixty exceptional young scientists have been trained and successfully transitioned to careers contributing to our nation’s human space program,” said Dr. Jeffrey P. Sutton, NSBRI President, CEO, and Institute Director. He added “these young scientists have been equipped with skills, experience, a network of colleagues, and the enthusiasm that strengthens the scientific workforce of the future.”

The 2015 class of NSBRI First Award Fellows, their institutions, teams, and mentors are:

Austin B. Bigley, Ph.D.; University of Houston
“The Role of Microgravity and Stress-Related Humoral Factors in Dysregulated NK-Cell Function During Spaceflight”
Mentor: Richard J. Simpson, Ph.D.; Radiation Effects Team

David Chesny, Ph.D.; Florida Institute of Technology
“Mitigation of the Spacecraft Radiation Environment Via Magnetic Shielding by an Array of Dispersed Superconducting Magnets”
Mentor: Samuel T. Durrance, Ph.D.; Radiation Effects Team

Walter E. Cromer, Ph.D.; Texas A&M University Health Science Center
“Fluid Shift Associated Lymphostasis of the Gut Induces Inflammation and Microbial Intolerance”
Mentor: David C. Zawieja, Ph.D.; Human Factors and Performance Team

Birendra Mishra, Ph.D.; University of California, Irvine
“Effects of Charged Particles on the Uterus”
Mentor: Ulrike Luderer, Ph.D.; Radiation Effects Team

Marissa J. Rosenberg, Ph.D.; NASA Johnson Space Center
“Characterizing the Recovery of Sensorimotor Performance in Returning Astronauts”
Mentor: Millard F. Reschke, Ph.D.; Sensorimotor Adaptation Team

Saurabh S. Thosar, Ph.D.; Oregon Health & Science University
“Sleep, Physical Inactivity, Circadian Rhythms and Cardiovascular Vulnerability”
Mentor: Steven A. Shea, Ph.D.; Human Factors and Performance Team

Gunes Uzer, Ph.D.; University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
“Role of LINC Complex in Maintenance of MSC Beta-Catenin Signaling Under Microgravity”
Mentor: Janet Rubin, M.D.; Musculoskeletal Alterations Team

Linnea R. Vose, Ph.D.; New York Medical College
“Protection of Neurogenesis as a Neuroprotectant Strategy for Low-Dose Space Radiation Exposure”
Mentor: Patric K. Stanton, Ph.D.; Radiation Effects Team

Lei Wu, Ph.D.; University of Houston
“Development of Predictive Degradation Models and Determination of Bioequivalence of Pharmaceutical Preparations Contained in the Medical Kits on Board the International Space Station”
Mentor: Diana Shu-Lian Chow, Ph.D.; Smart Medical Systems and Technology Team

Each First Award Fellow receives a stipend as well as additional funds to cover health insurance and travel to meetings organized by NSBRI and NASA’s HRP.

The Fellows also have the opportunity to attend the Summer Bioastronautics Institute at NSBRI’s Headquarters and demonstration laboratories within the BioScience Research Collaborative in Houston, TX.

Since 2004, the NSBRI First Award Fellowship Program has solicited for applications annually, and 63 fellows have been admitted into the program. First Award Fellows have been responsible for 386 peer-reviewed publications, 792 abstracts and presentations, 7 patent/invention disclosures, and 14 book chapters.

For more information on the NSBRI First Award Fellowship Program and NSBRI’s Science, Technology, and Career Development programs please visit: http://www.nsbri.org

For information about NASA’s HRP, please visit: http://www.nasa.gov/hrp/

-end-
Contact:
Graham B.I. Scott, Ph.D.
Vice President, Chief Scientist, & Institute Associate Director
National Space Biomedical Research Institute,
Houston, TX 77030
713-798-7227
graham.scott@bcm.edu

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NSBRI is soliciting for research proposals of one year in duration to strengthen the project portfolios of its Human Factors and Performance, Musculoskeletal Alterations, Neurobehavioral and Psychosocial Factors, Radiation Effects, and Smart Medical Systems & Technology research teams. Research topics include testing potential countermeasures to mitigate the effects of ionizing radiation, which is the number one risk to astronaut health during future long duration exploration missions beyond low Earth orbit. The specific research topics are:

Human Factors and Performance
• Operationalize Customized Refresher and Just-In-Time Training Products for Deep Space, Long Duration Spaceflight Crews

Musculoskeletal Alterations
• Customize, Refine, and Test Existing Exercise Software Product(s) to Optimize Astronaut Motivation for Exercise During Deep Space Exploration Missions

Neurobehavioral and Psychosocial Factors
• Integrate Multiple Unobtrusive Technologies to Increase the Sensitivity and Specificity of Monitoring Psychosocial Well-Being and Alertness Levels in Astronaut-Like Subjects

Radiation Effects
• Protect Healthy-Tissues from Ionizing Radiation by Accelerating the Testing of Potential Countermeasures in Human Clinical Research Trials

Smart Medical Systems and Technology
• Employing a Suitable Ground Analog Environment, Develop and Test an Ultrasound Phantom or Surrogate Testing Capabilities to Enhance the Utility of Therapeutic Ultrasound

This NSBRI research announcement (NRA) may be viewed at
http://www.nsbri.org under the Funding Opportunities menu, within the Current Announcements section. The NRA is also available via the NASA Research Opportunities homepage at
http://nspires.nasaprs.com by navigating through the menu listings “Solicitations” to “Open Solicitations.” On the Open Solicitations page, researchers should select “NNJ15ZSA001N” from the list of solicitations and then choose “Appendix B.”

Proposals solicited in response to this NSBRI research announcement will follow a two-step review process. Only Step-1 proposers determined to have proposed work that is relevant to the specific topics solicited by this research announcement will be invited to submit full Step-2 proposals. Step-1 proposals are due on September 4, 2015, and invited Step-2 proposals are due on November 23, 2015. Participation is open to all categories of U.S. based organizations, including educational institutions, industry, non-profit organizations, NASA centers, and other Government agencies. Both Step-1 and Step-2 proposals must be submitted electronically via NSPIRES.

About NSBRI
The National Space Biomedical Research Institute, NSBRI, is a 501(c)3 organization funded by NASA. Its mission is to lead a national program to mitigate the health risks related to human spaceflight and to apply the discoveries to improve life on Earth. Annually, the Institute’s science, technology and education projects take place at approximately 60 institutions and companies across the United States.

End

Contact:
Graham B.I. Scott, Ph.D.
Vice President, Chief Scientist & Institute Associate Director
National Space Biomedical Research Institute (NSBRI)
713-798-7227

graham.scott@bcm.edu

The post NSBRI Soliciting For Research Proposals to Support Crew Health and Performance During Space Exploration Missions appeared first on NSBRI.

NSBRI has deployed a team of American neurologists and scientists to conduct a pilot demonstration experiment at :envihab, a newly-built specialized facility of the German Aerospace Center  (DLR), located in Cologne, Germany. The DLR’s Institute of Aerospace Medicine is overseeing the study, which examines how the human brain adapts to increased levels of fluid inside the skull in combination with elevated carbon dioxide levels. These conditions may be experienced by astronauts living and working on board the International Space Station (ISS) and could be implicated in the vision changes that some astronauts have experienced during spaceflight. The study has implications for people on Earth who suffer from brain disorders, including elevated pressure on the brain.

“NSBRI is once again breaking new ground on behalf of the U.S. human space program, as we have done before with the Mars 500 study between 2009 and 2011. The :envihab facility offers unique capabilities as a space analog environment and we are delighted to be collaborating with the DLR in addressing a major risk to astronaut health: the visual impairment syndrome,” said Dr. Jeffrey P. Sutton, NSBRI’s President, CEO and Institute Director.

Dr. Dorit Donoviel, NSBRI Deputy Chief Scientist and Industry Forum Lead, assembled the research team that is using state-of-the-art portable medical devices capable of monitoring brain physiology in real time. These devices have the potential to transform brain health monitoring for patients on Earth such as aVolumetric Induction Phase-Shift Spectroscopy (VIPS) device delivered by Cerebrotech Medical Systems of Pleasanton, California. The VIPS technology non-invasively and continuously monitors fluid shifts inside the brain that can arise from conditions such as progressive swelling or bleeding. In addition,Ornim Medical, based in Kfar Saba, Israel has supplied the c-FLOW monitor, an FDA-cleared non-invasive, continuous, real-time, and easy-to-use blood flow brain monitor. Vittamed Corporation, with offices located in Kaunas, Lithuania and Lexington, MA, has also provided a CE-marked non-invasive quantitative absolute intracranial pressure meter.

These innovative devices, along with sophisticated MRI imaging and standard transcranial Doppler measurements, are revealing neurological changes following prolonged exposure to simulated spaceflight conditions. In addition, a newly developed battery of cognitive and neurological tests called Cognition is being tested to assess the concomitant effects on mental capabilities and behavior. Cognition was first developed for astronaut use by NSBRI-funded researchers at the University of Pennsylvania and is now employed on the ISS as well as in numerous research studies throughout the world. In the near future, this battery of tests is likely to be used to clinically evaluate patients with various brain impairments or disorders.

Dr. Rupert Gerzer, Director of the DLR’s Institute of Aerospace Medicine declared, “I am thrilled with this collaborative project that focuses on a real ‘space syndrome’ that must be understood and solved before we can send humans to space for really long missions beyond Earth. This project is also a breakthrough as a novel way of using a unique ‘terrestrial analog to the ISS’, :envihab, in joint international studies that focus on important health challenges of astronauts as well as of patients on Earth.”

The study began on June 15 and will run through July 1. Six healthy middle-aged men have volunteered to be subjects. The results will be published via a series of scientific papers, and the lessons learned from the study will be presented to the international space medicine community at scientific conferences.

About NSBRI

Established in 1997 through a NASA competition, NSBRI is headquartered at Baylor College of Medicine, in the Texas Medical Center and is a consortium of twelve leading biomedical institutions. NSBRI, a 501(c)(3) organization partnered with NASA, is studying the health risks related to long-duration spaceflight and developing the technologies and countermeasures needed for human space exploration missions. The Institute’s science, technology and career development projects take place at approximately 60 institutions across the United States. For more information, please visit www.nsbri.org. The Industry Forum engages the private sector to develop medical products for both space and Earth through commercialization activities and seed funding. Find out more atwww.NSBRIforum.org and follow the NSBRI Industry Forum on Twitter andFacebook.

About DLR

DLR (German Aerospace Center) is the national aeronautics and space research center of the Federal Republic of Germany. Its extensive research and development work in aeronautics, space, energy, transport and security is integrated into national and international cooperative ventures. In addition to its own research, as Germany’s space agency, DLR has been given responsibility by the federal government for the planning and implementation of the German space program. DLR is also the umbrella organization for the nation’s largest project management agency. DLR has approximately 8000 employees at 16 locations in Germany: Cologne (headquarters), Augsburg, Berlin, Bonn, Braunschweig, Bremen, Goettingen, Hamburg, Juelich, Lampoldshausen, Neustrelitz, Oberpfaffenhofen, Stade, Stuttgart, Trauen, and Weilheim. DLR also has offices in Brussels, Paris, Tokyo and Washington D.C.

DLR’s mission comprises the exploration of Earth and the Solar System and research for protecting the environment. This includes the development of environment-friendly technologies for energy supply and future mobility, as well as for communications and security. DLR’s research portfolio ranges from fundamental research to the development of products for tomorrow. In this way, DLR contributes the scientific and technical expertise that it has acquired to the enhancement of Germany as a location for industry and technology. DLR operates major research facilities for its own projects and as a service for clients and partners. It also fosters the development of the next generation of researchers, provides expert advisory services to government and is a driving force in the regions where its facilities are located.

NSBRI, BCM, and DLR teams studying the effects of simulated spaceflight conditions (head-ward fluid shifts and increased carbon dioxide) on the brain. © 2015 German Aerospace Center (DLR)

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The selected studies represent how HRP and NSBRI work together to address the practical problems of spaceflight that impact astronaut health. HRP and NSBRI research provides knowledge and technologies that may improve human health and performance during space exploration. They also develop potential countermeasures for problems experienced during space travel. The organizations’ goals are to help astronauts complete their challenging missions successfully and preserve their long-term health. This applied research will be conducted in laboratory settings as well as ground-analog settings that mimic the spaceflight environment. Selected studies include one by Dr. Gary Strangman, Associate Professor at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, who will design, develop, and test a near infrared spectroscopy-electroencephalography system for sleep research in a realistic spaceflight analog environment. Dr. Valerie Meyers, a toxicologist at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston, will examine the effects of carbon dioxide on cognitive performance in high-level decision-making in astronaut-like populations. Dr. Benjamin Levine, Professor in Internal Medicine at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, will assess the risk of atrial fibrillation in crewmembers participating in long-duration spaceflight missions.

The selected proposals are from 21 institutions in 11 states and will receive a total of about $12.9 million during a one- to three-year period. The 24 projects were selected from 178 proposals received in response to the research announcement entitled, “Research and Technology Development to Support Crew Health and Performance in Space Exploration Missions.” Science and technology experts from academia and government reviewed the proposals. NASA will manage 17 of the projects and NSBRI will manage seven. Six of the investigators are new to HRP and NSBRI.

HRP quantifies crew health and performance risks during spaceflight and develops strategies that mission planners and system developers can use to monitor and mitigate the risks. These studies often lead to advancements in understanding and treating illnesses in patients on Earth.

NSBRI is a NASA-funded consortium of institutions studying health risks related to long-duration spaceflight. The Institute’s science, technology and career development projects take place at approximately 60 institutions across the United States.

Listed below is the complete list of the selected proposals, principal investigators and organizations:

NASA Awards
• Dr. Dorrit Billman, San Jose State University Research Foundation, “Training for Generalizable Skills & Knowledge: Integrating Principles and Procedures”
• Dr. Kim Binsted, University of Hawaii, “Using Analog Missions to Develop Effective Team Composition Strategies for Long Duration Space Exploration”
• Dr. Mary Bouxsein, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, “Vertebral Strength and Fracture Risk Following Long Duration Spaceflight”
• Ms. Toni Clark, NASA Johnson Space Center, “Computational Modeling to Limit the Impact Displays and Indicator Lights Have on Habitable Volume Operational Lighting Constraints”

• Dr. Noshir Contractor, Northwestern University, “CREWS: Crew Recommender for Effective Work in Space”
• Prof. Leslie DeChurch, Georgia Institute of Technology, “SCALE: Shared Cognitive Architectures for Long-term Exploration”

• Dr. Douglas Ebert, Wyle Laboratories, “Evaluation of an Impedance Threshold Device as a VIIP Countermeasure”
• Dr. Edward Foegeding, North Carolina State University, “High-Protein And Polyphenol Bar Formulations: Utilizing Whey Protein-Polyphenol Ingredients”
• Dr. Adam Gonzalez, State University Of New York, Stony Brook, “Asynchronous Techniques for the Delivery of Empirically Supported Psychotherapies”
• Dr. Kritina Holden, Lockheed Martin, “Electronic Procedures for Crewed Missions Beyond Low Earth Orbit (LEO)”
• Dr. Benjamin Levine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, “Integrated Cardiovascular (ICV) 2.0: Assessing the Risk for Atrial Fibrillation in Astronauts During Long Duration Spaceflight”
• Dr. Steven Lockley, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, “Lighting Protocols for Exploration – HERA Campaign”

• Dr. Valerie Meyers, NASA Johnson Space Center, “Effects of Acute Exposures to Carbon Dioxide upon Cognitive Functions”
• Dr. Greg Perlman, State University of New York, Stony Brook, “Personality and Biological Predictors of Resiliency to Chronic Stress among High-Achieving Adults”
• Dr. Raphael Rose, University of California, Los Angeles, “Asynchronous Behavioral Health Treatment Techniques”
• Dr. Jeffrey Ryder, Universities Space Research Association, “Sweat Rates During Continuous and Interval Aerobic Exercise: Implications for NASA Multipurpose Crew Vehicle (MPCV) Missions”
• Dr. Richard Simpson, University of Houston, “The Impact of Modeled Microgravity and Prior Radiation Exposure on Cytomegalovirus Reactivation and Host Immune Evasion”

NSBRI Awards
• Dr. Henry Donahue, Pennsylvania State University, “Somatic Mutations in Muscle and Bone Exposed to Simulated Space Radiation and Microgravity”
• Dr. Robert Hienz, Johns Hopkins University, “Countermeasures for Neurobehavioral Vulnerabilities to Space Radiation”
• Dr. Jonathan Lindner, Oregon Health & Science University, “Biomarker Assessment for Identifying Heightened Risk for Cardiovascular Complications During Long-duration Space Missions”

• Dr. Brandon Macias, University Of California, San Diego, “Validation of a Cephalad Fluid Shift Countermeasure”
• Ms. Debra Schreckenghost, TRACLabs, “Quantifying and Developing Countermeasures for the Effect of Fatigue-Related Stressors on Automation Use and Trust during Robotic Supervisory Control”
• Dr. Gary Strangman, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, “Sleep Electroencephalography and Near-Infrared Spectroscopy Measurements for Spaceflight and Analogs”
• Dr. Gary Strangman, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, “Testing Mechanical Countermeasures for Cephalad Fluid Shifts”

NSBRI Contact:
Graham B.I. Scott, Ph.D.
Vice President, Chief Scientist, & Institute Associate Director
National Space Biomedical Research Institute, (NSBRI)

graham.scott@bcm.edu
Tel: (713) 798-7227

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Dr. Harper and his colleagues in the Department
of Urology and Applied Physics Laboratory at the
University of Washington have invented a new way
to facilitate kidney stone passage or dislodge
large obstructing stones, using ultrasound. With
one probe placed on the patient’s skin, a physician can target the stone on the system’s ultrasound image. The system focuses ultrasound waves on the stone, which makes the stone “hop” to a new location. Importantly, ultrasound technology does not expose patients to x-rays or other forms of ionizing radiation. Fifteen volunteers with various body sizes presenting with stones of as large as 14 mm and from all regions of the kidney were included in the clinical trial. Kidney stones were moved in all but one subject.

Dr. Jonathan Harper said, “I am excited about presenting our findings at this year‘s AUA annual meeting. Not only does our ultrasound technology safely move and expel kidney stones, but also it is performed in the clinic setting without pain. The impact of this technology on the US healthcare system is substantial because more Americans experience nephrolithiasis, or kidney stone disease, than develop diabetes or heart disease. Kidney stones cause severe pain, obstruction of the urinary tract, and loss of worker productivity. The use of ultrasound technology to move kidney stones is a major advance with broad clinical utility for people on Earth.”

This clinical trial has been advanced with funding from NSBRI, as a project within the portfolio of the Institute’s
Smart Medical Systems and Technology (SMST)
Team. The goal of the SMST Team is to develop intelligent, integrated medical systems to deliver quality health care during spaceflight and exploration. New technologies developed by this team also deliver immediate benefits for medical care on Earth.

“During space flight, microgravity, dehydration, and altered bone metabolism collectively increase the likelihood of an astronaut developing a kidney stone,” said Jeffrey P. Sutton, M.D., Ph.D. – NSBRI’s President, CEO and Institute Director. Kidney stones have been observed in U.S. astronauts before and after spaceflight and one Russian cosmonaut reported abdominal pain on orbit which was suspected to be due to a kidney stone; however, the pain resolved within a few days. Non-invasive approaches to move and ultimately expel kidney stones from the body provide medical capabilities needed by NASA and other international space agencies. If stones can be moved and then passed while they are relatively small, downstream complications such as infection and sepsis that could end space missions may be avoided.

Ultrasound technologies have been successfully used for many years on the International Space Station (ISS), primarily to perform imaging of the astronauts’ eyes, bones, and internal organs. The successful outcome of this clinical trial mitigates the risk of renal stone formation, as identified on NASA’s Human Research Roadmap, and augments existing ISS ultrasound techniques and protocols. Technologies and countermeasures are tested on the ISS as a forerunner to deployment on future exploration mission to Mars or other deep space destinations. Since astronauts on long-duration, deep space missions will be unable to return quickly to Earth, new methods of remote medical diagnosis, monitoring and treatment are necessary. On exploration missions, it is also possible that medical procedures may be performed by a non-physician astronaut, and therefore techniques to deal with medical emergencies, such as kidney stones, must be simple to administer, robust, and highly effective.

About NSBRI

Established in 1997 through a NASA competition, NSBRI is headquartered at Baylor College of Medicine, in the Texas Medical Center and is a consortium of twelve leading biomedical institutions. NSBRI, a 501(c) (3) organization partnered with NASA, is studying the health risks related to long-duration spaceflight and developing the technologies and countermeasures needed for human space exploration missions. The Institute’s science, technology and career development projects take place at approximately 60 institutions across the United States. For more information, please visit
www.nsbri.org. The Industry Forum engages the private sector to develop medical products for both space and Earth through commercialization activities and seed funding. Find out more at
www.NSBRIforum.org and follow the NSBRI Industry Forum on
Twitter
and

Facebook.

About UW Medicine

UW Medicineʼs mission is to improve the health of the public by advancing medical knowledge, providing patient care, and training the next generation of health professionals. Our system includes Harborview Medical Center, Northwest Hospital & Medical Center, Valley Medical Center, UW Medical Center, UW Neighborhood Clinics, UW Physicians, UW School of Medicine and Airlift Northwest.
For more information on the AUA annual meeting and to see a full schedule, visit
www.aua2015.org

Contacts:

NSBRI

Graham Scott
Associate Director

National Space Biomedical Research Institute
(NSBRI)

graham.scott@bcm.edu
Tel: 713-798-7227

NSBRI Media Contact
Kacey White


kacey@thedlg.com
Tel: (713) 516-6614

University of Washington Media Contact
Kim Blakeley

UW Medicine

krb13@uw.edu
Tel: (206) 685-1323

The post “First In Humans” Clinical Trial Demonstrates Non-Invasive Expulsion of Kidney Stones: NSBRI-Funded Ultrasound Technology Requires No Surgery appeared first on NSBRI.

These and other questions will be answered by
current and former astronauts and scientists
during a visit by nearly 200 students to the
National Space Biomedical Research Institute
(NSBRI) that will occur on April 23, 2015. The
students, from the DeBakey High School for Health
Professions, will participate in an event
entitled, “STEM On-and-Off the Planet” as part
of an overall program to encourage students to
enter the fields of science, technology,
engineering and mathematics (STEM).

“Students who have already expressed an interest
in the health professions will have the unique,
up-close opportunity to tour the NSBRI’s
Consolidated Research Facility (CRF),” said Dr.
Amanda Hackler, Head of Career Development
and Outreach at NSBRI and Assistant Professor,
Center for Space Medicine (CSM) at Baylor
College of Medicine (BCM). “Students will be
able to talk directly with astronauts who have
experienced what happens to the body in space
and who can attest to the very real need for
more scientific study of addressing health
issues faced by space explorers.”

The students will then tour the CRF which
includes a space suit and scientific equipment
tested aboard the ISS. The facility also features
an exhibit of the Mars 500 study, a simulated
journey to Mars lasting 520 days.

“It is important for students to understand
that the health issues facing humans in space are serious and that we are funding studies that not only will help keep our space explorers safe, but will translate to new kinds of treatment back here on Earth,” said Hackler. “To have the opportunity to talk directly with individuals who have spent time in space and who are pursuing this exciting area of medical study is invaluable.”

The DeBakey High School for Health Professions
(HSHP) opened in 1972 and was the first of its
kind in the nation. A magnet school of the
Houston Independent School District, HSHP
provides a rigorous and comprehensive
pre-college program for students pursuing
careers in medicine, health care, and/or
the sciences. Ninety-eight percent of HSHP’s
graduates attain postsecondary education.

Established in 1997 through a NASA competition,
NSBRI is a consortium of leading biomedical
institutions including Baylor College of
Medicine, Brookhaven National Laboratory,
Harvard Medical School, The Johns Hopkins
University, Massachusetts Institute of
Technology, Morehouse School of Medicine,
Mount Sinai School of Medicine, Rice
University, Texas A&M University, University
of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, University
of Pennsylvania Health System and University
of Washington. NSBRI, a 501(c)(3) organization
partnered with NASA, is studying the health
risks related to long-duration spaceflight
and developing the technologies and
countermeasures needed for human space
exploration missions. The Institute’s science,
technology and education projects take place
at approximately 60 institutions across the
United States. For more information, please
visit www.nsbri.org.

Contact:

Graham Scott
Associate Director

National Space Biomedical Research Institute
(NSBRI)
graham.scott@bcm.edu
713-798-7227

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