HOUSTON – Five institutions will join the National Space Biomedical Research Institute (NSBRI) in its efforts to solve the medical problems encountered during long-term space flight.
The new NSBRI members, selected through a competitive review process, are Brookhaven National Laboratory, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, the University of Pennsylvania Health System, and the University of Washington. Thirty institutions applied for membership.
"The NSBRI’s research is laying the groundwork for human exploration and development of space," said Dr. Bobby R. Alford, NSBRI board chairman and chief executive officer. "These new institutions will be a great addition to our current program and bring a broad range of basic science, clinical and space research expertise."
All member institutions are represented on the NSBRI Board of Directors. Researchers at the new institutions will become involved in NSBRI research planning activities during the next year and will compete for peer-reviewed project funding available in October 2000.
The Institute’s current research program, consisting of 41 projects, focuses on eight areas — bone loss; cardiovascular alterations; human performance and sleep; immunology, infection and hematology; muscle changes; balance problems; radiation effects; and technology development. Four new research areas — neurobehavioral and psychosocial factors; nutrition, physical fitness and rehabilitation; smart medical systems; and integrated human function — will be added in the next year.
"The NSBRI represents a unique effort in collaborative science, with basic science researchers from leading institutions joining with NASA in human space exploration," said Dr. Larry Young, NSBRI director. "While their work will help solve the untoward effects of space flight, the research will undoubtedly also impact similar conditions on Earth, such as osteoporosis, balance disorders, shift-related sleep difficulties and immune system problems."
The NSBRI, established in April 1997 following competitive selection by NASA, leads a national effort to carry out the research necessary to assure safe human exploration of space. Its founding members are Baylor College of Medicine, which serves as headquarters, Harvard Medical School, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and Applied Physics Laboratory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Morehouse School of Medicine, Rice University and Texas A&M University.