HOUSTON – The National Space Biomedical Research Institute (NSBRI) is increasing its scope by funding 88 research projects in 22 states and adding four new research areas.
"With these projects, the Institute can better explore the health-related problems associated with long-duration human space flight," said Dr. Bobby R. Alford, NSBRI chairman of the board and CEO. "There are many physical and psychological challenges that must be addressed before women and men can explore safely our solar system."
The NSBRI was established in 1997 through a NASA competition to create a consortium of leading research institutions working toward the goal of reducing health concerns related to exploration missions. Twelve institutions comprise the NSBRI consortium and are responsible for its program development. The 88 projects, funded for one- to three-year periods, will be carried out at 75 institutions involving 269 researchers in 22 states. Selected from a group of 281 research proposals, each project underwent rigorous independent peer review by a panel of scientists not affiliated with the Institute.
These new projects mark the first time the NSBRI has selected its projects through an open, competitive solicitation process. Approximately one-half of the projects are slated for universities and laboratories outside the consortium.
All projects address key issues related to human health in space and are carried out by integrated theme-based teams of scientists. Many of the health issues will be faced by International Space Station crews and will pose an even greater threat to crews exploring other planets.
By adding four new teams, the NSBRI now focuses on 12 research areas. The new areas — nutrition, physical fitness and rehabilitation; neurobehavioral and psychosocial factors; integrated human function; and smart medical systems — will allow more complete coverage of health issues related to two-to-three year exploration missions. Research issues for the new teams include:
- How much and what type of food is needed to maintain proper nutrition?
- What type of exercise and rehabilitation is needed before, during and after the flight?
- How can astronauts best cope with separation from family and Earth?
- What type of leadership style and crew composition is most suitable?
- How can medical diagnoses be made and treatments delivered in deep space?
- How do the solutions or activities implemented to maintain the integrity of specific parts of the body — bone, heart and muscles — affect the total body?
"Like the original eight research areas, these new teams hold potential for advancing prevention and treatment issues on Earth," Alford said. NSBRI’s other teams address bone loss, muscle weakening, cardiovascular changes, sleep disruption and vigilance, immunology and infection, balance and orientation, radiation exposure and medical research technology needs.
The NSBRI consortium includes 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.