HOUSTON – Dr. Jeffrey P. Sutton has been named director of the National Space Biomedical Research Institute (NSBRI), a consortium of leading biomedical institutions.
The NSBRI focuses on developing solutions to the health-related problems and physical and psychological challenges men and women will face on long-duration space flights. Through an integrated team approach, the NSBRI utilizes the expertise of scientists at laboratories across the United States.
Research projects address bone loss, muscle weakening, cardiovascular changes, remote medical care, sleep and human performance, immunology and infection, balance and orientation, radiation exposure, neurobehavioral and psychosocial issues, and nutrition, physical fitness and rehabilitation. The findings will also impact the understanding and treatment of medical conditions experienced on Earth.
"The future of human space exploration is dependent on successful countermeasures to maintain astronaut health and well-being," Sutton said.
As director, Sutton is responsible for the overall scientific direction of the Institute’s research and education programs. Funded by NASA, the Institute currently supports 87 peer-reviewed projects involving scientists at 71 research institutions.
"Dr. Sutton possesses superb medical and leadership skills. His enthusiasm for the human exploration of space will benefit our work addressing the health of future space travelers," said Dr. Bobby R. Alford, NSBRI board chairman and chief executive officer.
Sutton currently leads the NSBRI’s Smart Medical Systems and Technology Development Teams. As director, he will leave his present positions as head of the Neural Systems Group at the Massachusetts General Hospital and associate professor in the Harvard-MIT Division of Health Sciences and Technology.
He holds a medical degree, a master’s degree in medical science and a doctorate in theoretical physics, all from the University of Toronto. He completed residency training at Harvard Medical School and is board certified in psychiatry and neurology.
His research interests include experimental and computational work examining human brain mechanisms, including sleep and learning, and the design and application of artificial neural networks.
Established in 1997 through a NASA competition, the NSBRI consortium includes Baylor College of Medicine, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Harvard, 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.