The National Laboratory of the International Space Station (ISS) is working with NASA on a call for space-based research into some of the most serious diseases of our time – such as cancer, cardiovascular disease and neurodegenerative diseases.
The ISS National Lab Research Announcement (NLRA) 2024-09: Igniting Innovation: Science in Space to Cure Disease on Earth, published in collaboration with NASA’s Biological and Physical Sciences Division, aims to overcome challenges that hinder progress in disease prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. This NLRA offers up to 4 million US dollars in the overall funding for an expected two to three awards for translational and transformative research and technology development at multiple levels.
With this joint call, the ISS National Lab and NASA are seeking projects that use the space environment to improve existing technologies or develop new ones that help solve health problems on Earth. Therapies for cancer, as well as cardiovascular, immune, muscle and bone diseases, and neurodegenerative disorders face obstacles that hinder scientific advances and the translation of research findings into clinical applications.
These challenges often overlap and share common elements, despite the complexity and variability of mechanisms within and across these diseases. Many of these challenges can be mitigated by accelerated disease models in microgravity using the resources of the ISS National Lab.
The goal of this NLRA is to promote collaboration between academia, industry and government to develop innovative, commercially viable products and technologies that improve healthcare on Earth. The following are the topics of particular interest to this NLRA:
- Improved models for studying disease mechanisms: It is difficult to decipher the complex dynamics of disease onset and progression and to identify effective therapeutic targets. Using microgravity to enhance cell-based models such as tissue chips and organoids could deepen the understanding of disease mechanisms and lead to personalized therapies.
- Population and disease heterogeneity: The heterogeneity of populations and diseases poses significant obstacles to drug discovery. The variability of genetic and demographic factors such as age and gender means that individuals respond differently to treatment. The genetic and phenotypic diversity of the diseases themselves must also be taken into account.
- Drug screening and development: Microgravity enables high-throughput drug screening in 3D cell cultures and tissue models that more accurately simulate the human body. Innovative approaches and technologies to identify preclinical drug candidates are needed to accelerate the development of new, more effective therapeutics.
- Drug administration: Innovations in drug delivery, such as nanotechnology and targeted therapies, are critical to improve treatment precision and reduce side effects. In addition, the lack of clearly defined biomarkers complicates treatment selection, and innovative biomarker discovery strategies are needed to improve treatment outcomes.
- Drug resistance and toxicity: Drug resistance is a major challenge in the treatment of many diseases. For example, cancer cells can become resistant due to genetic mutations or changes in signaling pathways, which reduces the effectiveness of drugs. In addition, the toxicity of treatments such as chemotherapy requires a careful balance between efficacy and side effects.
Last month, at the annual ISS Research and Development Conference in BostonISS National Lab and NASA announced five projects selected under the inaugural Igniting Innovation NLRA, which aim to leverage the unique space environment to advance cancer research and help patients on Earth.
“We are proud to partner again this year with NASA’s Biological and Physical Sciences Division on this important initiative to bring the transformative power of space-based research to the fight against diseases that affect all of our lives,” said the ISS National Lab’s chief scientific officer. Michael Roberts. “Our first call for proposals in 2023 resulted in the selection of five innovative concepts that use microgravity and the space station to help patients on Earth. We look forward to providing access to even more ideas that will inspire innovation and advance research and development for the benefit of humanity.”
“Space-based research has always contributed to progress on Earth,” said Lisa CarnellDirector of NASA’s Biological and Physical Sciences Division. “Continuing the Igniting Innovation call could help deliver the next big leap in disease therapy. We are excited to partner with the ISS National Lab on this effort to address some of the greatest health challenges facing the world today.”
This research announcement follows a three-step submission process (Step 1A: Concept Summary, Step 1B: Technology Roadmap and Step 2: Full Proposal). Step 1A: Concept Summaries must be submitted by the end of the day on 26 September 2024.
For more information about this funding opportunity and how the space-based environment can accelerate research and technology development for the benefit of life on Earth, visit the official Tender page.
