Science in space to cure diseases on Earth – International Space Station National Lab and NASA announce new funding opportunity

The joint tender will provide up to 4 million US dollars for biomedical research and development using the orbital laboratory

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, Fla., 15 August 2024 /PRNewswire/ — The International Space Station (ISS) National Laboratory is collaborating with NASA on a call for space-based research on some of the most significant diseases of our time – including cancer, cardiovascular disease and neurodegenerative diseases. ISS National Lab Research Announcement (NLRA) 2024-09: Driving Innovation: Science in Space to Cure Diseases on Earthpublished 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 provides 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 leverage the space environment to enhance existing technologies or develop new ones that help solve health problems on Earth. Therapies for cancer and cardiovascular, immune, muscle and bone, and neurodegenerative diseases 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 leveraging accelerated disease models in microgravity using ISS National Lab resources.

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 BostonThe ISS National Lab and NASA announced Five projects selected through the first “Igniting Innovation NLRA”, whose goal was to use 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 to use microgravity and the space station to benefit 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.

If you would like to learn more about this research announcement, Register for a webinar hosted by the ISS National Lab on 22 August 2024at 1:00 p.m. EDT.

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.

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About the International Space Station (ISS) National Laboratory:
The International Space Station (ISS) is a unique laboratory that enables research and technology development that is not possible on Earth. As a public service organization, the ISS National Laboratory^® enables researchers to use this multi-user facility to improve the quality of life on Earth, develop space-based business models, promote scientific education of the future workforce, and grow a sustainable and scalable market in low Earth orbit. Through this national orbital laboratory, research resources on the ISS are available to support non-NASA science, technology, and education initiatives of U.S. government agencies, academic institutions, and the private sector. The Center for the Advancement of Science in Space™ (CASIS™) manages the ISS National Lab under a cooperative agreement with NASA, providing access to its permanent microgravity research environment, a powerful vantage point in low Earth orbit, and the extreme and diverse conditions of space. To learn more about the ISS National Lab, visit our website.

As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, CASIS accepts corporate and private donations to advance space exploration for the benefit of humanity. For more information, visit our Donation page.

SOURCE International Space Station National Lab