Joint solicitation will award up to
$4 million for biomedical R&D
leveraging the orbiting laboratory
KENNEDY
SPACE CENTER, Fla., Aug. 15,
2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The International Space
Station (ISS) National Laboratory is collaborating with NASA on a
solicitation for space-based research addressing some of the most
significant diseases of our time—such as cancer, cardiovascular
disease, and neurodegenerative disease. ISS National Lab Research
Announcement (NLRA) 2024-09: Igniting Innovation: Science in
Space to Cure Disease on Earth, released in partnership
with NASA's Biological and Physical Sciences division, is aimed at
overcoming challenges hindering progress in disease prevention,
diagnosis, and treatment. This NLRA will offer up to $4 million in total funding for an expected two
to three awards for multiflight translational and transformative
research and technology development.
![International Space Station National Laboratory (PRNewsfoto/International Space Station National Lab) International Space Station National Laboratory (PRNewsfoto/International Space Station National Lab)](https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2261434/ISSNL_Logo.jpg)
Through this joint solicitation, the ISS National Lab and NASA
seek projects that leverage the space environment to improve
existing or develop new technologies that help solve health
problems on Earth. Therapies for cancer and cardiovascular, immune,
muscle and bone, and neurodegenerative diseases face obstacles that
thwart scientific advancements and the translation of research
findings into clinical applications. These challenges frequently
overlap and share common elements, despite the complexity and
variability of mechanisms within and among these diseases. Many of
these challenges can be mitigated using accelerated disease models
in microgravity through ISS National Lab resources.
This NLRA aims to foster collaboration between academia,
industry, and government to develop innovative, commercially viable
products and technologies to improve medical outcomes on Earth.
Below are topics of particular interest for this NLRA:
- Enhanced Models to Study Disease Mechanisms: It is
difficult to unravel the intricate dynamics of disease onset and
progression and to identify effective therapeutic targets.
Leveraging microgravity to improve cell-based models like tissue
chips and organoids could deepen understanding of disease
mechanisms and lead to personalized therapies.
- Population and Disease Heterogeneity: Population and
disease heterogeneity pose significant obstacles to drug discovery.
Variability in genetic and demographic factors, such as age and
sex, leads to differing treatment responses across individuals.
Genetic and phenotypic diversity in diseases themselves must also
be considered.
- 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 development of new, more effective
therapeutics.
- Drug Delivery: Innovation in drug delivery, such as
nanotechnology and targeted therapies, is vital to enhance
treatment precision and reduce side effects. Additionally, the
absence of well-defined biomarkers complicates treatment selection,
and innovative strategies for biomarker discovery are needed to
improve treatment outcomes.
- Drug Resistance and Toxicity: Drug resistance poses
significant challenges in treating many diseases. For example,
cancer cells can become resistant due to genetic mutations or
changes in signaling pathways, decreasing drug efficacy.
Additionally, the toxicity of treatments like chemotherapy requires
careful balancing of efficacy and adverse effects.
Last month, at the annual ISS Research and Development
Conference in Boston, the ISS
National Lab and NASA announced five projects
selected through the inaugural Igniting Innovation NLRA,
which sought to harness the unique space environment to advance
cancer research to benefit patients on Earth.
"We are proud to collaborate again this year with NASA's
Biological and Physical Sciences division on this important
initiative to bring the transformative power of space-based inquiry
into the fight against diseases that touch all of our lives," said
ISS National Lab Chief Scientific Officer Michael Roberts. "Our inaugural solicitation in
2023 resulted in the selection of five innovative concepts to
leverage microgravity and the space station to benefit patients on
Earth. We look forward to enabling access to even more ideas that
ignite innovation and fuel research and development for the benefit
of humanity."
"Space-based research has a long history of contributing to
advancements on Earth," said Lisa
Carnell, director of NASA's Biological and Physical Sciences
division. "Continuing the Igniting Innovation solicitation could
contribute to the next big leap in disease therapies. We are
excited to collaborate with the ISS National Lab on this endeavor
to help address some of the biggest health challenges facing the
world today."
This research announcement will follow a three-step proposal
submission process (Step 1A: Concept Summary, Step 1B: Technology Roadmap, and Step 2: Full
Proposal). Step 1A: Concept Summaries must be submitted by end of
day on September 26, 2024.
Those interested in learning more about this research
announcement can register for a webinar hosted by the
ISS National Lab on August 22,
2024, at 1 p.m. EDT.
For more information on this funding opportunity and how the
space-based environment can accelerate research and technology
development for the benefit of life on Earth, please visit the
official solicitation page.
To download a high-resolution image for this release,
click here.
About the International Space Station (ISS) National
Laboratory:
The International Space Station (ISS) is a
one-of-a-kind laboratory that enables research and technology
development not possible on Earth. As a public service enterprise,
the ISS National Laboratory® allows researchers to
leverage this multiuser facility to improve quality of life on
Earth, mature space-based business models, advance science literacy
in the future workforce, and expand a sustainable and scalable
market in low Earth orbit. Through this orbiting national
laboratory, research resources on the ISS are available to support
non-NASA science, technology, and education initiatives from 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 Cooperative Agreement with
NASA, facilitating access to its permanent microgravity research
environment, a powerful vantage point in low Earth orbit, and the
extreme and varied 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 individual donations to help advance science in space for the
benefit of humanity. For more information, visit our donations
page.
Media
Contact:
|
Patrick
O'Neill
|
|
904-806-0035
|
|
PONeill@ISSNationalLab.org
|
International Space
Station (ISS) National Laboratory
|
Managed by the Center
for the Advancement of Science in Space, Inc. (CASIS)
|
6905 N. Wickham Rd.,
Suite 500, Melbourne, FL 32940 • 321.253.5101 •
www.ISSNationalLab.org
|
View original content to download
multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/science-in-space-to-cure-disease-on-earththe-international-space-station-national-lab-and-nasa-announce-new-funding-opportunity-302223811.html
SOURCE International Space Station National Lab