As meanwhile most people know, elaborate NASA projects do not just benefit space technical and scientific progress – but many other scientific disciplines also.
One of the latest NASA efforts focuses on bio-medical research that could not be done at the presence of earth’s gravity.
NASA is now enabling biomedical research in order take advantage of the unique microgravity environment aboard the International Space Station to explore fundamental questions about important health issues.
The NIH Biomedical Research on the International Space Station (BioMed-ISS) projects are the next step in a new partnership to apply the national laboratory to research that complements NASA's own space studies. The NIH studies include research on how bones and the immune system weaken in space.
"This marks the beginning of a new era in microgravity-based research with the International Space Station turning the corner from construction to use as a new national laboratory," said Mark Uhran, assistant associate administrator for space station, NASA Headquarters in Washington.
Background: In 2005, US Congress recognized the immense promise the station holds for U.S.-led science and technology efforts. It opened the U.S. portion of the facility to federal agencies, university and private sector researchers by designating the station as a national laboratory.
In addition to NIH, NASA has similar research agreements with the Departments of Defense, Agriculture and Energy and the National Science Foundation.
According to NASA, the scientists will conduct their experiments under a two-stage mechanism. The first is a ground-based preparatory phase to allow investigators to meet select milestones and technical requirements.
The second is an experimental phase on the space station that will include preparing the experiments for launch, working with astronauts to conduct them on orbit and performing subsequent data analyses on earth.
"BioMed-ISS offers a novel opportunity for gaining scientific insights that would not otherwise be possible through ground-based means," said Stephen I. Katz, M.D., Ph.D., director of the NIH's National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases and NIH liaison to NASA.
"The beauty of this initiative is that it offers an unprecedented opportunity for benefiting human health on earth, while leveraging the American public's investment in the ISS."
For more information about NIH and NASA activities, visit:
http://www.niams.nih.gov/News_and_Events/NIH_NASA_Activities/
For information about the International Space Station, visit: http://www.nasa.gov/station
For more information about NIH and its programs, visit: http://www.nih.gov
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