The Translational Research Institute for Space Health (TRISH) at Baylor College of Medicine established the first-of-its-kind research platform to study human health and performance in private spaceflight participants in 2021. Working with commercial spaceflight providers and their flyers, TRISH’s EXPAND (Enhancing eXploration Platforms and Analog Definition) Program collects pre-, in-, and post-flight health data, environmental parameters, and biosamples from multiple commercial spaceflights and houses it in a centralized research database and biosample repository.
Soon, TRISH will begin sharing the data and biosamples collected from these commercial space missions to further space health research and, in turn, further human space exploration.
Frequently Asked Questions
TRISH’s goal is to provide a state-of-the-art integrated medical, research, and environmental database as well as a repository for biological samples. EXPAND captures research, medical data and biospecimens from all volunteering commercial spaceflight participants. TRISH selected TrialX to build the centralized database and manage the data.
EXPAND data and biosamples address a wide range of challenges that humans face on spaceflight missions: detection of medical conditions by collecting physiologic data, understanding of radiation effects, mental health, team dynamics, and more. TRISH pioneered a way to combine the studies of multiple researchers to streamline the process for spaceflight participants.
A key component of the EXPAND research projects is the archiving and sharing of biomedical results, biosamples, and research data. TRISH’s commercial spaceflight research repository program titled Multimodal Evaluation of Spaceflight Health (MESH), enables the seamless intake, archiving, and standardization of research and biomedical data including biobanking of samples from commercial spaceflight participants with the end goal of increasing the body of evidence, increasing safety, and enhancing human health and performance during spaceflight including personalization and prediction of countermeasures.
A unique characteristic of the EXPAND program is the capability of sharing data and biosamples without the requirement to re-consent the private spaceflight participants. The Commercial Astronaut Data Repository (CADRE) allows this capability while preserving the privacy of the participants.
Learn more about EXPAND and TRISH commercial space research projects.
TRISH acknowledges that advancements in space health will not excel without sharing knowledge and data. The EXPAND database and biorepository have the flexibility to seamlessly take in multiple types of data from different flight providers in order to create a repository that can integrate information. A centralized, standardized research database and biobank will increase access to knowledge about human health for the global research community.
TRISH conducts several standardized research projects on each commercial mission called Essential Measures, in addition to mission-specific research projects, called Exploratory Studies.
Essential Measures data and samples include:
- Sensorimotor data
- Neurocognitive data
- Biosamples (blood, saliva, urine, stool, skin swabs)
- Standardized research questionnaires
- SANS Surveillance
- Physiologic data
Exploratory Studies data include:
- Inflight blood/saliva analysis
- Vision changes
- Portable ultrasound imaging
- 3D optical imaging
Learn more about TRISH science projects conducted in each mission.
Researchers with hypothesis-driven questions may make a request for data. Researchers must have IRB or IRB-equivalent approval. This ensures the correct data will be shared and its integrity is upheld.
At this time, TRISH does not have substantial information regarding international researcher requests. Please check back for an update at a later date.
TRISH is not yet accepting requests for data. Once we have accumulated enough data for sufficient data coding and de-identification, we will begin accepting requests from researchers. Each request will be thoroughly reviewed to ensure participants’ privacy, scientifically sound hypothesis, and the hypothesis driven question prompting the request.
We will release more information regarding the request submittal process. Sign up for the TRISH monthly newsletter to stay updated.
After the request has passed the initial review ensuring data availability, it will then be reviewed by the EXPAND Database Privacy and Release Board (DPRB). The DPRB consists of five members with geographical, institutional, and scientific discipline diversity to ensure a well-rounded board. These five members do not include TRISH staff or other TRISH advisory board members. DPRB member expertise: clinical geneticist, retired astronaut, data scientist with expertise in small n datasets, ethics and health policy.
The purpose of the DPRB is to review data requests made to the EXPAND database for scientific merit and feasibility. The board will ensure that the privacy of the research subject is protected in accordance with the IRB protocol.
The opening of the EXPAND Database has been postponed following NASA guidance.
To stay up to date on the EXPAND Database and Biorepository, sign up for our TRISH newsletter.
Be the first to know TRISH EXPAND Database and Biorepository Updates.
Still have questions?