Academy of Bioastronautics

Metabolic Measurement, Manipulation, and Countermeasure Strategies 
Principal Investigator: Katharyn Flickinger, Ph.D.
Mentor: Clifton Callaway, MD, Ph.D.
Institution: University of Pittsburgh   
Project Dates: Sept. 1, 2024 – Aug. 31, 2026

Streamlined Molecular Farming of VLP Therapeutics in Space 
Principal Investigator: Patrick Opdensteinen, M.Sc., Ph.D.
Mentor: Nicole Steinmetz, Ph.D.
Institution: University of California, San Diego 
Project Dates: Sept. 1, 2024 – Aug. 31, 2026

Bone metabolism is altered by skeletal unloading and nutrient limitation during long-duration spaceflight 
Principal Investigator: Carolyn Chlebek, Ph.D.
Mentor: Clifford Rosen, MD
Institution: MaineHealth  
Project Dates: Aug. 1, 2024 – July 31, 2026

Extend Healthy Life in Space by Characterizing Radiation Induced Pro-Inflammatory Response and Enhancing Wound Repair and Recovery with Radiation Mitigating Thrombin Peptide 
Principal Investigator: Stephanie Dudzinski, M.D., Ph.D.
Mentor: Steven Frank, M.D.
Institution: The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center 
Project Dates: Dec. 1, 2023 – Nov. 30, 2025

Effect of deconditioning on gravitational dose-response curves for cardiovascular and ocular variables in men and women 
Principal Investigator: Adrien Robin, Ph.D. 
Mentor: Ana Diaz Artiles, Ph.D.
Institution: Texas A&M Research Foundation  
Project Dates: Dec. 1, 2023 – Nov. 30, 2025

Defining Gut Microbial Changes to Space-Like Radiation to Develop a Radiation-Resistant Microbiome 
Principal Investigator: Katherine Wozniak, Ph.D. 
Mentor: Robert Britton, Ph.D.
Institution: Baylor College of Medicine  
Project Dates: Aug. 1, 2023 – July 31, 2025 

Identifying Genetic Factors in Radiation Injury with Pooled Single Cell Sequencing 
Principal Investigator: Xu Cao, Ph.D. 
Mentor: Joseph C. Wu, M.D., Ph.D. 
Institution: Stanford University 
Project Dates: Sept.1, 2022 – Aug. 31, 2024

Systematic Assessment of Noisy Galvanic Vestibular Stimulation as a Sensorimotor Countermeasure 
Principal Investigator: David Temple, Ph.D. 
Mentor: Torin K. Clark, Ph.D. 
Institution: University of Colorado at Boulder 
Project Dates: Sept. 1, 2022 – Aug. 31, 2024

The use of two new ground-based models of deep space travel to study the role of mitochondria and oxidative stress in cardiovascular effects. 
Principal Investigator: Ashley Nemec-Bakk, Ph.D. 
Mentor: Marjan Boerma, Ph.D. 
Institution: University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences 
Project Dates: Aug. 1, 2022 – July 31, 2024

Musculoskeletal Response to Disuse in a Genetically Diverse Mouse Population 
Principal Investigator: Michael Friedman, Ph.D. 
Institution: Virginia Commonwealth University 
Project Dates: Jan. 1, 2022 – Dec. 31, 2022

Investigating plantar somatosensory noise as a countermeasure for balance and locomotion impairments in simulated lunar and Martian gravity 
Principal Investigator: Heather R McGregor, Ph.D.
Mentor: Rachael Seidler, Ph.D. 
Institution: University of Florida 
Project Dates: Sept. 1, 2021 – Aug. 31, 2023

Ionizing radiation and immune responses: exploring sex differences 
Principal Investigator: Kaylin Didier, Ph.D. 
Mentor: William Schrage, Ph.D. 
Institution: University of Wisconsin  
Project Dates: Sept. 1, 2021 – Dec. 31, 2023

Countermeasure Development Against Myocardial Mitochondrial Stress by Space Radiation Exposure 
Principal Investigator: James Jahng, Ph.D. 
Mentor: Joseph C. Wu, M.D., Ph.D. 
Institution: Stanford University 
Project Dates: Sept. 1, 2021 – Aug. 31, 2023

Stress Response and Neurovestibular Compensation and the Potential Ameliorative Effects of Team Support 
Principal Investigator: Mallika Sarma, Ph.D. 
Mentor: Mark Shelhamer, Sc.D. 
Institution: John Hopkins University 
Project Dates: Aug. 1, 2021 – July 31, 2023

Mechanistic Insights Into the Combined Chronic Impact of Spaceflight and Aging Cardiovascular Physiology 
Principal Investigator: Heather Allaway, Ph.D. 
Institution: Texas A&M Research Foundation 
Project Dates: Jan. 1, 2021 – Aug. 31, 2021

Machine Learning as a Countermeasure to Spatial Disorientation in a Spaceflight Analog Environment 
Principal Investigator: Vivekanand Vimal, Ph.D.
Institution: Brandeis University  
Project Dates: Dec. 1, 2020 – April 30, 2022

Development of Machine Learning-derived Microbiological and Immune Signatures:  Applications in Adaptive Risk Assessment of Infectious Disease During Spaceflight 
Principal Investigator: Kristyn Hoffman, Ph.D. 
Mentor: C. Mark Ott, Ph.D. 
Institution: KBRWyle 
Project Dates: Oct. 1, 2020 – Sept. 30, 2022

Investigating the Effects of Simulated Microgravity Duration and Connexin 43 Deficiency on Bone Fracture Healing 
Principal Investigator: Evan Buettmann, Ph.D. 
Mentor: Henry Donahue, Ph.D. 
Institution: Virginia Commonwealth University 
Project Dates: Sept. 1, 2020 – Aug. 31, 2023

Medical Oxygen Delivery System in Exploration Atmosphere Minimizing the Risk of Fire 
Principal Investigator: Arif Rahman, Ph.D. 
Mentor: Aaron Ohta, Ph.D. 
Institution: University of Hawaii  
Project Dates: Sept. 1, 2020 – Aug. 31, 2022

Manipulating Sleep Architecture as an Operational Countermeasure 
Principal Investigator: Matthew Gaidica 
Mentor: Ben Dantzer, Ph.D. 
Institution: University of Michigan 
Project Dates: Aug. 1, 2020 – July 31, 2023

Microgravity and Partial Gravity Effects on Hepatic Organoid Steatosis and Function 
Principal Investigator: Maria Sekyi, Ph.D.  
Mentor: Tammy Chang, M.D., Ph.D. 
Institution: University of California, San Francisco 
Project Dates: Aug. 1, 2020 – Sept. 30, 2021

Investigation of Blood-based Circulating Biomarkers of Responses to Space Radiation 
Principal Investigator: Eloise Pariset, Ph.D. 
Mentor: Sylvain Costes, Ph.D. 
Institution: NASA Ames Research Center 
Project Dates: Nov. 1, 2019 – March 31, 2021

Scientific Physical and Operations Characterization (SPOC) - Capturing Physical Terrestrial Fieldwork in Context 
Principal Investigator: Rachel Vitali, Ph.D. 
Mentor: Leia Stirling, Ph.D. 
Institution: University of Michigan  
Project Dates: Sept. 1, 2019 – Aug. 31, 2020

Monitoring Biomarkers for Muscular Atrophy Using Nanoelectronic Chip for Astronaut Health 
Principal Investigator: Morgan J. Anderson, Ph.D. 
Mentor: Jessica Koehne, Ph.D. 
Institution: NASA Ames Research Center 
Project Dates: Sept. 1, 2019 – Aug. 31, 2021

In Situ Expression Analysis of Therapeutic Microbes with Gastrointestinal Devices 
Principal Investigator: Miguel Jimenez, Ph.D. 
Mentor: Robert Langer, ScD 
Institution: Massachusetts Institute of Technology 
Project Dates: Aug. 1, 2019 – April 30, 2021  

Effects of Galactic Cosmic Radiation on Translationally-Relevant Cognitive Behaviors and Response to Social Stress 
Principal Investigator: Frederico C. Kiffer, Ph.D. 
Mentor: Amelia Eisch, Ph.D. 
Institution: Children's Hospital of Philadelphia 
Project Dates: Aug. 1, 2019 – July 31, 2022

Investigating the Combinatorial Effects of Intraocular Pressure and Hypobaric Hypoxia on Corneal Function 
Principal Investigator: Andrew Ford, Ph.D. 
Mentor: David Kaplan, Ph.D. 
Institution: Tufts University  
Project Dates: Aug. 1, 2019 – March 31, 2021

Genetic Variability in Microgravity-Induced Bone and Muscle Loss 
Principal Investigator: Michael Friedman, Ph.D. 
Mentor: Henry Donahue, Ph.D. 
Institution: Virginia Commonwealth University 
Project Dates: Jan. 1, 2019 – Dec. 31, 2021

Mechanisms of protection from radiation by natural proteins 
Principal Investigator: Lindsey Haggett, Ph.D. 
Mentor: Susan Rosenberg, Ph.D. 
Institution: Baylor College of Medicine 
Project Dates: Dec. 1, 2018 – Oct. 31, 2021

Assessment of Artificial Gravity As a Countermeasure to Cephalad Fluid Shifting (Postdoctoral Fellowship) 
Principal Investigator: Karina Marshall-Goebel, Ph.D. 
Mentor: Quan Zhang, Ph.D. 
Institution: Massachusetts General Hospital 
Project Dates: March 1, 2018 – Dec. 31, 2018

Will use of long-acting, reversible contraceptives mitigate bone loss in female rats during simulated exploration class missions? 
Principal Investigator: Heather Allaway, Ph.D. 
Mentor: Susan Bloomfield, Ph.D. 
Institution: Texas A&M Research Foundation 
Project Dates: Jan. 1, 2018 – Dec. 31, 2020

Predicting Individual Differences in Learning to Manually Stabilize Attitude in a Space Flight Analog Environment 
Principal Investigator: Vivekanand Vimal, Ph.D. 
Mentor: Paul DiZio, Ph.D. 
Institution: Brandeis University  
Project Dates: Dec. 1, 2017 – Nov. 30, 2020

A mechanistic framework to assess the efficacy of aspirin and other radioprotectors to reduce carcinogenesis by space radiation 
Principal Investigator: Micaela Cunha, Ph.D. 
Mentor: David Brenner, Ph.D. 
Institution: Columbia University 
Project Dates: Dec. 1, 2017 – May 31, 2019

Dr. Steve Mayo, March 27, 2019 - During the March 2019 AoB meeting, we were joined by Dr. Steve Mayo, Bren Professor of Biology and Chemistry and William K. Bowes Jr. Leadership Chair of the Division of Biology and Biological Engineering at the California Institute of Technology. Watch the recording

Dr. Susan Bloomfield, April 24, 2019 - Dr. Susan Bloomfield, Associate Dean for Research in the College of Education & Human Development and Professor of Kinesiology at Texas A&M University, joined the Academy of Bioastronautics to share her insights. Topics included her own career and professional experience at Texas A&M, as well as helpful advice for pursuing a similar path. Watch the recording

Dr. Lindsay Haggett, May 15, 2019 - During the May 2019 AoB meeting, the Academy of Bioastronautics heard from postdoc Lindsey Haggett, Ph.D. at Baylor College of Medicine. Dr. Haggett discussed her research progress and goals for her TRISH-funded project, "Mechanisms of protection from radiation by natural proteins." Watch the recording

Dr. Michael Friedman, June 26, 2019 - During the June 2019 AoB meeting, the Academy of Bioastronautics heard from postdoc Michael Friedman, Ph.D. at Virginia Commonwealth University. Dr. Friedman discussed his project, "Genetic Variability in Microgravity-Induced Bone and Muscle Loss." Watch the recording

Dr. Hamsa Balakrishnan, Aug. 14, 2019 - During the August 2019 AoB meeting, the Academy of Bioastronautics heard from Hamsa Balakrishnan, Associate Department Head and an Associate Professor of Aeronautics and Astronautics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Dr. Balakrishnan is also the Director of Transportation at MIT. Watch the recording

Dr. Andrew Ford, Oct. 30, 2019 - During the October 2019 AoB meeting, the Academy of Bioastronautics heard from postdoc Andrew Ford, Ph.D. at Tufts University. Dr. Ford discussed his research progress and goals for TRISH-funded project, "Investigating The Combinatorial Effects Of Intraocular Pressure And Hypobaric Hypoxia On Corneal Function." Watch the recording

Dr. Miguel Jimenez, Nov. 20, 2019 - During the November 2019 AoB meeting, the Academy of Bioastronautics heard from postdoc Miguel Jimenez, Ph.D. at Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dr. Jimenez discussed his research progress and goals for TRISH-funded project, "In Situ Expression Analysis of Therapeutic Microbes with Gastrointestinal Devices." Watch the recording

AoB Session 6: Karina Marshall-Goebel, Ph.D., presents Sept. 12, 2018 - Dr. Marshall-Goebel is from the Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School in Boston, Mass. She provided a synopsis and status of her TRISH-funded research, "Assessment of Artificial Gravity as a Countermeasure to Cephalad Fluid Shifting." Mentor: Quan Zhang, Ph.D. View presentation charts. 

AoB Session 5: Vivekanand Vimal, Ph.D., presents June 27, 2018 - Dr. Vimal from Brandeis University in Waltham, Maine provided a synopsis and status of his TRISH-funded research, "Predicting individual differences in learning to manually stabilize attitude in a space flight analog environment." Mentor: Paul DiZio, Ph.D. View presentation charts, research video.

AoB Session 4: Miguel Jimenez, Ph.D., presents May 23, 2018 - Dr. Jimenez is part of the Robert Langer lab at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge, Mass. He provided a synopsis and status of Dr. Lang's TRISH-funded research, "Gastrointestinal devices for long-term in situ delivery of therapeutic microbes. View presentation charts.

AoB Session 3: Micaela Cunha, Ph.D., presents April 26, 2018 - Dr. Cunha from Columbia University in New York City, N.Y. provided a synopsis and status of her TRISH-funded research, "A mechanistic framework to assess the efficacy of aspirin and other radioprotectors to reduce carcinogenesis by space radiations." Mentor: David Brenner, Ph.D. View presentation charts. 

AoB Session 2: Heather Allaway, Ph.D., presents Feb. 21, 2018 - Dr. Allaway from Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas provided a synopsis and status of her TRISH-funded research, "Will use of long-acting, reversible contraceptives mitigate bone loss in female rats during simulated exploration class missions?" Mentor: Susan Bloomfield, Ph.D.

AoB Session 1: Dr. Larry Young kicks off the Academy of Bioastronautics Jan. 24, 2018 - Drs. Larry Young and Dorit Donoviel kicked off the inaugural class of the Academy of Bioastronautics (AoB) during NASA's Human Research Program Investigators' Workshop in Galveston, Texas. The meet and greet served as an opportunity for the AoB participants - many of them TRISH postdoctoral fellows - to connect in person, meet TRISH members and set the course for the upcoming year.