TRISH seeks input to maximize scientific value of commercial spaceflight biosamples

With the expansion of commercial spaceflight, researchers have an unprecedented opportunity to better understand how space travel affects human health. To help realize that potential, the Translational Research Institute for Space Health (TRISH) at Baylor College of Medicine’s Center for Space Medicine announced today a Request for Information (RFI) seeking input from the scientific community on how to maximize the research value of its growing collection of commercial spaceflight biospecimens.

The RFI, Optimizing the Scientific Impact of the EXPAND Commercial Spaceflight Biosample Collection, invites researchers to identify the molecular analyses and datasets that would provide the greatest scientific benefit if generated from biological samples collected through TRISH's EXPAND (Enhancing eXploration Platforms and ANalog Definition) program. This rare opportunity ensures the limited and irreplaceable biospecimens are used strategically to answer critical questions about human adaptation to spaceflight.

“These samples represent a scarce and valuable resource for the space health community,” said Jimmy Wu, deputy director and chief engineer at TRISH and assistant professor at Baylor. “As access to space broadens beyond government astronaut programs, we have an opportunity to learn how spaceflight affects different populations. With this RFI, we are ensuring that any analyses performed on these biospecimens generate the highest possible scientific return and help answer the most important questions facing human space exploration.”

Unlike many research resources that can be replenished, biospecimens are inherently finite. Generating new molecular data from a sample permanently consumes part of that resource, making it especially important that future analyses align with the needs and priorities of the broader scientific community. TRISH is asking researchers to help identify which approaches, ranging from genomic and transcriptomic analyses to other molecular investigations, could provide the greatest value for understanding spaceflight-related health risks and informing future exploration missions.

The biospecimens available through the collection were gathered before and after commercial space missions and include samples from participants who flew on Axiom-2, Axiom-3, Axiom-4, Fram2 and Polaris Dawn. Because these samples come from private astronauts rather than government astronaut corps members, they provide a unique opportunity to study the biological effects of spaceflight in an emerging participant population.

In addition to biological samples, the EXPAND repository includes physiological, behavioral and environmental data collected through the program’s Essential Measures. These datasets include cognitive assessments, wearable sensor measurements, sleep and team dynamics surveys, sensorimotor testing, ophthalmic imaging, radiation measurements and existing omics data, creating opportunities for integrated analyses that could reveal new insights into how humans respond to spaceflight.

Responses to the RFI will help evaluate future investments in molecular data generation and ensure that the resulting datasets provide the greatest possible benefit to investigators studying human health and performance in space.

Researchers interested in submitting to the RFI can do so here by Sept. 8, 2026.

The EXPAND program, created in 2021, enables research through partnerships with commercial spaceflight providers and their volunteering participants. The program collects health and performance data across all phases of flight and maintains a centralized repository of data and biospecimens to support future scientific investigations.

TRISH is propelling the new space economy to accelerate human exploration and health discovery. Funded by NASA’s Human Research Program, TRISH helps ensure astronauts and humans on Earth alike benefit from the latest space health advancements, with research in extreme environments on Earth serving as a proving ground for both human performance in space and terrestrial applications.

Acting as a critical link between the space and health industries, TRISH focuses on operational needs, mission-critical tools and the next generation of leaders. With rigor, agility and efficiency, TRISH advances innovations and collaborations that enable all humans to thrive, wherever they explore.