ISSRDC Day 2 is About to Begin: Check Out Highlights From Day 1

Yesterday, we jumped right in to the 2024 International Space Station Research and Development Conference(Abbreviation: ISSRDC) The only conference dedicated exclusively to showcasing how the International Space Station is advancing science and technology and enabling a robust and sustainable market in LEO. This annual conference brings together leaders from the commercial sector, U.S. government agencies, and academic communities to foster innovation and discovery onboard the space station. ISSRDC is hosted by the Center for the Advancement of Science in Space, manager of the ISS National Lab; NASA; and the American Astronautical Society. (ISSRDC) in Boston. The exciting Day 1 lineup showcased the many ways the International Space Station (ISSInternational Space Station) is facilitating breakthroughs not possible on Earth and enabling the development of a sustainable low Earth orbit(Abbreviation: LEO) The orbit around the Earth that extends up to an altitude of 2,000 km (1,200 miles) from Earth’s surface. The International Space Station’s orbit is in LEO, at an altitude of approximately 250 miles. (LEO) economy.

CASIS CEO Ray Lugo welcoming attendees to ISSRDC 2024 in Boston.

Ray Lugo, CEO of the Center for the Advancement of Science in Space™ (CASIS™(Abbreviation: CASIS™) The nonprofit organization that manages the ISS National Lab, which receives at least 50 percent of the U.S. research allocation on the International Space Station to facilitate research that benefits humanity (NASA manages the other 50% and focuses on research for space exploration purposes).), which manages the ISS National Lab, welcomed attendees and shared his excitement about hearing from leaders across the space research community. Lugo said, “This past year, we’ve seen real progress and results coming from research on the ISS. Many of those involved in this R&D—researchers, commercial partners, government agencies, and the new commercial platforms—are here among us and will talk about their groundbreaking work.”

Dana Weigel, NASA’s ISS Program Manager, kicked off ISSRDC 2024 with a recap of some of the exciting research on the ISS over the past year.

NASANational Aeronautics and Space Administration ISS Program Manager Dana Weigel highlighted some of the amazing science happening on the space station. “The ISS continues to be a busy place with a high research tempo,” she said. “I want to emphasize that we aren’t slowing down any time soon. We’re pressing full steam ahead for the future as we maximize the use of the ISS.”

At ISSRDC 2024, Mike Roberts, ISS National Lab chief scientific officer, and Diana Ly, deputy director for NASA’s Biological and Physical Sciences (BPS) Division, announced five projects selected through the 2023 Igniting Innovation solicitation.

During a morning session, the ISS National Lab and NASA announced the selection of five projects through the inaugural Igniting Innovation solicitation for cancer and other disease-related research. Mike Roberts, ISS National Lab chief scientific officer, and Diana Ly, deputy director for NASA’s Biological and Physical Sciences (BPS) Division, invited the selected investigators to the stage to share how they will leverage the unique space environment to advance cancer research for the benefit of patients on Earth.

Day 1 of ISSRDC 2024 included a live downlink with four NASA astronauts currently on the space station: NASA astronauts Matthew Dominick, Michael Barratt, Tracy C. Dyson, and Jeanette Epps.

Four NASA astronauts onboard the ISS joined ISSRDC attendees via live downlink from the space station. NASA astronaut Tracy C. Dyson shared with attendees, “During my first two missions, I was involved in the assembly of the space station. The change for me is now that assembly is complete and we are full throttle on utilization, we are using the space station as the world-class laboratory it was meant to be. It has been a joy to see how far we’ve come.” 

During the ISSRDC 2024 Day 1 Biology and Medicine Technical Session, Armin Rad, CEO of Encapsulate, discussed his startup’s ISS National Lab-sponsored research to enhance their tumor-on-a-chip model.

In today’s Biology and Medicine Technical Session, Armin Rad, CEO of Encapsulate, discussed his ISS National Lab-sponsored research to enhance the startup’s tumor-on-a-chip model for predicting individual responses to cancer treatments. In microgravityThe condition of perceived weightlessness created when an object is in free fall, for example when an object is in orbital motion. Microgravity alters many observable phenomena within the physical and life sciences, allowing scientists to study things in ways not possible on Earth. The International Space Station provides access to a persistent microgravity environment., cells form 3D structures that closely mimic human body cell growth, making the space station ideal for tumor research. The team used its tumor-on-a-chip model in space to test various cancer drugs. Results showed that some drugs performed better in microgravity, offering insights into more effective treatments for patients on Earth. Rad says the team wants to know “how and why a treatment can be more effective in microgravity.”

During the ISSRDC 2024 Day 1 Biology and Medicine Technical Session, University of Connecticut researcher Yupeng Chen discussed his team’s ISS National Lab-sponsored research on Janus base nanomaterials for drug delivery.

University of Connecticut researcher Yupeng Chen discussed his team’s ISS National Lab-sponsored research, in partnership with Eascra Biotech, on the space-based manufacturing of Janus base nanomaterials for drug delivery. Chen explained that these DNA-inspired nanoparticles “can infiltrate into some hard-to-penetrate tissue, like articular cartilage, better so we can develop a first-in-kind disease modifying therapeutic against osteoarthritis.” JBNs self-assemble, and gravity can reduce their structural integrity, which is why JBNs could benefit from in-space manufacturing. Through ISS research, the team demonstrated that when produced in microgravity, JBNs have better homogeneity, assembly, and cargo loading, Chen said. “So, in-space manufacturing can produce better nanoparticles, which could improve treatment outcomes.”

Jinni Meehan, assistant director for space policy at the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, gave the Day 1 luncheon keynote at ISSRDC 2024.

During the luncheon keynote address, Jinni Meehan, assistant director for space policy at the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, underscored the critical role of the expanding low Earth orbit (LEO) economy in sustaining U.S. leadership in space. In 2023, the the Biden-Harris Administration released the National Low Earth Orbit Research and Development Strategy. In her address, Meehan said, “This plan demonstrates the United States is committed to advancing research in LEO by leveraging the nation’s commercial enterprise to develop the infrastructure needed to grow the space economy.” She went on to say that the administration “encourages the use of LEO as a unique environment to address global challenges in science, medicine, manufacturing, communications, agriculture, and national security.”

Catriona Jamieson, director of the Sanford Stem Cell Institute, discussed her team’s space-based cancer research during a panel session on trailblazing new frontiers in science on the space station, co-moderated by Jennifer Buchli, NASA’s chief scientist for the ISS Program, and Michael Roberts, chief scientific officer for the ISS National Laboratory.

Jennifer Buchli, NASA’s chief scientist for the ISS programs, and Michael Roberts, chief scientific officer for the ISS National Laboratory, co-moderated a panel session that brought together pioneers in biomedical research to discuss the transformative impact of the space environment on scientific discovery and clinical applications. These experts highlighted how space-based research accelerates advancements in the understanding of human health, disease, and aging.

Catriona Jamieson, director of the Sanford Stem Cell Institute, said her team is searching for a “cancer kill switch.” She described her recent ISS research to study the genetic factors that give rise to cancer stem cells, which can evade chemotherapy. “Things happen faster” and more efficiently in microgravity, allowing her team to study the genes that activate disease progression and to develop new, less toxic therapies.

Anna-Sophia Boguraev (right), inaugural winner of the Genes in SpaceAn annual national research competition for students in grades 7 through 12 to design pioneering biotechnology experiments that are conducted by astronauts on the space station. The program is funded by Boeing and miniPCR bio and supported by the ISS National Laboratory® and New England BioLabs. student research competition, led a panel discussion with fellow Genes in Space alumni Aarthi Vijayakumar, Kaylie Hausknecht, and Jonathan Chang on the program’s impact on their academics and career path.

A panel moderated by Anna-Sophia Boguraev, inaugural winner of the Genes in Space student research competition, featured insightful discussions with other Genes in Space alumni, including Kaylie Hausknecht, Aarthi Vijayakumar, and Jonathan Chang. Panelists shared how Genes in Space was pivotal in introducing them to space research and providing valuable resources and mentorship that shaped their academic pursuits and professional trajectories.

Jonathan Chang, who  notably secured $1.3 million in venture funding for his enterprise Markit Social, captured the spirit of innovation fostered by Genes in Space, saying, “The big thing is, you’ve got to try it. I don’t need to be the most experienced person in the room; I just need to be the one who tries to do it.”

Patrick O’Neill, public affairs and outreach lead for the ISS National Lab (right), moderated a fireside chat on startups in space with Sebastian Kraves, co-founder of miniPCR bio and Genes in Space; Shane Hegarty, co-founder and chief scientific officer of Axonis; and Will Magruder, vice president of partnerships at MassChallenge.

During a fireside chat moderated by Patrick O’Neill, public affairs and outreach lead for the ISS National Lab, attendees learned how startups can leverage the unique space environment to advance innovative research and technology development. One key opportunity is the Technology in Space Prize, funded by CASIS and Boeing in partnership with the MassChallenge startup accelerator program. The prize provides seed funding and assists with hardware costs for space station R&D.

As an Irish innovator far removed from the space industry, Shane Hegarty, CSO and Founder of Axonis Therapeutics, initially thought space research was out of reach. However, the ISS National Lab, Boeing, and MassChallenge made it possible for his company. “We were lucky enough to win the Technology in Space PrizeA prize that provides grant funding for business startups participating in the MassChallenge startup accelerator program to conduct innovative research and technology development utilizing the ISS National Lab. The prize is funded by the Center for the Advancement of Science in Space, which manages the ISS National Lab, and Boeing., which really put our company on the map,” he said.

Will Magruder, vice president of partnerships at MassChallenge, expressed hopes for the program’s future in space commercialization. “I definitely hope that MassChallenge is a part of the world of space commercialization over the next 10 years,” he said. “Obviously, we’re not bringing the technology to space, but we’re helping to discover it. I would love to see more partners like Boeing step up and help small businesses get their technology to space by sponsoring this important research.”

ISS National Lab Deputy Chief Scientist Donna Roberts moderated a panel session on human systems integration with Kris Lehnhardt, Element Scientist for Exploration Medical Capability at NASA; Dana Levin, Vast Space Medical Director and Chief Flight Surgeon; Ryan Amick, KBR Human Health and Performance Fellow; and Kritina Holden, Leidos Technical Fellow in Human Factors.

The day wrapped up with a panel session moderated by ISS National Lab Deputy Chief Scientist Donna Roberts that discussed how human systems integration optimizes human health and performance capabilities in space. “Human systems integration is a management approach and process to make sure that systems are designed to consider human capabilities and limitations,” explained Kritina Holden, technical fellow in human factors at Leidos.

Stay tuned for an insightful Day 2 of ISSRDC 2024, with a keynote address on the future of human-robot interactions, a panel discussion about maintaining a continuity of research in LEO, and a fireside chat on technology development on the ISS and future LEO platforms.