Current Opportunity
NLRA 2024-9
National Lab Research Announcement
NLRA 2024-9 Igniting Innovation: Science in Space to Cure Disease on Earth
This ISSInternational Space Station National Lab Research Announcement (NLRAThe abbreviation for an ISS National Lab Research Announcement. NLRAs are one of the ISS National Lab’s primary mechanisms to solicit proposals in specific research areas.) is issued in collaboration with NASA’s Biological and Physical Sciences (BPS) division and seeks proposals for flight projects that utilize the unique space environment to address challenges that hinder progress in preventing, diagnosing, and treating some of the most challenging diseases of our time, such as cancer. Similarly, advanced therapies for cardiovascular, immune, muscle and bone, and neurodegenerative diseases face obstacles that thwart scientific advancements and the translation of research findings into clinical applications. These challenges frequently overlap and share common elements, despite the complexity and variability of mechanisms within and among these diseases. Many of these challenges can be mitigated using accelerated disease models 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..
Solicitation #:
NLRA 2024-9
NLRA Open Period:
8/15/2024 – 3/3/2025
Strategic Focus:
Fundamental Science
Research Area:
Life Science
Watch the webinar to learn about this opportunity
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). intends to select for award spaceflight projects leading to defined milestones in technological innovation on a roadmap that aligns with national R&D priorities and the ISS National Lab mission to benefit humanity and the U.S. economy. In evaluating proposals, CASIS prioritizes the scientific and technical merit of the proposal as well as its feasibility and potential benefit to value creation for the nation and the emerging LEO(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. space ecosystem. The ISS National Lab strives for a balanced project award portfolio that accounts for diverse factors, including, but not limited to, different types of institutional representation, participation by individuals traditionally underrepresented in STEM areas and careers, and the assembly of teams promote inclusion, diversity, equity, and accessibility (IDEA) for improving workforce development.
Steps for Applying to this Research Opportunity
This NLRA aims to foster collaborations between academia, industry, and government to tackle complex challenges and develop innovative, commercially viable products and technologies for disease prevention, diagnosis, and treatment to improve medical outcomes on Earth.
View Applicant Resources for ISS National Lab Research Opportunities
This research announcement will follow a three-step proposal submission process. All interested investigators must first complete and submit for review a Step 1A: Concept Summary. Offerors with approved concepts will be invited to submit a Step 1B: Technology Roadmap. Offerors with approved Technology Roadmaps will then be invited to submit a Step 2: Full Proposal.
** Please verify that none of the information submitted is subject to the export control laws of the United States, such as the EAR or the ITAR; if any information is subject to such laws, please mark all pages containing such information and identify the appropriate export control jurisdiction and classification. **
Step 1A: Concept Summary Online Submission
Concept summaries must be submitted electronically using the concept summary submission form. To access the form, press the “Click to Submit” button below. Please follow the directions on that page.
Download NLRA 2024-9 Step 1B Required Forms (Invitation Only)
CASIS will notify all offerors of the review results of their Step 1A: Concept Summary.
Step 1B: Technology Roadmap Online Submission
Step 1B: Technology Roadmap Due Date: November 22, 2024
Technology roadmaps must be submitted electronically using the technology roadmap submission form. To access the form, press the “Click to Submit” button below.
Step 2.1: Download Step 2 Required Forms (Invitation Only)
CASIS will notify all offerors of the review results of their Step 1B: Technology Roadmap.
Step 2.2: Full Proposal Submission
If you were invited to submit a Step 2: Full Proposal, upload your submission by pressing the “Click to Submit” button below. Please convert your document to a PDF prior to uploading. Offerors should ensure they are using a current version of Adobe Acrobat to create their PDF and that uploaded documents do not include Flash content.
Thank you for your interest in conducting research leveraging the ISS National Lab! For questions regarding this research announcement, please contact info@ISSNationalLab.org and reference NLRA2024-9 in the subject line.