the ISS National Lab Reviews NASA Experiments for Commercialization Potential

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FL. (March 22, 2012) – The Center for the Advancement of Science in Space (the ISSInternational Space Station National Lab), the nonprofit organization managing research on the International Space Station U.S. National Laboratory, has organized a group of world-class scientists to review experiments flown in space by NASANational Aeronautics and Space Administration over the last 10 years. The goal is to identify findings or areas of further study that could lead to breakthrough technologies and products for people on earth.

The panel, led by Timothy Yeatman, a veteran surgeon, scientist and pioneer in the fields of genomics and personalized medicine, is the first of its kind. The effort marks the first high-level international scientific review of NASA experiments with the aim of maximizing use of the station and unlocking the value of America’s investment in the $100 billion orbiting platform.

“The International Space Station is one of humanity’s greatest achievements,” said the ISS National Lab Interim Executive Director Jim Royston. “But to exploit its full potential we must identify the most promising avenues of research that can incite the imaginations of scientists and entrepreneurs alike.”

All the individuals selected for the panel share strong backgrounds in demonstrated bio-commercial successes as well as in pure research. Since being established by the ISS National Lab in early January 2012, the group has focused on experiments that NASA conducted in biology, reviewing more than 135 projects and papers. The experts are now in the process of prioritizing their findings, and initial indications are, according to Yeatman, very promising for attracting commercial interest in several areas.

The bio-focused panel will present its findings and recommendations on the next steps for commercialization to NASA management early next month. These recommendations will also be posted on the the ISS National Lab website at issnationallab.org. Other panels to review both material sciences and plant physiology experiments flown by NASA are being established and their findings and prioritizations will be available in the coming months.

“One of the main goals of the ISS National Lab is to make sure – as soon as possible – that the outcomes of the next round of research on the station have the potential to fight disease and benefit our daily lives,” said Royston. “Bringing these experts together to review the research findings was the first step.”