Innovative Startups Developing Next-Gen Cancer Treatments and Radiation-Shielding Material Selected Through MassChallenge Accelerator for Space-Based Research

BOSTON (MA), April 11, 2025 – Startups RedPoint Oncology and Fourier are the newest recipients of 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., funded by Boeing and the Center for the Advancement of Science in Space® (CASIS®), manager of the International Space Station (ISSInternational Space Station) National Laboratory. Selected through the MassChallenge (Boston) startup accelerator program, these two companies will utilize the unparalleled research environment available through the ISS National Lab to push the boundaries of scientific knowledge and advance their research and technology development.

RedPoint Oncology will leverage the accelerated disease progression of cancers 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. to test a new class of therapeutics that can treat cancers resistant to conventional treatments. Fourier will test the performance of its new radiation-shielding material in protecting sensitive electronic devices from the harsh conditions in space. Through the Technology in Space Prize, CASIS and Boeing intend to award RedPoint Oncology and Fourier more than $650,000 in total funding.

“Boeing and CASIS have partnered on the Technology in Space Prize for 11 years, collaborating with MassChallenge to identify early-stage companies that can utilize the unique environment of the International Space Station for R&D that is not possible on Earth, ultimately benefiting humanity,” said Scott Copeland, director of ISS research integration for Boeing.

The startups join a growing community of researchers using the final frontier to explore new possibilities and demonstrate the potential of space-based research. Since the prize’s inception, more than $20 million has been awarded for more than 30 projects.

Engaging the startup community is a strategic priority for the ISS National Lab. Having access to the unique space environment allows entrepreneurs to further their science and technology, develop novel products, and build new businesses. The impact of conducting research through the ISS National Lab is notable, as startups awarded a flight project have cumulatively raised nearly $2.4 billion in funding postflight, demonstrating the value of space-based R&D in accelerating commercialization.

“The ISS National Lab congratulates Fourier and RedPoint Oncology as the latest awardees of the Technology in Space Prize,” said Phillip Irace, science program director for the ISS National Lab. “This prize, in collaboration with our partners at Boeing and MassChallenge, focuses on giving startups the opportunity to conduct R&D in 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., and it continues to yield innovators who are pushing the limits of this new era of research. We look forward to working with both of these startups.”

Funding awarded to this year’s recipients will provide seed money and assist with hardware costs for flight projects using ISS National Lab flight and crew time allocation.

RedPoint Oncology

Up to 90% of cancer deaths ultimately result from cancers that developed resistance to traditional therapies. RedPoint Oncology’s novel approach is designed to target therapy-resistant cancer cells to improve patient survival and quality of life. The company’s new therapy for solid tumors combines antibodies that target cancer cells with a cancer-killing drug in a single antibody-drug conjugate (ADC). By leveraging microgravity, which promotes 3D cell growth and accelerates cancer progression, the research team can evaluate the performance of its ADCs in robust disease models on shorter time scales than is possible on Earth.

Fourier

It is critical for electronic systems to operate correctly in space—on satellites, space stations, and spacecraft for long-duration spaceflight missions. However, the harsh space environment, which includes damaging radiation and temperature extremes, affects the durability of electronics and their ability to operate properly. Fourier has developed a lightweight, ceramic matrix composite (CMC) and manufacturing process where the material is heated and shaped to fit around electronic systems, protecting them from harmful radiation and providing temperature control. The project will use Aegis Aerospace’s MISSE Flight FacilityThe Materials International Space Station Experiment Flight Facility is a hardware platform on the exterior of the ISS that provides exposure to the harsh space conditions for the accelerated testing of materials and technologies with important applications both in space and on Earth. This ISS National Lab commercial facility is owned and operated by Aegis Aerospace. on the exterior of the space station to test CMCs of varying thickness in the space environment. The research team will compare how well the CMCs work when compared with current materials used in the electronics of satellite systems in low Earth orbit.

With support from Boeing and CASIS through the Technology in Space Prize, innovative startups like RedPoint Oncology and Fourier have the opportunity to utilize the unique conditions in low Earth orbit to advance their R&D and improve life on Earth. To learn more about the ISS National Lab, including current solicitations seeking projects to leverage the orbiting platform, please visit our website.

To learn more about applying for the Technology in Space Prize, go to the MassChallenge webpage.

Download a high-resolution image for this release: The International Space Station

Media Contact:
Patrick O’Neill
904-806-0035
PONeill@ISSNationalLab.org

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About the International Space Station (ISS) National Laboratory: The International Space Station (ISS) is a one-of-a-kind laboratory that enables research and technology development not possible on Earth. As a public service enterprise, the ISS National Laboratory® allows researchers to leverage this multiuser facility to improve quality of life on Earth, mature space-based business models, advance science literacy in the future workforce, and expand a sustainable and scalable market in low Earth orbit. Through this orbiting national laboratory, research resources on the ISS are available to support non-NASA science, technology, and education initiatives from U.S. government agencies, academic institutions, and the private sector. 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).) manages the ISS National Lab, under Cooperative AgreementA cooperative agreement is Federal assistance that establishes a relationship between the U.S. Government and a recipient in which the principal purpose of the relationship is to accomplish a public purpose of support or stimulation.  Since 2011, the Center for the Advancement of Science in Space™ (CASIS™) has managed the National Laboratory® through a Cooperative Agreement with NASA. with NASANational Aeronautics and Space Administration, facilitating access to its permanent microgravity research environment, a powerful vantage point in low Earth orbit, and the extreme and varied conditions of space. To learn more about the ISS National Lab, visit our website.

As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, CASIS accepts corporate and individual donations to help advance science in space for the benefit of humanity. For more information, visit our donations page.