Embarking on a Journey: Innovative Stem Cell Research Ventures into Space

A Mayo Clinic research experiment is set to be included in a payload that will be launched into space from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida, on January 29th, pending weather conditions and other factors. Dr. Abba Zubair’s laboratory team is currently preparing stem cells for the flight in order to investigate the impact of zero gravity on bone loss.

According to Dr. Zubair, a specialist in laboratory medicine and pathology at Mayo Clinic in Florida, it has been known for some time that astronauts experience a decrease in bone density during long-duration space flights. The objective of this research is to gain a better understanding of the mechanisms behind this phenomenon, with the aim of developing solutions to prevent bone loss not only in astronauts but also in patients on Earth.

The research project will focus on studying the behavior of mesenchymal stem cells, a type of adult stem cells derived from bone marrow, in the presence of gravity. These cells possess growth factors and healing potential, and are crucial for tissue repair and regeneration. Dr. Zubair’s team will analyze how these stem cells function in a microgravity environment. The findings from this experiment could have implications for future space missions, including those involving human travel to Mars.

Dr. Zubair also suggests that this early research could potentially impact human clinical trials in the future, although this may be a decade away.

The knowledge gained from this project will be utilized to advance our research in preparation for clinical trials. Our ultimate objective is to develop therapeutic agents that can effectively prevent or treat bone loss associated with osteoporosis, as well as bone loss experienced by individuals who are bedridden for extended periods of time.

To achieve this, we have planned two space flights for conducting our research. The initial space flight will focus on evaluating the impact of microgravity on bone-forming stem cells. Subsequently, the second space flight, tentatively scheduled for the end of the year, will analyze the effect of microgravity on other cell types involved in bone formation or loss. During these flights, we will also test a compound that has the potential to treat bone loss both in space and on Earth.

In 2017, Dr. Zubair embarked on his first space research endeavor. Stem cells donated by various individuals were sent into space from Kennedy Space Center to determine their viability and the possibility of mass-producing them more efficiently in microgravity for stroke treatment. A subsequent research experiment conducted in space confirmed the safety and feasibility of growing stem cells in weightlessness for potential applications in treating human diseases.

For this research project, Mayo Clinic is collaborating with Bioserve Space Technologies in Boulder, Colorado, which will provide the necessary space flight hardware.

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