NASA, NSBRI Select 17 Proposals in Space Radiation Research 25 Sep 2007
The crews of future missions to the moon and Mars could face serious health risks from unwanted exposure to space radiation. NASA and the National Space Biomedical Research Institute, also known as NSBRI, Houston, will fund 17 new research projects that will enable NASA to better understand and reduce those risks.

Orbiter Provides Insights About Mars Water 20 Sep 2007
NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter is examining several features on Mars that address the role of water at different times in Martian history.

NASA and NIH Partner for Health Research in Space 12 Sep 2007
NASA and the National Institutes of Health have entered into an agreement that helps American scientists use the ISS to answer questions about human health and disease.

NASA Collaborates With Russia on Foton-M3 Mission 11 Sep 2007
NASA is collaborating with Russia on a new robotic mission to conduct biological studies on the Russian Foton-M3 mission which is scheduled to be launched on September 14, 2007.

Study identifies key player in the body’s immune response to chronic stress 4 Sep 2007
Osteopontin (OPN), a protein molecule involved in many different cellular processes, plays a significant role in immune deficiency and organ atrophy following chronic physiological stress, resulting in increased susceptibility to illness.

Life and Work on the Moon: What Images Come to Mind? 23 Aug 2007
A new NASA contest encourages university art and design students to partner with science and engineering departments to create art representative of living and working on the moon.

NASA Announces Education Research Program Award Recipients 17 Aug 2007
NASA has awarded more than $17 million to institutions nationwide to help make significant contributions to the research and technology priorities of the agency.

Undersea mission aids development of self-test for stress and fatigue 10 Aug 2007
An undersea mission simulating the space environment will provide data for development of tools to quickly assess stress, fatigue and cognitive fitness in preparation for performing critical mission tasks.

NSBRI selects nine projects for funding 7 Aug 2007
The National Space Biomedical Research Institute (NSBRI) selected nine science and technology projects for funding to become part of its program addressing the human health and medical challenges of long-duration space missions.

NASA Welcomes Doctors' Support for Human Space Exploration 17 Jun 2007
The American Medical Association passed a resolution in support of human space travel at its annual meeting held in June in Chicago.

Annual International Gravitational Physiology Meeting 6 Apr 2007

The 28th Annual International Gravitational Physiology Meeting will be held from 8-13 April, 2007 at the Menger Hotel, San Antonio, TX, USA.

The meeting is sponsored and organized by the International Society for Gravitational Physiology (ISGP). The Announcement and Call for Abstracts is available online at http://www.isgp.org

Further information can be obtained from the ISGP website (http://www.isgp.org) or from: Victor A. Convertino, ISGP President, US Army Institute of Surgical Research, 3400 Rawley E. Chambers Avenue, Bldg. 3611, Ft. Sam Houston, TX, 78234-6315, USA. Phone: +1-210-916-5633, Fax: +1-210-916-5992, Email: victor.convertino@cen.amedd.army.mil or, Peter Norsk, Chair of the ISGP Council of Trustees, Department of Medical Physiology, University of Copenhagen, The Panum Institute, Section 12.2.43, Blegdamsvej 3, DK-2200 Copenhagen, Denmark. Phone: +45 35 32 75 11, Fax: +45 35 32 75 37, Email: pnorsk@mfi.ku.dk.

NASA Provides Workshops and Presentations at NSTA March Meeting 29 Mar 2007

Representatives from NASA will be at the National Science Teachers Association’s (NSTA) conference in St. Louis, Mo., on March 29-April 1, 2007. Educators can attend a variety of NASA sessions designed for teachers of all grade levels, from pre-school to college level. Plan to visit the NASA booth for more information on how NASA materials can be used in the classroom.

For a full schedule of NASA sessions and workshops, including times and locations, visit http://www.nasa.gov/audience/foreducators/k-4/features/F_NSTA07_NASA_Workshops.html

The NASA Astrobiology Institute (NAI) maintains a variety of funding opportunities. These support the NAI mission objectives of interdisciplinary and collaborative research, the training and establishment of young astrobiologists, and the development and advancement of the overall astrobiology community. One of these opportunities is the NAI Research Scholarship. 21 Feb 2007

The NAI Research Scholarship Project offers research-related travel support to enable graduate or postdoctoral students to circulate among two or more NAI teams or participating institutions of the NAI. Requests are limited to $5,000 and are accepted on a continuous basis. For more information, visit http://nai.arc.nasa.gov/funding/index.cfm#nrs

NASA Reference Guide to the International Space Station Released 11 Jan 2007

In January 2007, NASA released NASA Reference Guide to the International Space Station. The publication may be accessed and downloaded at the following URL: http://www.nasa.gov/pdf/167124main_Introduction_and_Table_of_Contents.pdf

From the Introduction: “The International Space Station (ISS) is a great international,technological, and political achievement. It is the latest step in humankind’s quest to explore and live in space. The results of the research done on the ISS may be applied in various areas of science, enable us to improve life on this planet, and give us the experience and increased understanding that can eventually equip us to journey to other worlds.

This book is designed to provide a broad overview of the Station’s complex configuration, design, and component systems, as well as the sophisticated procedures required in the Station’s construction and operation.

The ISS is in orbit today, operating with a crew of three. Its assembly will continue through 2010. As the ISS grows, its capabilities will increase, thus requiring a larger crew.”

Proposals for Summer Sabbaticals Being Accepted Until April 2, 2007 5 Jan 2007

The NASA Astrobiology Institute Minority Institution Research Support project provides opportunities for researchers from qualified minority institutions to initiate joint partnerships with researchers in the field of astrobiology. Applications are currently being accepted for summer sabbatical opportunities. Selected researchers will complete a 6- to 10-week research fellowship in astrobiology.

The applicant must be a faculty member at a U.S. college or university designated as a minority institution by the U.S. Department of Education. Applicants must also be U.S. citizens to be eligible.

Selected faculty and researchers will be funded for the summer of 2007 to engage in a sabbatical focused on research in astrobiology. The proposals for summer sabbaticals are due April 2, 2007.

For more information on the project and how to submit a proposal, visit http://www.nai-mirs.org/

Three Scientists Selected for NSBRI Postdoctoral Fellowships 2 Jan 2007

Three young investigators have been named in January as National Space Biomedical Research Institute (NSBRI) Postdoctoral Fellows. “The space program needs scientists well versed in the research and technology development skills required to solve health problems related to lunar and Mars missions,” said Dr. Jeffrey P. Sutton, NSBRI director. This fellowship provides hands-on experience for the young scientists who will implement the Vision for Space Exploration.

The two-year program offers Fellows the opportunity to manage their own space-related biomedical research project while continuing to learn from an experienced faculty mentor. Participants receive $40,000 per year and become a member of one of NSBRI’s science and technology teams. Fellows also attend a week-long summer institute at Johnson Space Center (JSC) learning about JSC’s research facilities and program.

As part of an NSBRI research team, the Fellows participate in the team’s teleconferences and meetings and attend NSBRI’s annual investigator retreats, Sutton said. These activities give the Fellows additional professional relationships with leading scientists from across the U.S.

To be selected, applicants submitted detailed research project proposals to investigate a solution to a space health risk or to develop a technology needed to enable research or medical care in space. The research must involve a mentor and be carried out at a U.S. laboratory doing space-related biomedical or biotechnological research.

Applications were reviewed for scientific and technical merit by the Fellowship Committee and by NSBRI management to ensure relevance to the Institute’s research program goals. The 2006-2008 NSBRI Postdoctoral Fellows, their institutions and mentors are:

Roger K. Long, M.D., Ph.D., University of California, San Francisco, Mentor: Daniel D. Bikle, M.D., Ph.D.;

Paul MacNeilage, Ph.D., Washington University, Mentor: Dora E. Angelaki, Ph.D.;

Shigeki Shibata, M.D., Ph.D., University of Texas-Southwestern Medical Center, Mentor: Benjamin D. Levine, M.D.

NSBRI solicits fellowship applications annually. The Institute’s funded projects address bone and muscle loss, cardiovascular changes, sleep disturbances, balance and orientation, radiation exposure, immunology, neurobehavioral and psychosocial factors, remote medical care and related technologies, nutrition, physical fitness, and rehabilitation. Research findings also impact the understanding and treatment of similar medical conditions experienced on Earth.

A list of the NSBRI Postdoctoral Fellows and their research projects appears at http://www.nsbri.org/Education/PostDoc2006.html

Lauren Hammit
Senior Communications Specialist
National Space Biomedical Research Institute



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