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©2000-2015 National Space Biomedical Research Institute

Research

How We Improve Health

During long-duration space exploration missions, microgravity, reduced-gravity environments and radiation exposure will affect many of the body's systems. NSBRI's science and technology teams work to reduce or eliminate the risks to human health posed by the extreme environment of outer space.

As NSBRI discovers solutions (technologies and countermeasures) to space health concerns and develops advanced methods of remote medical care, the products have numerous Earth applications ranging from patient care to homeland security.

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Our Research Teams

Cardiovascular Alterations
Radiation Effects
Musculoskeletal Alterations
Smart Medical Systems and Technology
Human Factors and Performance
Sensorimotor Adaptation
Neurobehavioral and Psychosocial Factors
Health Concerns We Are Addressing
See The Full List

Labs & Research Facility

In addition to laboratories at leading institutions across the country, National Space Biomedical Research Institute has access to the Space 4 Biomedicine (S4B). The S4B contains 16,400 square feet of state-of-the-art laboratory, office and meeting space. It is the headquarters for the NSBRI and Baylor College of Medicine’s Center for Space Medicine. The S4B is located in the Bioscience Research Collaborative (BRC) on the Rice University campus, which is a part of the Texas Medical Center. The facility is quickly establishing itself as the portal through which government, universities, industry and international organizations come together in academia to address the health risks associated with long-duration spaceflight.

Current Projects

Feasibility of DPOAE Mapping as an In-Flight Measure of Intracranial Pressure In Space (First Award Fellowship)
Allison Anderson, Ph.D.

Prevention of Renal Stone Complications in Space Exploration
Michael R. Bailey, Ph.D.

Environmental Factors Associated with Sleep Deficiency During Spaceflight
Laura K. Barger Ph.D.

Individualized Real-Time Neurocognitive Assessment Toolkit for Space Flight Fatigue
Mathias Basner, M.D., Ph.D., M.Sc.

Equinox Balance Goggles: The Effects of Local Orbital Pressure Changes on Intraocular Pressure
John Berdahl M.D.

SPACE-COT: Studying the Physiological and Anatomical Cerebral Effects of Carbon Dioxide and Tilt
Eric Bershad M.D.

Clinical Evaluation of the Newest Generation of a Non-Invasive ICP Meter (VITTAMED) in Subjects Undergoing Invasive ICP Measurement
Eric Bershad M.D.

The role of microgravity and stress-related humoral factors in dysregulated NK-cell function during spaceflight (First Award Fellowship)
Austin Bigley Ph.D.

Developing Predictive Measures of Sensorimotor Adaptability to Produce Customized Countermeasure Prescriptions
Jacob J. Bloomberg, Ph.D.

Center for Space Radiation Research (CSRR)
Marjan Boerma, Ph.D.

Role of the Cranial Venous Circulation in Microgravity-Associated Visual Changes
Jay C. Buckey, M.D.

Autonomous Behavioral Health Countermeasures for Spaceflight
Jay C. Buckey, M.D.

LumosTech Smart Sleep Mask for Circadian Realignment in Space and on Earth
Vanessa Burns

Mitigation of the Spacecraft Radiation Environment Via Magnetic Shielding by an Array of Dispersed Superconducting Magnets (First Award Fellowship)
David Chesny Ph.D.

Fluid Shift Associated Lymphostasis of the Gut Induces Inflammation and Microbial Intolerance (First Award Fellowship)
Walter Cromer Ph.D.

Improving Cardiovascular Risk Prediction–Biomarkers and Beyond; Implications for Astronaut Selection and Monitoring During Prolonged Spaceflight
James de Lemos, M.D.

Non-Invasive Monitoring of Intracranial Pressure (ICP) with Volumetric Ophthalmic Ultrasound
Aaron Dentinger, Ph.D.

Effect of Unloading on the Structure and Mechanics of Rotator Cuff Tendon-to-Bone Insertion (First Award Fellowship)
Alix Deymier-Black, Ph.D.

Markers of Susceptibility to Neurobehavioral Decrements in Spaceflight
David F. Dinges, Ph.D.

Optical Computer Recognition of Stress, Affect and Fatigue in Space Flight
David F. Dinges, Ph.D.

Somatic Mutations in Muscle and Bone Exposed to Simulated Space Radiation and Microgravity
Henry J. Donahue Ph.D.

Metrics and Methods for Real-Time Task Performance Assessment
Kevin R. Duda, Ph.D.

Clinical Outcome Metrics for Optimization of Robust Training
Douglas Ebert, Ph.D.

Cyber Partners: Harnessing Group Dynamics to Boost Motivation for More Efficient Exercise
Deborah Feltz, Ph.D.

Validation of Model Predictions of Alertness, Performance and Sleepiness
Erin E. Flynn-Evans Ph.D., M.P.H.

Simulated Space Radiation and Weightlessness: Vascular-Bone Coupling Mechanisms to Preserve Skeletal Health
Ruth Globus, Ph.D.

e-Vision Electronic Adjustable Power Eyeglasses for Space and Earth
Anthony Van Heugten

Countermeasures for Neurobehavioral Vulnerabilities to Space Radiation
Robert D. Hienz Ph.D.

Improving The Efficacy of Resistive Exercise Microgravity Countermeasures For Musculoskeletal Health and Function Using Biomechanical Simulation (First Award Fellowship)
Kathleen Jagodnik Ph.D.

Ultra-Short Light Pulses as Efficient Countermeasures for Circadian Misalignment and Objective Performance and Subjective Alertness Decrements
Elizabeth B. Klerman M.D., Ph.D.

Exercise Effects on Central Nervous System Function and Structure in Bed Rest (First Award Fellowship)
Vincent Koppelmans, Ph.D.

Microgravity Induced Visual Alterations and Intracranial Pressure (First Award Fellowship)
Justin Lawley, Ph.D.

STOP VIIP Study: Safe and Effective Countermeasures to Reduce Intracranial Pressure and Ameliorate VIIP in Astronauts
Benjamin D. Levine M.D.

Wearable, Sustained Acoustic Medicine for Back Pain
George K. Lewis, Jr. Ph.D.

Biomarker Assessment for Identifying Heightened Risk for Cardiovascular Complications During Long-duration Space Missions
Jonathan R. Lindner M.D.

Validation of a Cephalad Fluid Shift Countermeasure
Brandon R. Macias Ph.D.

Effects of charged particles on the uterus (First Award Fellowship)
Birendra Mishra Ph.D.

Developing Personalized Countermeasures for Sensorimotor Adaptability: A Bedrest Study
Ajitkumar P. Mulavara, Ph.D.

NextGen Crew Countermeasure Software for Exploration Mission Support
Jeevan Perera Ph.D.

Effects of Long Duration Spaceflight on Venous and Arterial Compliance in Astronauts
Steven Platts, Ph.D.

Portable Quantitative Ultrasound with DXA/QCT and FEA Integration for Human Longitudinal Critical Bone Quality Assessment
Yi-Xian Qin, Ph.D.

Effects of Intracranial Pressure And 1-Carbon Metabolites on The Optic Nerve Sheath in VIIP Syndrome (First Award Fellowship)
Julia Raykin, Ph.D.

Customized Refresher and Just-in-Time Training for Long-Duration Spaceflight Crew
Stephen K. Robinson, Ph.D.

Characterizing the recovery of sensorimotor performance in returning astronauts (First Award Fellowship)
Marissa Rosenberg Ph.D.

Using Real-Time Lexical Indicators to Detect Performance Decrements in Spaceflight Teams: A Methodology to Dynamically Monitor Cognitive, Emotional, and Social Mechanisms that Influence Performance
Eduardo Salas, Ph.D.

Quantifying and Developing Countermeasures for the Effect of Fatigue-Related Stressors on Automation Use and Trust During Robotic Supervisory Control
Debra Schreckenghost M.E.E.

Evaluation of Brain White Matter Integrity in NASA Crewmembers: Comparisons with Controls, Changes with Flight, and Behavioral Consequences
Rachael D. Seidler Ph.D.

Improving Kidney Stone Detection In Space Analogs (First Award Fellowship)
Julianna C. Simon, Ph.D.

Testing Mechanical Countermeasures for Cephalad Fluid Shifts
Gary E. Strangman Ph.D.

Sleep Electroencephalography and Near-Infrared Spectroscopy Measurements for Spaceflight and Analogs
Gary E. Strangman Ph.D.

Protection of Neurogenesis as a Neuroprotectant Strategy for Low-Dose Space Radiation Exposure (First Award Fellowship)
Linnea Vose Ph.D.

Development of Predictive Degradation Models and Determination of Bioequivalence of Pharmaceutical Preparations Contained in the Medical Kits on Board the International Space Station (First Award Fellowship)
Lei Wu Ph.D.

Countermeasures to Reduce Sensorimotor Impairment and Space Motion Sickness Resulting from Altered Gravity Levels
Laurence R. Young, Sc.D.