In-Space Production Applications for Biomanufacturing Research on ISS Sought
The International Space Station (ISS) National Laboratory has released a research announcement seeking in-space production applications for biomanufacturing activities in microgravity. Targeted fields such as tissue engineering and biomanufacturing provide use cases for how ISS National Lab-sponsored research may lead to new biological products and tools that benefit humankind and drive a sustainable market in low Earth orbit.
Advancing in-space production applications is a top strategic priority for both NASA and the ISS National Lab. Last week, NASA issued its own research announcement focused on in-space production applications that will make use of ISS National Lab flight resources and crew allocation. To identify and prioritize ISS research and development opportunities for in-space production applications in biomanufacturing, the ISS National Lab co-hosted a Biomanufacturing in Space Symposium. A perspective paper developed from the symposium may be accessed for free on Preprints.
This research announcement invites proposals in the area of in-space biomanufacturing for regenerative medicine and technologies associated with the manufacture of biocompatible products in microgravity for use on Earth. Suggested topics include:
Projects designed to demonstrate the benefits of stem cell expansion and/or stem cell research in space for therapeutic applications on Earth.
Projects designed to demonstrate an organoid culture or multicellular culture system in space to model human disease and/or test therapeutics for the treatment of human diseases on Earth.
Projects to demonstrate or develop and demonstrate a system for in-space biofabrication of tissues or other biocompatible material for applications on Earth.
Multiple projects may be awarded through this research announcement, and funding is allocated to support mission integration and operations costs for awarded projects.
This research announcement for in-space production applications will follow a two-step proposal submission process. Interested investigators must first submit a Step 1: Concept Summary by November 22, 2021. Investigators with approved concepts will then be invited to submit a Step 2: Full Proposal by February 14, 2022. All final awards, conditions, and contractual agreements will be brokered by the Center for the Advancement of Science in Space, Inc., manager of the ISS National Lab.
(Source: ISS National Laboratory news release. Image courtesy NASA)