Grants and Contributions

Following a space mission, astronauts experience severe bone thinning and increased risks of fracture when back on Earth. This bone anomaly is due to the exposure to an environment with reduced gravitational forces, namely microgravity. The aim of this study is to reproduce the microgravity environment on Earth using a ground-based instrument. Researchers will expose fish larvae to a simulated microgravity environment and analyse the effects on bone cells in the skeleton. The counter measure of vibration will also be examined separately and in combination with microgravity. The objectives of the study are to understand the cellular responses to these treatments in order to understand the microgravity induced bone loss observed in astronauts and to understand how to reduce these effects with vibration exposures. Fish bones strongly resemble human bones, in that the same cells are present, therefore these results will be relevant to humans.

It is well-recognized that astronauts experience profound physiological changes that adversely affect the heart owing in part to the effects of changes in the normal circadian light/dark cycle. Furthermore, new compelling data from the research group suggests that accumulation of damaged organelles resulting from impaired cellular quality control processes is an underlying defect contributing to cardiac cell-death and dysfunction following circadian disruption. The relationship between circadian disruption and heart health during spaceflight is not well-studied. Hence, the research team proposes to delineate how circadian disruption influences autophagy, cell-viability and cardiac dysfunction in females versus males in response to altered light/dark cycle during spaceflight.

The Achilles tendon is critical to walking, yet can be impaired after long period of immobility or lack of gravity, in space or on earth. Our study aims to investigate whether artificial gravity can reduce the effect from lack of gravity on the Achilles tendon, and explore whether male or female respond differently to artificial gravity.

Muscle wasting occurs in consequence to pathological conditions, including aging (sarcopenia). In space, healthy astronauts experience severe wasting of the anti-gravity muscles, the muscles that are normally engaged on Earth to maintain posture. Adjunct therapies are required to mitigate the risk of muscle wasting to enable human exploration of space. In this proposal, the research team use genetic tools in the mouse to reveal how protein synthesis, a major determinant of muscle mass, is remodeled in aging mice. Understanding how protein synthesis is remodeled under conditions of muscle wasting on Earth and in space is the first step towards identifying drug targets.

Space anemia is well-documented, but we don’t fully understand the cause. This study will analyze the red blood cell data of American and Canadian astronauts over the past 50 years in order to further characterize space anemia. The causes of anemia may be multiple and studying the complete blood profiles of astronauts provide a unique perspective to explain the increased red blood cell destruction in space. Astronauts, space tourists, and bedridden people on Earth remain at risk for anemia. This project will add to the growing body of research with the hopes of discovering effective ways to mitigate this risk.

Light-headedness and fainting occurs when the cardiovascular system is unable to maintain arterial pressures during rapid changes in posture, such as standing up from a horizontal position. Some astronauts experience such symptoms after returning to Earth from space and the underlying factors are still poorly understood. The research team will analyze data from the recent CIHR-based Bed Rest Study of 55-65-year-old men and women wich they propose can provide information on how the blood supply to the brain is related to fainting. The results will be an important step towards the prevention of fainting in astronauts and people on Earth.

Findings from Viking and Phoenix Mars landers have revealed the widespread presence of perchlorates in Mars regolith at concentrations that are toxic to humans and plants. The MARSCROP project will explore the use of perchlorate reducing bacteria associated with willow roots to mitigate regolith toxicity as well as determine the potential for co-cropping of willow with tomato and soybean to produce safe fresh food for astronauts on the surface of Mars. The project findings will hope to exploit multisystem biology which has evolved on earth to help solve complex challenges and safeguard astronaut health on the Martian surface.

Vision loss due to Space Associated Neuro-Ocular Syndrome (SANS) is observed in many astronauts, is poorly understood, and remains one of the most feared hazards of space flight. The loss of gravity causes shift of fluids, including blood to the upper body, and these disturbances around the eye, especially in the choroid, the most vascularized tissue in the body, may be an important piece of the puzzle. Novel non-invasive eye imaging techniques will be used to examine blood vessel changes in the choroid for the first time in a model of SANS. Discovering biomarkers of excess and persistent blood and fluid entry into the eye will be an important step toward understanding and predicting SANS and preventing vision loss from SANS in astronauts.

Space’s low gravity leads to bone and muscle loss which can compromise astronauts’ missions. Previous work showed that the knee cartilage of mice breakdown after a period in space’s low gravity. But little is known about the effect of low gravity on human cartilage. The research team will use human stem cells from adult females and males to make cartilage to study the effect of low gravity on cartilage. They will use an instrument designed by NASA to replicate low gravity. They hope their work will shed new light into osteoarthritis, a common disease in Canadians with cartilage breakdown at its core.

The objective of this AO is to support Canadian students to participate in national and international space conferences and training events that will offer them the opportunity to learn about and be involved in the latest developments in space science and technology, to develop their professional network, and in some cases, present their research results at the national and international level.