Results of the National Space Biomedical Research Institute (NSBRI) Evaluations of Critical Human Health Technologies for Space Exploration

Abstract

National Space Biomedical Research Institute (NSBRI) is an academic research consortium focused upon the development of countermeasures to ensure safe human exploration of space. In partnership with NASA, the Institute supports an integrated, outcomes-driven research portfolio that leads to the production of human health technology deliverables. These exploration-enabling technologies form the basis of a comprehensive research strategy that addresses key medical, physiological, and technical issues associated with maintenance of health during long-term occupation of space. I. Introduction SBRI is a nonprofit organization competitively selected by NASA in 1997. The mission of the Institute is to lead a national effort for accomplishing integrated, biomedical research to support long-term human presence, development, and exploration of space and to apply these research advances to enhance quality of life on Earth. The Institute engages, facilitates, and coordinates outstanding academic, government and industry researchers in a team-based approach to develop countermeasures to reduce and/or eliminate health risks associated with human space travel. This effort is combined with a strong educational and public outreach program for sharing discoveries in space life sciences, and facilitating the excitement of space research and exploration. These discoveries help ensure crew health and well-being by mitigating the adverse effects of the space and microgravity environment. NSBRI unites the expertise and resources of the broad biomedical research community with the operational capabilities of NASA, leading to the development of effective measures to reduce the risk to human health associated with space exploration. Team projects are leveraged extensively with resources from industry, as well as other private, state and federal sources to significantly augment research efforts and production of deliverables.