Space and microgravity biology

From human muscle stem cells in orbit to controlled simulation on the bench.

Project Myogenesis, our human muscle stem-cell experiment aboard the International Space Station during Axiom Mission 4, anchors this research area. We pair the rare opportunity of spaceflight with ground simulation so that observations from orbit can become repeatable biological questions in the laboratory.

Loading human muscle stem cells into flight hardware before the Axiom-4 mission to the International Space Station

Loading human muscle stem cells into the flight habitat before Axiom Mission 4. Habitat: BioServe Space Technologies. Photograph: Arvind Ramanathan.

Current directions

Gravisim — ground-based microgravity research

Spaceflight access is necessarily limited. Gravisim provides a ground-based platform for controlled, repeatable microgravity studies with cells and bioengineered tissues…

Project Myogenesis — Axiom Mission 4 and the ISS

Project Myogenesis investigates how microgravity influences human skeletal muscle stem-cell function and the capacity to maintain and regenerate muscle.