As commercial space travel increases, understanding its impact on human health becomes essential. Researchers at Baylor College of Medicine, supported by the Translational Research Institute for Space Health (TRISH), have developed GENESTAR, a protocol designed to collect and analyze biospecimens from space travelers. This initiative aims to study how space affects biological and genomic markers.
The team published their findings in npi-Microgravity, highlighting that GENESTAR met high standards for molecular testing while emphasizing data privacy and ethical research. Dr. Harsha Doddapaneni stated, "Space is a harsh environment. Microgravity, radiation and isolation can all affect the body in ways we’re only beginning to understand."
GENESTAR is part of the Genomics and Space Medicine project at Baylor's Human Genome Sequencing Center. It employs advanced technologies to study various biological molecules affected by space travel. Dr. Rihana S. Bokhari noted that collecting omics data is crucial for understanding genetic changes related to space missions.
The protocol was tested on four crew members from the Axiom-2 mission in May 2023, with over 300 samples collected before and after their trip to the International Space Station. Co-first author Dr. Aparna Krishnavajhala reported high-quality results: "We found that 98% of blood samples and more than 91% of non-blood samples met quality standards."
An innovative laboratory information management system tracks each sample's journey from collection to analysis, ensuring accuracy and security. Participants also receive a clinical-grade whole genome sequencing report.
The implications of this research extend beyond space exploration; insights into bone loss during microgravity could inform osteoporosis studies on Earth.
The GENESTAR team continues its work with samples from the Axiom-3 mission and explores new methods for in-flight sample collection using self-operated devices.
Contributors include Marie-Claude Gingras, Emmanuel Urquieta, Hsu Chao, Dilrukshi Bandaranaike, Yi Chen, Sravya Bhamidipati, Viktoriya Korchina, S. Michelle Griffin, Michal M. Masternak, Hannah Moreno, Javid Mohammed, Mullai Murugan, Jennifer E. Posey, Jimmy H. Wu, Donna Muzny and Richard A. Gibbs from institutions such as Baylor College of Medicine and others.
This study received funding from TRISH through NASA Cooperative Agreement NNX16AO69A.
