Review of NASA's Biomedical Research Program (2000) / Chapter Skim
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Appendix A: A Strategy for Research in Space Biology and Medicine in the New Century, Executive Summary
Appendix A: A Strategy for Research in Space Biology and Medicine in the New Century, Executive Summary
Pages 81-99
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Appendixes
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The strategy for achieving that goal as originally enunciated in the 1987 Goldberg report, A Strategy for Space Biology and Medical Science for the 1980s and l990s,~ remains generally valid today. However, during the past decade there has been an explosion of new scientific understanding catalyzed by advances in molecular and cell biology and genetics, a substantially increased amount of information from flight experiments, and the approach of new opportunities for long-term space-based research on the International Space Station.
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The sections that follow summarize the Committee on Space Biology and Medicine's priorities for NASA-supported research, its recommendations for high-priority research in individual disciplines, and its recommendations for overall priorities for NASA-sponsored research across disciplinary boundaries. The final section outlines significant concerns in the program and policy arena and offers related recommendations.
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In particular, the use of saturation mutagenesis to identify genetic components of development, the recognition that molecular mechanisms are conserved across phylogeny, and the information provided by genome sequencing projects, have transformed basic developmental studies since the publication in 1987 of the Goldberg report.5 In the present report the committee stresses the importance of two types of studies, those looking at life cycles and those examining development of gravity-sensing systems such as the vestibular system. Complete Life Cycles in Microgravity · The committee recommends that key model organisms be grown through two complete life cycles in space to determine whether there are any critical events during development that are affected by space conditions.
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Neural Space Maps Neurons composing the brainstem, hippocampal, striatal, and sensory and motor cortical space maps should be investigated as part of the following recommended studies: · The role of otolithic stimulation on the development and maintenance of the different neural space maps should be investigated. · Studies should be designed to address how neurons of the various sensory and motor systems interact with vestibular neurons in the normal assembly and function of the neural space maps.
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This experiment must be conducted on the ISS, because the plants should be grown through at least two generations in space. · To conduct a meaningful seed-to-seed experiment, NASA needs to develop the following: A superior plant growth unit, with adequate lighting, gas exchange, and water and/or nutrient delivery; and Arabidopsis thaliana plants that are insensitive to expected environmental stresses and that contain indicator genes for all the expected environmental stresses, such as high levels of CO2, vibration, anaerobiosis, water stress, and temperature stresses.
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Thresholds for angular and linear accelerations, vestibulo-ocular reflexes, postural mechanisms, vestibulo-spinal reflexes, and gaze control all have been studied extensively in humans, but development of animal models has lagged. Some of these areas require additional study, and a number of new experimental questions arise, given current knowledge and the need to consider human performance during extended-duration space missions.
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· The coordination of eye-head-torso synergies in different force levels and their adaptation to changes in force level should be assessed, with the goal of developing a comprehensive three-dimensional model of the vestibulo-ocular reflex and cervical control of gaze. Space Motion Sickness Space motion sickness is an operational problem during the first 72 hours of flight, despite the use of medication, and is hazardous for initial transitions between force environments.
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Signal transduction pathways for growth factors, stretch-activated ion channels, regulators of protein synthesis, and interactions of extracellular matrix and membrane proteins with cytoskeleton should be investigated. Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Systems The cardiovascular and pulmonary systems undergo major changes in microgravity, including reduced blood volume that is redistributed headward, increased heart volume, altered blood pressure and heart rate, and improved gas exchange in the lungs despite the surprising persistence of lung ventilationperfusion inequalities.
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· Extend current knowledge regarding the magnitude, time course, and mechanisms of cardiovascular adjustments to include long-duration microgravity. · Determine the mechanisms underlying inadequate total peripheral resistance observed during postflight orthostatic stress.
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Radiation Hazards Exposure of crew members to radiation in space poses potentially serious health effects that need to be controlled or mitigated before long-term missions beyond low Earth orbit can be initiated. The levels of radiation in interplanetary space are high enough and the missions long enough that adequate shielding is necessary to minimize carcinogenic, cataractogenic, and possible necrologic effects for crew members.
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Research on physiological factors should include studies of behavioral correlates of changes in circadian rhythms and sleep patterns; change and stability in individual physiological patterns in response to psychosocial and environmental stress and their applicability to measures of in-flight behavior and performance; and the relationship between self-reports and external performance-related and physiological symptoms of stress. Research on individual factors should include studies of specific coping strategies and behavioral and physiological indicators of coping-stage transitions during long-duration missions; associations between general and mission-specific personality characteristics and performance criteria of ability, stability, and compatibility; changes in problem-solving ability and other aspects of cognitive performance in flight; and changes in personality and behavior postflight.
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In the near term, until the research facilities of the International Space Station come online or an additional Spacelab mission is provided, NASA-supported research will necessarily be directed primarily to ground-based investigations designed to answer fundamental questions and frame critical hypotheses that can later be tested in space. Indeed, as this report emphasizes, understanding the basic mechanisms underlying biological and behavioral responses to spaceflight is essential to designing effective countermeasures and protecting astronaut health and safety both in space and upon return to Earth.
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· Appropriate methods for referencing intrathoracic vascular pressures to systemic pressures in microgravity should be identified and validated, given the observed changes in cardiac and pulmonary volume and compliance. Radiation Hazards rl~he biological effects of exposure to radiation in space pose potentially serious health effects for crew members in long-term missions beyond low Earth orbit.
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and psychosocial (individual, group, organizational) mechanisms underlying the effects of physical and psychosocial environmental stressors.
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If significant developmental effects are detected, control experiments must be performed to determine whether gravity or some other element of the space environment induces these developmental abnormalities. · An analogous experiment should be carried out with the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana to confirm results obtained on Mir with a preliminary experiment using Brassica rapa.
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· Responsibility for the establishment of peer review panels and for funding decisions should remain a function of the Headquarters Division of Life Sciences. · NASA should regularly evaluate the composition of scientific review panels to ensure that the feasibility of proposed flight experiments receives appropriate expert evaluation.
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· NASA should provide funding for data analysis and publication of flight experiments for a sufficient period to insure analysis of the data and publication of the results. · NASA should insist on timely dissemination of the results of space life sciences research in peerreviewed publications.
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