Unique Collaboration Utilizing the International Space Station Accelerates Parkinson’s Disease and Multiple Sclerosis Research

The National Stem Cell Foundation (NSCF), Summit for Stem Cell Foundation, The New York Stem Cell Foundation (NYSCF) Research Institute, and Space Tango announced a bi-coastal research collaboration in October 2018 to study Parkinson’s disease (PD) and primary progressive multiple sclerosis (PPMS) in microgravity. For the first time, cells from patients with PD and PPMS will be sent to the International Space Station (ISS) for a unique opportunity to observe cell-to-cell interactions in neurodegenerative disease when the gravitational forces that act on cells are removed.

Research teams at the New York Stem Cell Foundation Research Institute in New York and the Summit for Stem Cell labs in La Jolla, California will conduct the first long-term cell culture experiment in space focused on neurodegenerative disease. The project teams are developing advanced human 3-D cellular models of these diseases from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) derived from patients with PD and PPMS. Working across institutions and disciplines, the research teams will convert the iPSCs into different brain cell types and 3-D aggregates of these cells called organoids. The organoids will also incorporate microglia, the immune cells of the brain. Microglia play an important role in mediating inflammation and have recently been implicated in the development of PD, MS, and several other neurodegenerative diseases. The first human 3-D models of disease-specific cells to be studied in microgravity, they are making an unprecedented journey to the International Space Station to allow researchers to see and study - for the first time - the uninhibited interaction of cells in microgravity on organoid assembly and microglia migration during neuroinflammation. The hardware engineering required to facilitate the transport and survival of the cells to the ISS is being led by space research partner Space Tango. A pilot launch to test the hardware will go up in July, 2019, with a full launch to the International Space Station (ISS) scheduled later in the year. The project is funded by NSCF.

Dr. Paula Grisanti, CEO of NSCF said, “The National Stem Cell Foundation is delighted to be funding innovative science at the frontier of new drug and cell therapy discovery. The leading-edge research findings that have developed through this collaboration between important research groups may fundamentally alter our understanding of how and why neurodegeneration occurs.”

“We are proud to be working with a great team of scientists and fantastic organizations with the goal of learning more about neurodegenerative disease,” said Dr. Andres Bratt-Leal, Director of Research & Development, Parkinson’s Project at the Summit for Stem Cell Foundation.

“NYSCF is committed to pursuing the most inventive approaches to disease research,” says Susan L. Solomon, NYSCF CEO. “We are excited to combine our stem cell technology expertise with groundbreaking advancements in aerospace and biological engineering to further the understanding of diseases with a major unmet need.”

“We are excited to participate in this pioneering phase of biological research in space,” said Dr. Valentina Fossati, New York Stem Cell Foundation Senior Research Investigator. “This project will optimize procedures for conducting experiments in microgravity and leverage the power of stem cells and organoids to better understand cell-cell interactions within the brain.”

Kris Kimel, Co-Founder and Chairman of Space Tango said, “This is a powerful and unique alliance that makes it possible to envision the next important breakthroughs in healthcare and technology happening off the planet.”