NIH-NASA Biomedical Research Activities

Welcome to the pages for the NIH-NASA Scientific Potential/Actual Collaborative Efforts (SPACE) group! This page houses information on the SPACE group and its activities, as well as information on the history of the relationship between NIH and NASA and the joint exploration of scientific interests that we pursue.

Background

Through an ongoing collaboration, NIH and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) are exploring how biomedical research can address the challenges of deep space exploration and benefit human health in space and on Earth. NIH Director Francis S. Collins, M.D., Ph.D., and former NASA Deputy Administrator Dava J. Newman, Ph.D., signed a second NIH-NASA Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) (PDF - 410KB) on Jan. 13, 2017.

In early 2018, Collins appointed then-NCATS Director Dr. Christopher P. Austin, as the new NIH liaison to NASA. As outlined in the MOU, NIH and NASA efforts include:

• Establishing a framework of cooperation to encourage interaction between NIH and NASA research communities and

• Integrating results from that research into improved understanding of human physiology and health.

To help build interest in and awareness of collaborative opportunities across agencies, and to facilitate scientific dialogue, the NIH-NASA Scientific Potential/Actual Collaborative Efforts (SPACE) group was begun in 2018, with representatives from across NIH and NASA meeting regularly to discuss areas of mutual interest. The group meets quarterly, and in 2020 was expanded to invite representation from across the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

As of summer 2021, the role of NIH and HHS liaison to NASA was passed onto Acting NCATS Director Dr. Joni L. Rutter.

Goals of the NIH-NASA Scientific Potential/Actual Collaborative Efforts (SPACE) group:

• Explore areas of potential synergy for biomedical scientific research that fulfills the mandates of both NIH and NASA.

• Facilitate communications between researchers to instigate and support collaborative efforts.

• Explore possibilities for joint efforts between NIH and NASA to support research into synergistic biomedical interest areas, and implement appropriate joint exercises.

*This is an ever-evolving website. Please continue to check back as we build and make improvements!