About the BSO - Mission

Overview

Throughout the long history of space flight, cells have been shown to respond to decreased gravity environments.  The mechanism of gravity-induced responses in cells is unknown.  Nevertheless, microgravity is a unique tool to probe underlying mechanisms in cell biology and BSO uses it in novel ways to advance space cell biology and biotechnology.

Understanding the effects of microgravity at the cellular level can provide essential insight into the challenges that humans experience in space.  Key questions fuel the need to investigate cell biology in microgravity:

• What are the cells' adaptive responses to microgravity and to the space environment?
• What are the genetic and structural changes induced by microgravity, space, and planetary environments?
• Does the space environment invoke a selective pressure on replicating cells?
• How does low gravity cell biology fit into larger biomedical questions?
• How do the cells' adaptive responses to altered gravity affect overall health?
• How can space cell biology be applied to biomedical research?

Learn more about Biotechnology at NASA in the Biotechnology section.

Mission

BSO uses NASA technology and microgravity to address challenges in applied and fundamental cell science.  BSO provides ground-based and space cell culture technology for the science community.  We also provide the means and tools needed to exploit laboratory facilities aboard the International Space Station.  Our ultimate mission, however, is to:

• Improve human health on Earth by application of NASA-developed technology in innovative research endeavors
• Facilitate basic and applied research of peer-reviewed science in cell biology and tissue engineering
• Contribute to space exploration by providing technological advances in life support, health care, and space research
• Provide ground-based and space cell culture technology for the science community requiring microgravity and altered gravity environments to achieve scientific goals
• Optimize use of laboratory facilities on International Space Station
• Promote space cell biology as an academic discipline

Space cell biology can be used to improve tissue engineering, vaccine and drug development, models of human disease, and to help design biosensors that can monitor health and treatment from inside the body.

Space cell biology is also critical to future long-duration, missions, where crewmembers journey beyond Earth's orbit:  it touches on the human health and the health of animals and plants we may take on the journey.

BSO supports the research objectives of the Physical Sciences Division in the Office of Biological and Physical Research (OBPR), NASA's enterprise dedicated to research and technology development that enables the human exploration of space.  OBPR also promotes the space environment as a laboratory for scientific, technological, and commercial research that benefits life on Earth.

Mapping to NASA's Goals

Humans will extend the exploration of space.  To prepare for and hasten the journey, OBPR has identified a set of organizing questions that focus and drive its research.  BSO objectives map directly to NASA's mission and to OBPR's questions:

NASA Goals	OBPR Organizing Questions	Cellular Biotechnology Focused Objectives
Extend Human Space Flight	How can we assure survival of humans traveling far from earth?	Assess contribution of cosmic radiation to altered immune function at molecular/cellular level
Explore Fundamental Principles	What must we know about how space changes life forms so that humankind will flourish?	Approach better definition of cancer risk and preventive measures
Improve Quality of Life (investing in technologies)	What new opportunities can our research bring to enrich lives on Earth and expand understanding of the laws of nature?	Cell-based countermeasures definition
Extend Human Space Flight	What technology must we create to enable the next explorers to go beyond where we have been?	Improved radiation monitoring via biosentinels
Inspire and Motivate Students Engage the Public	How can we educate and inspire the next generations to take the journey?	Investigate fundamental changes in cell structure and function in microgravity

Learn more about the Office of Biological and Physical Research as well as the Biotechnology and Earth-based Applications Program

Relationships with Other NASA Centers

BSO collaborates with offices throughout NASA and the greater biotechnology community to stay on the leading edge of cell biology, tissue engineering, human disease modeling, gene expression, and technology development.  We work with Ames Research Center to advance animal and plant research.  We coordinate with Marshall Space Flight Center to prepare and monitor flight research and hardware.  We support NASA Headquarters as it communicates Agency's vision and accomplishments in human space flight.

Visit the BSO Showcase for highlights of our achievements.

NASA Center Links:

+ Human Spaceflight
+ Office of Biological and Physical Research
+ JSC Space Life Sciences Directorate
+ International Space Station Science Operation News
+ Research on Station
+ Microgravity Research Program Office
+ Biomolecular Sensor Development
+ Astrobionics at Ames Research Center
+ Bioengineering Glenn Initiative (BEGIN) at Glenn Research Center
+ Fundamental Biology Program at Ames