Labs & Facilities
BSO labs and facilities support research and technology development in molecular biology, molecular genetics, mammalian cell culture, immunology, tissue engineering, bioreporters / biosentinels, advanced sensors, and bioreactor engineering studies. To learn more about each laboratory and its projects, select a link below:
- APO/ATD Lab - Advanced Programs Office / Advanced Technology Development Laboratory
- BCL - Bioanalytical Core Laboratory
- BTF Lab - Biotechnology Facility Science and Engineering Research and Development Laboratory
- CETNEP - Cellular Environmental Toxicology and NeuroPhysiology
- CMST - Cellular Movement and Signal Transduction Laboratory
- FDL - Flight Definition Laboratory
- MEPS - Microencapsulation Laboratory
- MTEL - Musculoskeletal Tissue Engineering Laboratory
- NASA / NIH - Center for Three-Dimensional Tissue Culture
- SCTD - Sensors and Controls Technology Development Laboratory
Biotechnology Facility
The Biotechnology Facility (BTF) represents a major milestone for space cell biology research aboard the International Space Station (ISS). It brings more capability than the most sophisticated and expensive cellular biotechnology hardware flown to date. It is slated to be operational beginning in 2006, with additional capabilities ready by 2008. Equally important, BTF capabilities are flexible such that other research disciplines may be accommodated.
Thousands of scientist and engineers are expected to benefit either directly or indirectly from experiments run in the BTF. The groups include but are not limited to:
- Molecular biology
- Cell biology
- Toxicology
- Pharmacology
- Fundamental biology
- Cross-enterprise investigations
- Bioastronautics
Materials Available on the BTF:
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BTF Brochure (PDF - 691 KB)
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BTF Magazine (PDF - 605 KB)
Capabilities
The BTF will occupy two EXPRESS racks on the ISS. It will be a permanent modular, multi-user facility, comprising the following equipment:
- EXPRESS racks
- Automated stationary bioreactor
- Modular rotating bioreactor
- +4°C refrigerator
- -80°C freezer
- -180°C cryofreezer
- Gas Supply Module
- Fluids tray
- Internal stowage capability
- Analytical tools
- High-purity water supply/purification and reagent mixing system
With this facility, dedicated ground support, and a community of investigators, BSO plans to:
- Support at least 400 typical investigator experiments during BTF's nominal design life (10 years). This level of activity will yield the "critical mass" of data needed to sustain space cell biology research.
- Support a steady increase in experiments per year, with a concurrent transition from entirely stationary bioreactor experiments to more rotating and perfused bioreactor experiments.
- Support at least 80% of all new cellular biotechnology investigators selected through the NASA Research Announcement (NRA) process.
The BTF's Primary Mission Is:
- To advance microgravity as a tool in basic and applied cell biology. Microgravity can be used to understand fundamental principles in life processes and to achieve specific applications such as tissue engineering.
- To realize NASA objectives for sustained, systematic cellular biotechnology research aboard the ISS.
Learn More
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BTF Brochure (PDF - 691 KB)
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BSO
Flight Research
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ISS Human Research Facility
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Current ISS Science