Morehead State University
Gio Lab: Development of CubeLab Platform for International Space Station Based Biomedical Research
Institution
Morehead State University
Faculty Advisor/ Mentor
Darrin L. DeMoss; Benjamin K. Malphrus
Abstract
GlioLab is a joint project between Morehead State University, GAUSS-Group of Astrodynamics of the University of Roma, Kentucky Space and the NASA Ames Research Center that involves the development of a 2U CubeLab (GlioLab). The primary objectives of the project are to develop a CubeLab platform for performing biomedical research on the International Space Station (ISS), and to perform preliminary ground-based and flight experimentation (STS-134 and STS-135) that will help drive the development of GlioLab. The platform will incorporate a liquid mixing apparatus that will allow 2-3 liquids to be mixed and require the development of various additional subsystems to support biological specimens for varying lengths of time while aboard IIS. An automated system will control the injection/mixing of liquids in user-specified ratios and at user-specified times. The platform will utilize small fluid amounts (≤10 ml), which will be exposed to microgravity for a specified length of time and then returned to Earth for analysis. A set of mission profiles have been designed based on available ascent and decent vehicles along with the current mechanisms and logistics related to access to the ISS NanoRacks System. These mission profiles will be used to direct the accompanying ground based research utilizing the Glioblastoma cancer line as its experimental model. The potential for biomedical research utilizing Gliolab onboard the ISS or space flights in general will pave the way for future affordable biomedical research in microgravity and hopefully yield new terrestrial biomedical applications and treatments.
Gio Lab: Development of CubeLab Platform for International Space Station Based Biomedical Research
GlioLab is a joint project between Morehead State University, GAUSS-Group of Astrodynamics of the University of Roma, Kentucky Space and the NASA Ames Research Center that involves the development of a 2U CubeLab (GlioLab). The primary objectives of the project are to develop a CubeLab platform for performing biomedical research on the International Space Station (ISS), and to perform preliminary ground-based and flight experimentation (STS-134 and STS-135) that will help drive the development of GlioLab. The platform will incorporate a liquid mixing apparatus that will allow 2-3 liquids to be mixed and require the development of various additional subsystems to support biological specimens for varying lengths of time while aboard IIS. An automated system will control the injection/mixing of liquids in user-specified ratios and at user-specified times. The platform will utilize small fluid amounts (≤10 ml), which will be exposed to microgravity for a specified length of time and then returned to Earth for analysis. A set of mission profiles have been designed based on available ascent and decent vehicles along with the current mechanisms and logistics related to access to the ISS NanoRacks System. These mission profiles will be used to direct the accompanying ground based research utilizing the Glioblastoma cancer line as its experimental model. The potential for biomedical research utilizing Gliolab onboard the ISS or space flights in general will pave the way for future affordable biomedical research in microgravity and hopefully yield new terrestrial biomedical applications and treatments.