(July 15, 2015) Pioneering
research from the University of Southampton into the health impacts of
spaceflight has been identified as a possible experiment to be conducted by
British astronaut Tim Peake on his maiden voyage to the International Space
Station (ISS) later this year.
In a recent international call for new life sciences
experiments to be flown on the ISS, coordinated by NASA, the European Space
Agency (ESA) and the Japanese and Canadian space agencies, three new
experiments led by UK research teams were selected by ESA for further
consideration. Of these, an experiment led by Professor Donna Davies from the
University of Southampton was one of the two top-ranked proposals in Europe in
terms of scientific merit, judged to be ‘outstanding’ by the international
review panel.
Professor Davies is part of an international team who will
investigate how a lack of gravity affects the respiratory system, using a novel
3D model of human airways. The aim of the experiments is to improve our
understanding of human health here on Earth, as well as the effects of long
duration human space travel.
Professor Davies said: “Cells can respond to mechanical
signals such as gravity, pressure or touch. Although zero gravity conditions
alter several aspects of lung structure and function, how this works at the
cellular level is unknown. Our experiment aims to explore how weightlessness
affects several aspects of airway cell behaviour including production of the
protective mucous layer, formation of cilia (motile hair-like structures that
move the mucous along the airways) and deposition of extracellular matrix (scar
tissue). Since these processes are altered in several common, chronic lung
diseases, we hope that our experiment will provide new insight into lung health
and disease.”