Deep Space and Moon Human Organoid Culture System

This proposal seeks to evolve ARC’s existing ISS Bioculture System (BCS) into spaceflight hardware for long-term biological culture and microscopic live imaging of human tissue organoids in Moon surface and Deep Space environments. This capability addresses a major human health knowledge gap for exploration science concerning how tissue-specific organoids respond to deep space radiation and altered gravity.  This has not been adequately modeled by ISS experiments in LEO lacking the unique radiation quality and dose-rates characteristics of deep space, especially when combined with fractional or zero gravity. Key objectives are to design and prototype 1) a low-mass/volume Deep Space BCS based on modular components of the ISS BCS, and 2) a long-term microfluidic incubator for brightfield and epifluorescence microscopic imaging that can transmit data autonomously for up to one year without sample return. The technical approach repackages ISS BCS gas and power/control modules with a single cassette module with a microscopic imaging flow path, resulting in ~75% mass/volume/power reduction. This work strongly contributes to ARC leadership in developing Space Biosciences experimental capabilities for Moon Base and Moon-Mars Exploration, taking advantage of  N288 Space Biosciences Collaborative technical, scientific, and engineering resources, aligning with NASA strategic goals of human Moon-Mars exploration and habitation.

The main goal in this proposal is to develop a novel Deep Space and Moon Human Organoid Culture System that can be used for generating new NASA science during Moon-Mars exploration to evaluate the combined partial/micro-gravity and elevated deep space radiation on human tissue organoid models.

This is a mature technology (TRL 7+) — the realistic path in is usually NASA's Technology Transfer Program: licensing an existing NASA patent, or a Space Act Agreement to use NASA facilities/expertise directly. NASA also runs a startup licensing program with no upfront fee for companies formed to commercialize a specific NASA technology.

None of these are guaranteed paths for this specific project — TechPort itself doesn't have an "apply" button. Reaching out to the contact(s) above with a specific question is usually the fastest way to find out what's actually open.