GeneLab

GeneLab collects and enables analysis of spaceflight and ground-based spaceflight simulation genomic data, RNA and protein expression, and metabolic profiles. It interfaces with other existing databases containing spaceflight omic data. The 2011 National Research Council (NRC) Decadal Survey on NASA Life and Physical Sciences called for increased opportunities for multi-investigator spaceflight opportunities and greater use of genomic approaches to meet the needs of NASA researchers. To address these recommendations of the NRC Decadal Survey, the Space Life and Physical Sciences Research and Applications Division of NASA's Human Exploration and Operations Mission Directorate has initiated a transition to an Open Science architecture to increase research opportunities, and has developed the GeneLab Platform based on highly leveraged and integrated bioinformatics analytics. GeneLab is an interactive, open-access resource where scientists can upload, download, store, search, share, transfer, and analyze omics data from spaceflight and corresponding analogue experiments. Users can explore GeneLab datasets in the Data Repository, analyze data using the Analysis Platform, visualize high-order data and create collaborative projects using the Collaborative Workspace. Our primary goal is to maximize the utilization of the valuable biological research conducted aboard the International Space Station (ISS) by collecting genomic, transcriptomic, proteomic, and metabolomics data known as “omics”. By providing a portal linking processed data to flight parameters, GeneLab enables exploration of the molecular network responses of terrestrial biology to the space environment. This allows researchers to understand the complex responses of biological systems to the space environment. This technology development activity was transferred from the Human Exploration and Operations Mission Directorate to the Science Mission Directorate Division of Biological and Physical Sciences (BPS) in October 2020.

NASA Biological and Physical Sciences (previously known as NASA Space Life and Physical Sciences) have developed new technology tools to enable 21st century genomic data analysis, and to create an online communication hub where scientists, researchers, teachers and students can connect with their peers, share their results, and communicate with NASA. These data sets have been made open to the scientific research community (academic and commercial) to encourage innovation and competition in the analysis and dissemination of the data. NASA incentivizes the use of ISS-derived scientific data by offering numerous grants to drive the research required to translate the GeneLab Platform data into information that will greatly increase the knowledge and discovery output from what would have traditionally been a single Principal Investigator opportunity. This requires that NASA work with outside partners to assure the GeneLab informatics system can interface with, and leverage other existing databases for genomic, transcriptomic, proteomic, metabolomics, and systems biology, ensuring the contemporary relevance of this platform. GeneLab data will be useful for the development of countermeasures, monitoring the microbes that colonize the space station, understanding how plants (food) could be modified to grow better in space, and unraveling the responses of humans and other organisms to the combined effects of altered gravity and space radiation.

This is a mature technology (TRL 9) — 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.