Solicitation Number: NNJ25ZSA003L
Release Date: February 25, 2025
Response Date: March 11, 2025

The Human Research Program investigates and mitigates the highest risks to astronaut health and performance in exploration missions. The goal of the HRP is to provide human health and performance countermeasures, knowledge, technologies, and tools to enable safe, reliable, and productive human space exploration, and to ensure safe and productive human spaceflight. The scope of these goals includes both the successful completion of exploration missions and the preservation of astronaut health over the life of the astronaut.

HRP has developed an Integrated Research Plan (IRP) to describe the requirements and notional approach to understanding and reducing the human health and performance risks. The IRP describes the Program’s research activities that are intended to address the needs of human space exploration and serve HRP customers. The IRP illustrates the HRP’s research plan through the timescale of exploration missions of extended duration. The Human Research Roadmap (HRR – https://humanresearchroadmap.nasa.gov) is a web-based version of the IRP that allows users to search HRP risks, gaps, and tasks.

The Space Radiation Element (SRE) is requesting information on existing research infrastructure and established capabilities to perform long-term health studies using an outbred mouse model. The priority research interest is carcinogenesis and associated relative biological effectiveness (RBE) measurements following low dose whole body exposure to ionizing radiation relevant to the space radiation environment. Secondary priority areas include cardiovascular/degenerative disease and short- and long-term neurobehavioral/cognitive decrements. Appropriate responses should include information on the following areas.

·        Existing infrastructure for largescale long-term husbandry, breeding, and monitoring of carcinogenesis in mice.

·        Existing personnel (radiation expertise, statistical expertise, board certified veterinary pathologists, etc.).

·        Existing infrastructure for whole body irradiation (x-rays, gamma rays, neutrons etc.)

·        Accessibility to and appropriateness of tests/assays/techniques to assess priority research areas (cancer, cardiovascular disease, central nervous system endpoints) throughout the lifetime of study.

The full text of the RFI and response instructions can be found at: https://tinyurl.com/SRCRFI

Responses must be submitted electronically using the NSPIRES web site. This RFI is open to responses from all parties including commercial entities, international organizations, academia, NASA Centers, and other government agencies.

The information obtained will be used by NASA for planning and acquisition strategy development. NASA will use the information obtained as a result of this RFI on a non-attribution basis. Providing data and information that is limited or restricted for use by NASA for that purpose would be of very little value and such restricted/limited data/information is not solicited. No information or questions received will be posted to any website or public access location. NASA does not plan to respond to the individual responses. The Government does not intend to award an award on the basis of this RFI or to otherwise pay for the information solicited.

Questions concerning this RFI may be addressed to:

NASA Human Research Program Space Radiation Element Scientist

janice.zawaski@nasa.gov

Release date: March 4, 2025, 11:59 p.m. ET
Step-1 proposals due date: April 16, 2025, 11:59 p.m. ET
Step-2 proposals due date: July 2, 2025, 11:59 p.m. ET

The NASA-funded Translational Research Institute for Space Health (TRISH) is now accepting proposals through the 2025 TRISH Appendix A – Enhancing eXploration Platforms and ANalog Definition (EXPAND) Exploratory Studies call to advance research in human health and performance before, during and after commercial spaceflights to further human space exploration.

What are we seeking?

This Appendix seeks scientific studies for potential implementation in commercial spaceflight.

This solicitation is part of TRISH’s Enhancing eXploration Platform and ANalog Definition (EXPAND) Program. Working with commercial spaceflight providers and their passengers, the EXPAND Program collects pre-, in-, and post-flight health and performance data from multiple commercial spaceflight missions. The data collected as part of of these missions is housed in the EXPAND centralized research database and biorepository.

Proposals for this solicitation should focus on two topics:

·         Exploratory Science: This topic seeks new hypothesis-driven scientific studies to enable safe and successful human space travel. Subtopics are listed in the Appendix.

·         Technology Demonstrations: This topic seeks successful, mature ground technologies or interventions that would benefit from demonstration in spaceflight. Subtopics are listed in the Appendix.

Funded projects will go through two consecutive phases. The first phase, the “Flight Definition Phase,” will consist of preparation for a potential flight. The second phase, the “Flight Implementation Phase,” will provide support before, during, and after a specific flight has been identified. Please refer to the solicitation for full details on spaceflights.

Research Duration: Two years.

Award: Project award totals can reach a maximum of $200k for technology demonstrations and $300k for exploratory science studies. Please refer to the solicitation for specific award amount details.

Resources:

·         Appendix A of the TRISH NOFO and associated documentation can be found at: https://tinyurl.com/TRISH25EXPAND

·         The TRISH NOFO including all open appendices is available through the NASA Research Opportunities homepage at: https://tinyurl.com/TRISH25NOFO.

·         Learn about the TRISH EXPAND Program and the EXPAND Database and Biorepository.

·         Attend the pre-proposal webinar on March 19, 2025, at 2 p.m. ET. A recording of the webinar will be posted alongside the NSPIRES solicitation page when available.

Background on TRISH: TRISH is a virtual institute empowered by the NASA Human Research Program to help solve challenges of human deep space exploration. TRISH pursues and funds research to deliver scientific and technological solutions that advance space health and help humans thrive wherever they explore, in space or on Earth. Learn more about TRISH.

Questions? Follow the link here for a form and select “open solicitation” to submit questions.

Iowa NASA EPSCoR – Research Building Seed Grant FY25 

Team: 

• Dr. Khaled Kamal, PI (Assistant Professor, Kinesiology department, ISU) 
• Dr. Joshua Selsby, CO-I (Professor, Animal Science Depart, ISU) 
• Dr. Lauren Sanders, CO-I (Ames Research Center, NASA)

In a groundbreaking research initiative recently funded by NASA, Dr. Khaled Kamal from Iowa State University’s Department of Kinesiology, in collaboration with NASA Ames Research Center, will delve into how biological sex impacts the response to spaceflight stressors through the lens of extracellular vesicles, known as exosomes. This cutting-edge project aims to unlock insights into how space environments, such as microgravity, impact the molecular and cellular functions of male and female astronauts differently, to enhance astronaut health and performance during prolonged space missions. 

Project Overview 

As humanity advances toward long-duration space missions, understanding how deep space affects human biology becomes essential. Dr. Kamal’s project focuses on examining circulating exosomes—tiny vesicles that facilitate intercellular communication by transporting proteins, RNA, and other molecules. Exosomes are critical in regulating various biological processes, and spaceflight conditions may alter their behavior and composition in ways that differ by sex. This research will analyze these sex-specific exosome responses, using a multiomics approach to decode their role as biomarkers of spaceflight-induced changes. 

Research Innovation 

The project’s novelty lies in its integrative multiomics strategy, a first-of-its-kind application in space biology that merges proteomics, transcriptomics, and metabolomics to create a detailed biomarker profile of exosomes under microgravity. This approach will provide a dynamic view of exosome cargo in male and female subjects, helping to identify specific physiological changes triggered by space conditions. By generating a comprehensive “exosome map,” the study aims to predict and mitigate the risks associated with long-term spaceflight, including cardiovascular, cognitive, and musculoskeletal issues. 

Scientific and Societal Impact 

Dr. Kamal’s study has the potential to transform space health research by introducing exosomes as reliable biomarkers and exploring their role in inter-organ communication under space conditions. Findings from this project will help NASA design personalized countermeasures for male and female astronauts, paving the way for safer, longer missions and enhanced resilience in space. Additionally, this research may reveal broader applications, including the development of therapies for conditions affected by oxidative stress and inflammation on Earth, such as aging and chronic diseases. 

This NASA-funded project, aligned with NASA’s Human Research Roadmap and Artemis program, will contribute significantly to ensuring the health and performance of the next generation of space explorers. 

Article by Sarah Bernick

Iowa NASA EPSCoR is excited to announce the recipients of its annual seed grants, aimed at expanding research capacity in Iowa as part of a larger initiative funded by NASA’s Research Infrastructure Development (RID) grant. This multi-year effort, which runs from 2022 to 2027, seeks to empower researchers across the state and foster innovation that aligns with NASA’s strategic goals. This multi-year grant allows Iowa NASA EPSCoR to solicit for Research Building Seed Grants and Partnership Development Travel Grants.  

Each year, researchers from Iowa institutions compete for the Iowa NASA EPSCoR grants to advance their research projects, which are closely tied to NASA’s objectives. This year’s awards include funding for projects that investigate critical areas such as microgravity effects, materials reliability for deep space exploration, and advancements in robotic technologies. 

Grant Recipients: 

Aswati Subramanian (Simpson College) has been awarded a seed grant for her project titled “Effect of Microgravity and Hypergravity on Tetrahymena Microtubule Arrangement and Dynamics.” This research will be conducted in collaboration with the Kennedy Space Center, and it aims to enhance our understanding of Earth systems while developing capabilities to safeguard explorers. 

“I’m incredibly thrilled about this opportunity,” said Subramanian. “Such projects make academia exciting, accessible, inclusive and engaging for our students. In the future, I plan to expand this research to include other departments and divisions across campus. There is significant potential for interdisciplinary collaborations!” 

Siddhartha Pathak (Iowa State University) received funding for his proposal, “Reliability of Metal Joints under Extreme Elevated and Cryo Temperatures for Deep Space Exploration.” In partnership with the Marshall Space Flight Center, this project aligns with NASA’s initiatives related to metal joining in reduced gravity environments, addressing critical challenges for future space missions. 

Qiang Zhong (Iowa State University) is working on a project titled “Developing Tunable Stiffness-Compliant Joints for Limbless Undulatory Robots in Extreme Environment Exploration.” Collaborating with the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, this research focuses on innovating space technologies to enhance robotic mobility in extreme environments. 

Khaled Kamal (Iowa State University) has been awarded a grant for his project, “Exploring Sex Differences in Exosome Cargo and Function During Spaceflight Using Integrative Multiomics.” In collaboration with the Ames Research Center, this study aims to advance human health and performance during spaceflight, addressing key risks related to astronaut well-being.  

“This NASA-funded project, aligned with NASA’s Human Research Roadmap and Artemis program, will contribute significantly to ensuring the health and performance of the next generation of space explorers,” said Kamal. 

In addition to the seed grants, the RID also supports travel grants to facilitate collaboration and knowledge exchange among researchers. Applications for these travel grants are currently open. 

For more information about the seed grants and to view the complete list of award winners, please visit Iowa NASA EPSCoR Seed Grants. 

About NASA EPSCoR 

NASA’s Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR) aims to enhance the capabilities of researchers in U.S. states and territories, fostering collaboration and innovation in NASA-related science and technology. 

Credit: Simpson College

Simpson College Associate Professor of Biology and Environmental Science Dr. Aswati Subramanian has been awarded an Iowa NASA EPSCoR Research Building Seed grant. EPSCoR stands for “Established Programs to Stimulate Competitive Research.” Dr. Subramanian’s $30,600 grant supports NASA-relevant science and engineering research within Iowa. 

Subramanian will use the funding to support a Simpson undergraduate research project on astrobiology during the 2024-25 academic year. Simpson students Sam Derning and Layna Depping will benefit from the grant, taking advantage of a unique opportunity to collaborate one-on-one with scientists at Kennedy Space Center and associated space biology labs.

“I’m incredibly thrilled about this opportunity,” said Subramanian. “Such projects make academia exciting, accessible, inclusive and engaging for our students. In the future, I plan to expand this research to include other departments and divisions across campus. There is significant potential for interdisciplinary collaborations!”

The research seed grant is awarded with the stipulation that investigators will apply next year to the more extensive federally distributed NASA-EPSCoR grants. Dr. Subramanian intends to seek future funds for creating a space biology lab at Simpson. Such a lab would create more research opportunities for Simpson undergraduate students while creating a pipeline for them to join NASA labs for summer internships and/or post-graduate studies. 

The Iowa NASA EPSCoR Research Building Seed Grant (RBSG) program encourages, supports, and facilitates the development and enhancement of NASA relevant science and engineering research within the State of Iowa. Funding is intended to build research infrastructure and help Iowa’s academic faculty establish NASA collaboration in order to become nationally competitive for NASA EPSCoR research funding.

Read: https://simpson.edu/news/subramanian-earns-iowa-nasa-epscor-research-building-seed-grant