MD Anderson and collaborators initiate space project to explore T cell behavior in microgravity | Space

The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center and collaborators are initiating a research project that will send T cells to the International Space Station (ISS) to study the effects of prolonged microgravity on cell differentiation, activation, memory and exhaustion. These results will be further analyzed on Earth to uncover signaling pathways and identify potential immune targets that can improve treatment strategies for patients with cancer and other diseases.

To accomplish this work, MD Anderson researchers led by Cassian Yee, M.D., and Kunal Rai, Ph.D., will collaborate with Axiom Space, BioServe Space Technologies, Deep Space Biology and Mongoose Bio.

“We are excited to join with talented collaborators who are experienced in biological research and in delivering payloads to deep space in order to leverage the unique research environment of sustained microgravity on the ISS National Laboratory. We look forward to this opportunity to study how T cells are affected by microgravity, identify novel targets and translate these findings into meaningful therapeutic strategies that can improve cellular therapies and enhance life here on Earth.” Cassian Yee, M.D., Professor of Melanoma Medical Oncology”.

Axiom Space and BioServe Space Technologies will act as hardware implementation partners, building upon multiple years of experience delivering and…