SBIR Phase I: Consortium for High Throughput CubeLab by Space Tango

这个小型企业创新研究(SBIR)第一阶段项目的更广泛的影响/商业潜力是通过在近地轨道(LEO)的失重环境中使用高通量技术来解决一些最有影响力的健康研究问题。在地球上研究疾病或开发治疗方法时，细胞模型经常被用来在发育阶段代替人类，因为可以在短时间内进行大量的试验。LEO提供的微重力环境提供了一个独特的实验室，在那里可以比在地面上更有效地研究一些疾病。该项目的技术正在开发中，以允许在太空中研究前所未有的数量的样本，并通过提供只有在地球上才能实现的统计意义，使世界级的健康研究最终成为可能。正在组建的联盟将我们与一群在癌症研究和药物输送等领域的世界级研究人员聚集在一起。除了潜在的健康影响，这些研究还将鼓励参与其中的小企业开发未来的产品和战略，无论是在地球上还是在太空中。这个小企业创新研究(SBIR)第一阶段项目将使生物平台技术的现有能力翻一番，使一个有效载荷中能够容纳近600个个体样本。所有样品将被寄存在一个环境控制的密封系统中，与地球上可用的最佳孵化条件相匹配，并在这一第一阶段项目期间在国际空间站(ISS)上飞行30天。这一高通量系统将支持众多初创企业和实验室，包括来自圣母大学、圣地亚哥大学、密特罗姆、封装、马萨诸塞州总医院和西奈山伊坎医学院的合作者。这些合作者将驾驶专门的细胞、细胞组和纳米材料来筛选最佳候选者，以进一步进行翻译研究和商业化努力。将收集足够的统计证据，以匹配任何可能进行的地面研究的质量。该联盟的成员将开展与Rett综合征、阿尔茨海默病、健康相关产品的生物制造、药物输送配方、脑癌、胃肠道癌症治疗和心脏相关的研究。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

The broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project is to address some of the most impactful health research questions by using high throughput techniques in the weightless environment of Low Earth Orbit (LEO). When studying diseases or developing treatments on Earth, cellular models are often used to “stand in” for humans during the development phase because of the high number of trials that can be performed in a short period of time. The microgravity environment offered in LEO, provides a unique laboratory where some diseases can be studied more efficiently than on the ground. This project’s technology is being developed to allow for an unprecedented number of samples to be studied in space, and making world-class health research finally achievable by providing the statistical significance that could only be achieved on Earth. The consortium being formed brings us together with a group of world-class researchers in fields such as cancer research and drug delivery. Beyond potential health impacts, these studies will encourage the small businesses involved to develop products and strategies for the future, both on Earth and in space.This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project will double the current capacity of a biological platform technology to enable nearly 600 individual samples in one payload. All samples will be hosted in an environmentally-controlled, sealed system, matching the best incubation conditions available on Earth, and flown in space during this Phase I project for 30 days on the International Space Station (ISS). This high throughput system will allow for numerous start-ups and labs, including collaborators from Notre Dame, the University of San Diego, Mithrilome, Encapsulate, Massachusetts General Hospital, and Mount Sinai Icahn School of Medicine. These collaborators will fly specialized cells, groups of cells, and nanomaterials to screen for the best candidates in which to target further translational research and commercialization efforts. Enough statistical evidence will be gathered to match the quality of any ground-based study that could be carried out. The members of the consortium will carry out research related to Rett syndrome, Alzheimer’s disease, biomanufacturing of health-related products, drug delivery formulations, brain cancer, gastrointestinal cancer therapies, and the heart.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.