Researchers from SIL traveled to the Kennedy Space Centre in Florida, USA, where they integrated the samples into a payload ahead of the Tuesday morning launch (UK time). Housed within a Science Cube, the samples will be installed in the ICE Cubes Facility upon arrival at the ISS. This platform provides essential power and data support, along with real-time connectivity, enabling the Oxford team to monitor and interact with the experiment from Earth.
Dr. Ghada Alsaleh, who heads the Space Innovation Lab at Oxford, commented on the project's significance: "This is an exciting moment - not just because we're embarking on a journey to space, but because we're bringing along a ground-breaking project that could help people live healthier lives, both on Earth and in Space."
She added, "Our project seeks to uncover how ageing progresses under microgravity conditions, and to test if these conditions could speed up the study of ageing processes that take much longer to observe on Earth.
"By conducting this research on the International Space Station (ISS), we hope to gain insights that could lead to breakthroughs in understanding and treating age-related diseases. These discoveries could significantly improve the quality of life for people on Earth, reducing the burden of ageing not only for individuals but also for their loved ones and society as a whole."
The SIL team utilizes advanced techniques, including organoids, 3D printing, and mechanical stress testing, to explore cellular ageing. The aim is to uncover ways to decelerate age-related health deterioration - benefiting people both on Earth and in space.
Situated at Oxford's Botnar Institute of Musculoskeletal Sciences within the Nuffield Department of Orthopaedics, Rheumatology, and Musculoskeletal Sciences (NDORMS), the lab is dedicated to investigating the effects of space on the ageing process.
Professor Jonathan Rees, Head of NDORMS, remarked on the project's scope: "This pioneering research project demonstrates the international nature of modern scientific research. The collaborations between Oxford, space agencies and industry, have made it possible for researchers to control and observe experiments in space in real-time, which makes the whole process of carrying out cutting-edge research far more efficient."
As the UK's first lab dedicated to space-focused ageing research, SIL opened in July 2023 under Dr. Alsaleh's leadership. Its direct connection to the ISS facilitates close monitoring of the lab's experiments.
More information about the Space Innovation Lab and its research can be found here
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