Orbital Biolabs: Unleashing Cosmic Potential for Earth's Scientific Progress

Uncover the power of biomedical research in space and its potential to reshape our lives on Earth. Explore space-based biolabs, gene editing in zero gravity, 3D organ printing, anti-ageing and more.

Issue No 36. Subscribers 5906. Featuring a quote from Solange Massa MD PhD, founder and CEO of Ecoatoms.

Not long ago, we wrote an article about biomedical research in space, focusing primarily on how this research is instrumental in keeping both present-day and future astronauts in good health. We also highlighted the space-based bio-laboratories - scientific facilities aboard the International Space Station (ISS) National Lab and other spacecraft. Equipped with specialized tools and hardware, these laboratories permit researchers to study biological systems in the unique microgravity environment of space and to examine the effects of cosmic radiation on various aspects of life, including tissue regeneration, gene expression, and cell growth. From unlocking the secrets of anti-ageing, by deploying CRISPR technologies in novel ways, to combating global health challenges like COVID-19, and pioneering breakthroughs in 3D organ printing, these space-based laboratories are not only pushing the boundaries of our understanding but also ushering in a new era of possibilities that could reshape our lives on Earth.

Why Biomedical Science in Space?

Pharmacology stands out as an important area of space medicine research. Certain chemical reactions that mandate uniform temperature and concentration are challenging to execute on Earth because of convection, making space a conducive environment. For instance, proteins, which play an important role in disease onset, require specific conditions for crystallization — a crucial step in developing drugs that can interact with these proteins. Zero gravity offers an unparalleled environment for protein crystallization experiments, enabling researchers to decipher optimal conditions for particularly challenging proteins.

Tissue-on-chip, artist's impression. Credit: NASA

This research has enhanced our understanding of protein structures and even led to the development of drug candidates like Taiho Pharmaceutical's TAS205 for Duchenne muscular dystrophy, now in Phase 3 clinical trials. One more example of pharma benefiting from zero-gravity research is the experiment launched to the ISS by InnoStudio together with CycloLab, in late 2020 and early 2022. It aimed to examine whether microgravity could enhance the stability and reduce the risk profile of Gilead Sciences’ remdesivir, an antiviral drug currently approved by the FDA for the treatment of COVID-19 in hospitalized patients.

Advancements in technology have also paved the way for organ-on-a-chip technology and 3D printing. Organ-on-a-chip technology creates miniature models of human organs using microfluidic chips, aiding the study of drug and disease effects on human tissues. Read, for example, this review to learn how organs-on-a-chip help to test drug delivery systems. In space, researchers are also investigating the potential use of 3D printing of tissues and organs, some of which are difficult to produce in Earth's gravity, such as eyeballs. 3D-printed organs can be used both for modeling and for transplantation.

Techniques like CRISPR gene editing are also under investigation in space. This powerful technology allows scientists to alter the DNA of living organisms, presenting opportunities for studying the effects of microgravity and space radiation on gene expression (the process by which the information encoded in a gene is turned into a function) and developing new biotechnology products and processes.

Photo by National Cancer Institute on Unsplash

Lastly, cosmic radiation in space can serve as a good tool for studying aging. The background radiation effect on organisms on the ground is partly caused by high-energy cosmic particles which are hard to generate artificially. Orbital labs are not protected by the atmosphere and therefore the high-energy radiation is stronger there so it can be used to accelerate long-term radiation exposure, providing valuable insights into the aging mechanisms.

Biolaboratories in the ISS National Lab

Public pharmaceutical companies such as Merck, Amgen, Sanofi, AstraZeneca, Eli Lilly, and Novartis are conducting research aboard the ISS National Lab. To manage their access to ISS National Lab, NASA established the Center for the Advancement of Science in Space (CASIS) in 2011, with an hour of crew member time priced at $110,000 in 2023. A diverse array of private companies offer equipment and tools to support this research at CASIS facilities. For example:

• NanoRacks specializes in providing commercial access to ISS. The company has developed several bio laboratory modules for use on the ISS.

• Redwire (a publicly traded companym with a market capitalization of approximately $156 million) is another American company that develops and operates bio-lab facilities for microgravity research in space, including the ADvanced Space Experiment Processor  (ADSEP), which has been used to conduct over 200 experiments on the ISS. They have developed several technologies for use in space, including a 3D bioprinter and a plant growth system.

• Talking about modular facilities, we should mention US-based Space Tango, creators of TangoLab-1 and TangoLab-2, which are currently on board the ISS. The company was funded by Cantos and Ranch Ventures. In 2020, they received an award of nearly $5 million from NASA to develop a new dedicated stem cell research laboratory on the ISS.

  

  A lung-on-a-chip device. Credit: Wyss Institute, Harvard University

• Another prominent organization is BioServe Space Technologies (non-profit as of May 2023) based at the University of Colorado Boulder. The organization has developed several research platforms for ISS, including the Commercial Generic Bioprocessing Apparatus (CGBA).

• SpacePharma, a Swiss startup that specializes in developing bio mini-laboratory facilities for microgravity research. Their equipment has been used in several experiments on the ISS. Space Pharma attracted $20 million of total investments, including that from the Israeli State of Mind Ventures.

• Japan's Space Biolaboratories also develops and conducts space experiments, provides consulting services, and develops and sells hardware and software products for use in space experiments related to space biology. Their customers are primarily academic and industrial researchers, and they collaborate with organizations such as JAXA and NASA. Space BioLaboratories received ¥100 million (the equivalent of $0.94M) in funding from Rorze Corporation, Hiroshima Venture Capital.

A New Era of Biomedical Research in Orbit

One of the key trends in the space bio-laboratory industry is the escalating involvement of private entities and startups. Traditionally, large pharmaceutical corporations conducted their experiments using the ISS CASIS. However, the landscape is shifting as private companies and small startups now both provide modules for the ISS and conduct research as corporate clients. One such example is the abovementioned NanoRacks, which launched a new module, the Bishop Airlock, adding extra opportunities for research and commercial activities aboard the ISS. LambdaVision is another example. It is a startup that is developing an artificial retina that could potentially restore vision to people with retinal degenerative diseases. The company is working with Space Tango to test its technology in microgravity. To date, the company has secured over $8M in funding in state, local, and government research funds, including a $5M NASA grant in 2020.

Liver tissue created by team Winston for NASA's Vascular Tissue Challenge. Credit: Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine

The commercialization of spaceflight and the increasing availability of launch services are making it possible for a broader range of companies to develop and deploy space stations and spacecraft hosting bio-labs. Currently, at least five projects for private space stations are underway, led by Northrop Grumman, Sierra Nevada Corporation, NanoRacks, Orbital Reef (a collaboration of Sierra Nevada Corporation, Boeing, and Blue Origin), and Axiom Space. Axiom Space is leading the charge with its AXIOM module set to dock with the ISS in 2025 and is designed to remain operational even after the ISS's eventual de-orbiting.

Another emerging trend is the successful exit strategies observed in the space bio-laboratory industry, with several startups either being acquired or going public. For instance, NanoRacks, a company that provides a commercial access to space and bio-laboratory services, announced their merger with public Voyager Space Holdings in 2020. Redwire went public in September 2021, raising $170M (pro forma enterprise value of $615M). Shortly after, the company announced its acquisition of Techshot, Inc., a leader in biotechnology tools for microgravity, bioprinting, and on-orbit manufacturing.

Contrary to the historical trends of miniaturization seen in the wider space tech market, a third noticeable trend in the bio-laboratory space is that smaller is not always better. Biomedical research necessitates uniform conditions and replicability, which requires more space and a greater number of samples. As Solange Massa, the founder, and the CEO of Ecoatoms explains:

"Manufacturing a larger number of experiments or products could potentially lead to better statistical results, resulting in high-quality science and improved reproducibility".

With the cost to space per kg decreasing dramatically with larger vehicles like Starship and New Glenn, developing larger manufacturing payloads and lab facilities may be the way of the future.

Finally, there is a trend toward automation. As astronauts can become fatigued and make mistakes, it's beneficial to exclude them from the experiment process. Ensuring the original experiment designer controls and remotely carries out the research eliminates the chance of errors made through exhaustion. As Erica Wagner from Blue Origin puts it, “It costs $110,000 an hour for crew time. When you start to do the math, you realize that automation in many cases is simply going to make more financial sense."

Rendering of Varda’s reentry capsule. Credit: Varda Space

Therefore, suppliers of orbital biomedical research equipment and reactors, such as Ecoatoms (USA) and IDDK (Japan), tend to cooperate with manufacturers of automated returnable orbital factories, such as Space Forge (UK) and Varda Space Industries (US). The former company achieved to rise the largest Seed round in European space tech sector in 2021 ($10.2M). The latter are famous for $42M Seed round led by Khosla Ventures and Caffeinated, and recent “pre-Series C” $25M round (in progress) that would put Varda’s valuation at around $500M.

Space bio-laboratories offer a distinct advantage by eliminating gravity as a variable in biological experiments. This helps researchers gain a deeper understanding of how biological systems function, paving the way for developing new treatments for diseases. The study of cells and tissues in microgravity, for instance, can yield insights into cancer growth mechanisms and regeneration, subsequently leading to novel therapies. However, space bio-laboratories also encounter unique challenges, including limited resources, power, and space, and the need to function in a hostile environment. The future of space bio-laboratories is, without a doubt, a thrilling frontier, and we look forward to the extraordinary discoveries it holds. If you’re working in that space, please, shoot us an email at hello@spaceambition.org