Through the Center Innovation Fund, the Space Technology Mission Directorate allocates a small portion of the NASA workforce and procurement budget to internal research and development to feed early stage innovation in technology and exploration. Activities with in the Center Innovation Fund are proposed and led by NASA scientists and engineers. These activities and creative initiatives pursue emerging technologies that leverage talent and capabilities at the NASA Centers.
","parentProgram":{"ableToSelect":false,"isActive":true,"description":"Catalyst is a portfolio of early stage programs that specialize in different innovation constituencies and mechanisms to push the state of the art in aerospace technology development","programId":92327,"responsibleMd":{"canUserEdit":false,"locationEdit":false,"organizationRolePretty":"","organizationTypePretty":""},"title":"Catalyst","manageGaps":false,"acronymOrTitle":"Catalyst"},"parentProgramId":92327,"programId":64,"responsibleMd":{"canUserEdit":false,"locationEdit":false,"organizationRolePretty":"","organizationTypePretty":""},"stockImageFileId":36643,"title":"Center Innovation Fund","manageGaps":false,"acronymOrTitle":"CIF"},"parentProgramId":64,"programId":160,"responsibleMd":{"organizationId":4875,"organizationName":"Space Technology Mission Directorate","acronym":"STMD","organizationType":"NASA_Mission_Directorate","canUserEdit":false,"locationEdit":false,"organizationRolePretty":"","organizationTypePretty":"NASA Mission Directorate"},"responsibleMdOffice":4875,"stockImageFileId":36646,"title":"Center Innovation Fund: ARC CIF","manageGaps":false,"acronymOrTitle":"ARC CIF"},"description":"
Valuable research in gravitational biology, synthetic biology, proteomics, and biotechnology can be enhanced by using microwell platforms. The microwell platform provides a simple technique for doing massively parallel studies. However, to be effectively used in microgravity significant improvements in our ability to manage gases in these systems is needed. We are developing a system that addresses these limitations. This research enables a wide range foundational research in Space Synthetic Biology, Fundamental Space Biology, and Astrobiology, ultimately generating the knowledge required to engineer a potentially broad range of space biotechnology applications employing synthetic organisms and microbial bioreactors for in situ resource utilization and biological life support systems. Microwell-plates have become standardized formats for biological research. However, valuable biological microgravity research cannot be accomplished using these technologies without improvements in our ability to deliver, remove, and measure gases. In microgravity, where buoyancy driven mixing is minimal, the buildup of CO2 in solutions containing aerobic bacteria can adversely impact growth rates and mask more subtle effects. Likewise, the delivery of O2 and removal of metabolic by-products at the bottom of a microwell in microgravity is difficult to achieve and even more difficult to measure. Gas that builds up and is not removed will supersaturate the growth medium and form bubbles causing interference with detection and analysis. What is needed is a standard microwell-plate that is sealed with a transparent cover slip and has the capability to control, mix, and measure gas concentrations inside the microwells. To accomplish this requires the integration of a range of state-of-the-art micro and nano technologies such as micro-sensors that measure gas concentrations of O2, N2, CO2, H2S, NO and some organics. Also needed are technologies that add O2 and N2 to micro-atmospheres; remove CO2, NO, H2S, and organics; as well as micro-technologies that can control gas mixing, and gas circulation in micro-atmospheres. This CIF grant developed an initial feasibility study of a sealed micro well that can measure and control the micro atmosphere contained in individual micro wells. This system uses carbon nanotube sensors to measure gas concentrations at a nano scale within the microwell. Gas phase adsorbents are used as gas reservoirs to add and remove atmospheric/metabolic gases from the well. Micro pumps and valves are used to circulate gases and insure good mixing in the well.
","benefits":"Valuable research in gravitational biology, synthetic biology, proteomics, and biotechnology can be enhanced by using microwell platforms. The microwell platform provides a simple technique for doing massively parallel studies. However, to be effectively used in microgravity significant improvements in our ability to manage gases in these systems is needed. We are developing a system that addresses these limitations. This research enables a wide range foundational research in Space Synthetic Biology, Fundamental Space Biology, and Astrobiology, ultimately generating the knowledge required to engineer a potentially broad range of space biotechnology applications employing synthetic organisms and microbial bioreactors for in situ resource utilization and biological life support systems. This research enables a wide range foundational research in Space Synthetic Biology, Fundamental Space Biology, and Astrobiology, ultimately generating the knowledge required to engineer a potentially broad range of space biotechnology applications employing synthetic organisms and microbial bioreactors for in situ resource utilization and biological life support systems. NASA specific
","releaseStatus":"Released","status":"Completed","viewCount":1318,"trlBegin":1,"trlCurrent":2,"trlEnd":2,"lastUpdated":"02/15/26","favorited":false,"detailedFunding":false,"projectContacts":[{"contactId":332532,"canUserEdit":false,"firstName":"Michael","lastName":"Flynn","fullName":"Michael Flynn","fullNameInverted":"Flynn, Michael","email":"michael.flynn@nasa.gov","receiveEmail":"Subscribed_User","projectContactRole":"Principal_Investigator","projectContactId":541771,"projectId":15912,"programContactRolePretty":"","projectContactRolePretty":"Principal Investigator"}],"programContacts":[{"contactId":233104,"canUserEdit":false,"firstName":"John","lastName":"Nelson","fullName":"John C Nelson","fullNameInverted":"Nelson, John C","middleInitial":"C","email":"john.c.nelson@nasa.gov","receiveEmail":"Subscribed_User","programContactRole":"Program_Director","programContactId":228,"programId":160,"programContactRolePretty":"Program Director","projectContactRolePretty":""},{"contactId":159179,"canUserEdit":false,"firstName":"Gary","lastName":"Fleming","fullName":"Gary A Fleming","fullNameInverted":"Fleming, Gary A","middleInitial":"A","email":"gary.a.fleming@nasa.gov","receiveEmail":"Subscribed_User","programContactRole":"Program_Manager","programContactId":231,"programId":160,"programContactRolePretty":"Program Manager","projectContactRolePretty":""},{"contactId":176367,"canUserEdit":false,"firstName":"Harry","lastName":"Partridge","fullName":"Harry Partridge","fullNameInverted":"Partridge, Harry","email":"harry.partridge@nasa.gov","receiveEmail":"Subscribed_User","programContactRole":"Program_Manager","programContactId":106,"programId":160,"programContactRolePretty":"Program Manager","projectContactRolePretty":""}],"leadOrganization":{"organizationId":4941,"organizationName":"Ames Research Center","acronym":"ARC","organizationType":"NASA_Center","city":"Moffett Field","stateTerritoryId":59,"stateTerritory":{"abbreviation":"CA","country":{"abbreviation":"US","countryId":236,"name":"United States"},"countryId":236,"name":"California","stateTerritoryId":59,"isTerritory":false},"country":{"abbreviation":"US","countryId":236,"name":"United States"},"countryId":236,"zipCode":"94035","projectId":15912,"projectOrganizationId":569725,"organizationRole":"Lead_Organization","canUserEdit":false,"locationEdit":false,"organizationRolePretty":"Lead Organization","organizationTypePretty":"NASA Center"},"otherOrganizations":[{"organizationId":4941,"organizationName":"Ames Research Center","acronym":"ARC","organizationType":"NASA_Center","city":"Moffett Field","stateTerritoryId":59,"stateTerritory":{"abbreviation":"CA","country":{"abbreviation":"US","countryId":236,"name":"United States"},"countryId":236,"name":"California","stateTerritoryId":59,"isTerritory":false},"country":{"abbreviation":"US","countryId":236,"name":"United States"},"countryId":236,"zipCode":"94035","projectId":15912,"projectOrganizationId":569725,"organizationRole":"Lead_Organization","canUserEdit":false,"locationEdit":false,"organizationRolePretty":"Lead Organization","organizationTypePretty":"NASA Center"}],"technologyOutcomes":[{"technologyOutcomeId":93059,"projectId":15912,"project":{"projectId":15912,"title":"Micro-atmospheric Microwell Plate Technology","startDate":"2011-08-01","startYear":2011,"startMonth":8,"endDate":"2012-01-01","endYear":2012,"endMonth":1,"programId":160,"program":{"ableToSelect":false,"acronym":"ARC CIF","isActive":true,"description":"Through the Center Innovation Fund, the Space Technology Mission Directorate allocates a small portion of the NASA workforce and procurement budget to internal research and development to feed early stage innovation in technology and exploration. Activities with in the Center Innovation Fund are proposed and led by NASA scientists and engineers. These activities and creative initiatives pursue emerging technologies that leverage talent and capabilities at the NASA Centers. ","parentProgram":{"ableToSelect":false,"acronym":"CIF","isActive":true,"description":"Through the Center Innovation Fund, the Space Technology Mission Directorate allocates a small portion of the NASA workforce and procurement budget to internal research and development to feed early stage innovation in technology and exploration. Activities with in the Center Innovation Fund are proposed and led by NASA scientists and engineers. These activities and creative initiatives pursue emerging technologies that leverage talent and capabilities at the NASA Centers.
","parentProgram":{"ableToSelect":false,"isActive":true,"description":"Catalyst is a portfolio of early stage programs that specialize in different innovation constituencies and mechanisms to push the state of the art in aerospace technology development","programId":92327,"responsibleMd":{"canUserEdit":false,"locationEdit":false,"organizationRolePretty":"","organizationTypePretty":""},"title":"Catalyst","manageGaps":false,"acronymOrTitle":"Catalyst"},"parentProgramId":92327,"programId":64,"responsibleMd":{"canUserEdit":false,"locationEdit":false,"organizationRolePretty":"","organizationTypePretty":""},"stockImageFileId":36643,"title":"Center Innovation Fund","manageGaps":false,"acronymOrTitle":"CIF"},"parentProgramId":64,"programId":160,"responsibleMd":{"organizationId":4875,"organizationName":"Space Technology Mission Directorate","acronym":"STMD","organizationType":"NASA_Mission_Directorate","canUserEdit":false,"locationEdit":false,"organizationRolePretty":"","organizationTypePretty":"NASA Mission Directorate"},"responsibleMdOffice":4875,"stockImageFileId":36646,"title":"Center Innovation Fund: ARC CIF","manageGaps":false,"acronymOrTitle":"ARC CIF"},"description":"
Valuable research in gravitational biology, synthetic biology, proteomics, and biotechnology can be enhanced by using microwell platforms. The microwell platform provides a simple technique for doing massively parallel studies. However, to be effectively used in microgravity significant improvements in our ability to manage gases in these systems is needed. We are developing a system that addresses these limitations. This research enables a wide range foundational research in Space Synthetic Biology, Fundamental Space Biology, and Astrobiology, ultimately generating the knowledge required to engineer a potentially broad range of space biotechnology applications employing synthetic organisms and microbial bioreactors for in situ resource utilization and biological life support systems. Microwell-plates have become standardized formats for biological research. However, valuable biological microgravity research cannot be accomplished using these technologies without improvements in our ability to deliver, remove, and measure gases. In microgravity, where buoyancy driven mixing is minimal, the buildup of CO2 in solutions containing aerobic bacteria can adversely impact growth rates and mask more subtle effects. Likewise, the delivery of O2 and removal of metabolic by-products at the bottom of a microwell in microgravity is difficult to achieve and even more difficult to measure. Gas that builds up and is not removed will supersaturate the growth medium and form bubbles causing interference with detection and analysis. What is needed is a standard microwell-plate that is sealed with a transparent cover slip and has the capability to control, mix, and measure gas concentrations inside the microwells. To accomplish this requires the integration of a range of state-of-the-art micro and nano technologies such as micro-sensors that measure gas concentrations of O2, N2, CO2, H2S, NO and some organics. Also needed are technologies that add O2 and N2 to micro-atmospheres; remove CO2, NO, H2S, and organics; as well as micro-technologies that can control gas mixing, and gas circulation in micro-atmospheres. This CIF grant developed an initial feasibility study of a sealed micro well that can measure and control the micro atmosphere contained in individual micro wells. This system uses carbon nanotube sensors to measure gas concentrations at a nano scale within the microwell. Gas phase adsorbents are used as gas reservoirs to add and remove atmospheric/metabolic gases from the well. Micro pumps and valves are used to circulate gases and insure good mixing in the well.
","benefits":"Valuable research in gravitational biology, synthetic biology, proteomics, and biotechnology can be enhanced by using microwell platforms. The microwell platform provides a simple technique for doing massively parallel studies. However, to be effectively used in microgravity significant improvements in our ability to manage gases in these systems is needed. We are developing a system that addresses these limitations. This research enables a wide range foundational research in Space Synthetic Biology, Fundamental Space Biology, and Astrobiology, ultimately generating the knowledge required to engineer a potentially broad range of space biotechnology applications employing synthetic organisms and microbial bioreactors for in situ resource utilization and biological life support systems. This research enables a wide range foundational research in Space Synthetic Biology, Fundamental Space Biology, and Astrobiology, ultimately generating the knowledge required to engineer a potentially broad range of space biotechnology applications employing synthetic organisms and microbial bioreactors for in situ resource utilization and biological life support systems. NASA specific
","releaseStatus":"Released","status":"Completed","trlBegin":1,"trlCurrent":2,"trlEnd":2,"favorited":false,"detailedFunding":false,"programContacts":[{"contactId":176367,"canUserEdit":false,"firstName":"Harry","lastName":"Partridge","fullName":"Harry Partridge","fullNameInverted":"Partridge, Harry","email":"harry.partridge@nasa.gov","receiveEmail":"Subscribed_User","programContactRole":"Program_Manager","programContactId":106,"programId":160,"programContactRolePretty":"Program Manager","projectContactRolePretty":""},{"contactId":159179,"canUserEdit":false,"firstName":"Gary","lastName":"Fleming","fullName":"Gary A Fleming","fullNameInverted":"Fleming, Gary A","middleInitial":"A","email":"gary.a.fleming@nasa.gov","receiveEmail":"Subscribed_User","programContactRole":"Program_Manager","programContactId":231,"programId":160,"programContactRolePretty":"Program Manager","projectContactRolePretty":""},{"contactId":233104,"canUserEdit":false,"firstName":"John","lastName":"Nelson","fullName":"John C Nelson","fullNameInverted":"Nelson, John C","middleInitial":"C","email":"john.c.nelson@nasa.gov","receiveEmail":"Subscribed_User","programContactRole":"Program_Director","programContactId":228,"programId":160,"programContactRolePretty":"Program Director","projectContactRolePretty":""}],"endDateString":"Jan 2012","startDateString":"Aug 2011"},"technologyOutcomeDate":"2012-01-01","technologyOutcomePath":"Closed_Out","infoText":"Closed out","infoTextExtra":"Project closed out","isIndirect":false,"infusionPretty":"","isBiDirectional":false,"technologyOutcomeDateString":"Jan 2012","technologyOutcomeDateFullString":"January 2012","technologyOutcomePartnerPretty":"","technologyOutcomePathPretty":"Closed Out","technologyOutcomeRationalePretty":""}],"libraryItems":[{"files":[],"libraryItemId":356203,"title":"1676 Review (17536)","description":"Ames Approval 11/26/14
","libraryItemType":"Story","projectId":15912,"isPrimary":false,"internalOnly":false,"publishedDateString":"","entryDateString":"01/22/25 01:10 AM","libraryItemTypePretty":"Story","modifiedDateString":"05/22/23 02:25 PM"},{"file":{"fileExtension":"pdf","fileId":356670,"fileName":"CIF Micro-atm Final Report","fileSize":2001049,"objectId":356202,"objectType":"libraryItemFiles","presignedUpload":false,"fileSizeString":"1.9 MB"},"files":[{"fileExtension":"pdf","fileId":356670,"fileName":"CIF Micro-atm Final Report","fileSize":2001049,"objectId":356202,"objectType":"libraryItemFiles","presignedUpload":false,"fileSizeString":"1.9 MB"}],"libraryItemId":356202,"title":"Microatm CIF Report","description":"Report covering results of this work.
","libraryItemType":"Document","projectId":15912,"isPrimary":false,"publishedBy":"Michael Flynn","internalOnly":false,"publishedDateString":"","entryDateString":"01/22/25 01:10 AM","libraryItemTypePretty":"Document","modifiedDateString":"05/22/23 02:25 PM"}],"states":[{"abbreviation":"CA","country":{"abbreviation":"US","countryId":236,"name":"United States"},"countryId":236,"name":"California","stateTerritoryId":59,"isTerritory":false}],"endDateString":"Jan 2012","startDateString":"Aug 2011"}}