{"project":{"acronym":"","projectId":88677,"title":"Modeling Space Radiation with Bleomycin","primaryTaxonomyNodes":[{"taxonomyNodeId":10707,"taxonomyRootId":8816,"parentNodeId":10706,"level":3,"code":"TX06.5.1","title":"Radiation Transport and Risk Modeling","definition":"Radiation transport and risk modeling tools enable, quantify, and reduce uncertainty in assessing astronaut risk due to space radiation exposure, as well as improve mission operations, mission planning, and system design for LEO, deep-space, lunar, and Mars missions.","exampleTechnologies":"Integrated mortality risk projection model tool, cancer risk projection model, degenerative risk projection model (includes heart and circulatory), central nervous system (CNS) risk projection model, performance degradation model set (acute and central nervous system), digital twin, transport and nuclear physics modeling tool(s) for radiation exposure (transport codes)","hasChildren":false,"hasInteriorContent":true}],"startTrl":2,"currentTrl":3,"endTrl":4,"benefits":"
The main goal of this proposed study is to validate a model system to speed up basic researches on the effects of space radiation, including solar particle events and galactic cosmic rays, on the health risks of astronauts during long term spaceflight missions, e.g., mission to Mars. If proposed study confirms the hypothesis, this model system could be used for high-through-put screening of candidates of radiation countermeasures that will be used to protect astronauts.
","description":"Space radiation is a mixed field of solar particle events (proton) and particles of Galactic Cosmic Rays (GCR) with different energy levels. These radiation events are difficult to model for Human Space Flight research. Currently bleomycin has been widely used as a radiomimetic agent and was often compared to low Linear Energy Transfer (LET) gamma radiation without defined characteristics.
Our recent work suggests that bleomycin induces DNA damage and other cellular stresses resembling those resulted from mixed field radiation with both low and high LET particles. We hypothesize that bleomycin could be used to mimic space radiation in biological systems. Here I propose to further validate this concept with experiments outlined below. If confirmed, bleomycin can be used to treat biological specimen as an easily available model to study effects of space radiation on biological systems and to develop countermeasures for space radiation associated risks.
During spaceflight, astronauts are exposed to space radiation which increases health risks in cancer development, degenerative tissues, immune systems, and others. Currently, most studies of radiation effects on human were based on single source radiation. In the contrast, space radiation consists of a mixture of protons from solar particle events, , heavy ions from galactic cosmic rays (GCR). There is no easily available method to model effects of space radiation on living organisms. While NASA Space Radiation Laboratory is working on advanced switches to make it possible to have a mixed field radiation with particles of different types and energies, the radiation source will be limited. The effects and outcomes of mixed field radiation are poorly understood due to this limitation. Development of an easily available experimental model for studying effects of mixed field radiation could greatly speed up our progress in understanding the molecular mechanisms of damages and responses from exposure to space radiation, and facilitate the discovery of protection and countermeasures against space radiation, which is critical for the mission to Mars.
Recently, we demonstrated that bleomycin-induced DNA damage is of characteristics of those resulted from both low- and high-LET radiation in confluent human fibroblast. Published results showing that the same human fibroblast in confluency had different survival rate after exposure to low- or high-LET radiation. Bleomycin will be used to treat fibroblast under the same growth condition. Survival rates after treatment will be compared to the published results. It was also shown that some radiation countermeasures, e.g., the growth factor granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) are effective against mixed field radiation, but not others, e.g., the thrombopoietin (TPO) mimetic ALXN4100TPO. Effects of those radiation countermeasures against bleomycin treatment would be tested. These tests could provide further evidences for using bleomycin to model mixed field radiation exposure.
This investigation will provide an experimental modeling method for studying effects of GCR and solar particle events. Bleomycin is easily obtained and can be used in cell culture and on animals to induce DNA damage and other cellular stresses. Bleomycin can be used at a low dose for long a long period of time to mimic what astronauts will experience in spaceflight. Candidates of radiation countermeasures could be screened using high-through-put screening technology with bleomycin treated cells. Thus, my proposed study could accelerate research and development to counter space radiation for the Mars mission.
Once this investigation confirms my hypothesis. This modeling method could be used to study effects of mixed field radiation on different celllines or animals, to understand mechanism of molecular responses and actions, and to screen effective countermeasures that can be easily adapted for high-through-put screen using celllines. Thus, this investigation could greatly benefit NASA's mission on exploration of Mars.
","startYear":2016,"startMonth":5,"endYear":2016,"endMonth":9,"statusDescription":"Completed","principalInvestigators":[{"contactId":456428,"canUserEdit":false,"displayOrder":0,"firstName":"Tao","lastName":"Lu","fullName":"Tao Lu","fullNameInverted":"Lu, Tao","primaryEmail":"tao.lu@nasa.gov","publicEmail":true,"nacontact":false}],"programManagers":[{"contactId":62108,"canUserEdit":false,"firstName":"Carlos","lastName":"Westhelle","fullName":"Carlos H Westhelle","fullNameInverted":"Westhelle, Carlos H","middleInitial":"H","primaryEmail":"carlos.h.westhelle@nasa.gov","publicEmail":true,"nacontact":false}],"website":"","libraryItems":[{"file":{"fileExtension":"pptx","fileId":24435,"fileName":"ICA_12_Lu_Modeling Space Radiation","fileSize":824545,"objectId":32724,"objectType":{"lkuCodeId":889,"code":"LIBRARY_ITEMS","description":"Library Items","lkuCodeTypeId":182,"lkuCodeType":{"codeType":"OBJECT_TYPE","description":"Object Type"}},"objectTypeId":889,"fileSizeString":"805.2 KB"},"files":[{"fileExtension":"pptx","fileId":24435,"fileName":"ICA_12_Lu_Modeling Space Radiation","fileSize":824545,"objectId":32724,"objectType":{"lkuCodeId":889,"code":"LIBRARY_ITEMS","description":"Library Items","lkuCodeTypeId":182,"lkuCodeType":{"codeType":"OBJECT_TYPE","description":"Object Type"}},"objectTypeId":889,"fileSizeString":"805.2 KB"}],"id":32724,"title":"Modeling Space Radiation With Bleomycin - A Radiomimetic Agent","description":"Poster created for NASA JSC 2016 Innovation Day Poster Session.
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An active and sustainable science and technology development program is key to ensuring the challenges of human exploration are successfully overcome. The JSC-directed solicitations program enables the center to invest strategically in high priority areas needed to accomplish future missions, as articulated in the NASA Technology Roadmaps and the Space Technology Investment Plan (STIP). It offers the center the ability to address technology gaps that are beyond the requirements of near-term programs to fund. The program also provides a platform to continue to grow and maintain critical skills and innovations needed to ensure future mission success. These solicitations encourage use of collaborations to ensure maximum benefit to both the space program and the nation. As such, external partnerships are highly encouraged not only as a funding leverage but to bring innovative ideas and approaches into human exploration programs.
Selection Process
Typically, JSC solicitations are developed by the JSC CTO and the JSC Technology Working Group (JTWG). Competitive calls are coordinated with JSC Senior Staff and communicated to the JSC workforce via internal email distribution to an R&D community list and through postings on the internal center website and through JSC Today notices.
The JTWG solicits, evaluates and prioritizes all JSC solicitation responses in a two-stage process. The JTWG members review project proposals and work together to down-select to the finalists. The Principal Investigators (PIs) make presentations to the JTWG to provide more in-depth project details. This allows the members to have multiple sets of data to select the most innovative finalists to support for the year. Selection criteria and funding vary based on the focus of the solicitation; but of primary interest are:
Project Accomplishments
Through the result of research and development, JSC’s IR&D project PIs are making essential progress in the advancement of technology needed to enable NASA’s mission of space exploration. Additionally, many of the technologies developed to meet the challenges of space exploration have great commercialization potential. Each year, many of JSC’s IR&D projects file New Technology Reports (NTRs) through the JSC Tech Transfer Office. Several of these reports have received New Technology Evaluation Patent ratings to pursue patents, while additional ones have been scheduled for success story articles to be written and published.
JSC projects active in FY12 and beyond have been included in TechPort. Through the TechPort tool information on the projects is provided and will be updated by PIs as developments and updates become available. This will offer further knowledge and information sharing between NASA developers, researchers, engineers and scientists, and other internal and external stakeholders.
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