Space flight promotes opportunities for stem cell science, biomanufacturing, and disease modeling

The secret to producing large numbers of stem cells more efficiently may lie in the near-zero gravity conditions in space

A paper led by the Cedars Sinai team and published in "Stem Cell Reports" ("Low Earth Orbit Regenerative Medicine Biomanufacturing") highlights the key opportunities discussed at the 2020 Space Biomanufacturing Symposium to expand space stem cell manufacturing

The author points out that in the past ten years, the International Space Station National Laboratory (ISS National Lab) has supported space research in the fields of tissue engineering and regenerative medicine

The Space Biomanufacturing Symposium was established as the first step to develop a sustainable market roadmap for low-Earth Orbit (LEO) space biomanufacturing

Among the 50 potential business opportunities identified, three are the most promising areas; disease modeling, stem cells and stem cell-derived products, and biomanufacturing

By establishing a disease model based on this accelerated aging process, research scientists can better understand the aging process and the mechanism of disease progression

Another topic that was highly discussed at the seminar was biomanufacturing, which is the use of manufacturing processes to produce materials such as tissues and organs

The review stated: "Discussions on biomanufacturing cover a variety of opportunities, including tissue manufacturing for disease modeling, testing and maturation of biomanufacturing materials, and improved manufacturing processes for biomaterials and biomanufacturing components

The third type of research focuses on the production of stem cells and understanding how microgravity affects some basic characteristics of stem cells

Understanding some of the effects of space flight on stem cells may lead to better ways to create large numbers of cells without gravity

Scientists from Cedars-Sinai will work with NASA and private contractor space Tango to send stem cells into space early next year to test whether it is possible to produce stem cells in large quantities in a low-gravity environment

As the author of the outlook reports, “it’s time to use low orbit for research and development to prove the value of space-based biomanufacturing and its benefits to mankind