Scientists can study non-embryonic stem cell properties using the ISS U.S. National Laboratoryâs microgravity environment, NASA said Friday.
NASA intends for space-based cell studies to find out how to counter the impact of microgravity on human health such as bone loss and muscle atrophy, as well as to seek cures for the elderly suffering from similar cases.
Stem cell studies by Mary Kearns-Jonker of Loma Linda University in California and Roland Kaunas of Texas A&M University are scheduled for 2014.
Kearns-Jonker will aim to develop cardiac cell therapy for the aging of neonatal and adult cardiac stem cells in microgravity and Kaunas, along with co-researchers, a system for co-culturing and examining stem cells mixed with bone tumor cells in microgravity.
Researchers will work to determine molecular targets for cancer-specific medicines, NASA says.