Impact of Space Environment on Craniofacial and dental Structures (ISECS) Research Group

Developing evidence to inform healthy future space travel
Earth viewed from ISS with photo of the ISECS research team imposed
Our experienced researchers in health – including dentistry and oral health, optometry, neurology, and prosthodontics – are working nationally and internationally with space agencies and industry to develop evidence to inform healthy future space travel.

Orbiting Life

Funded by: University of Plymouth
Date: 2024–2025
Partners: Plastron Training Ltd
University of Plymouth Principal Investigator: Professor Mona Nasser
Investigators: Zheng-Tong Xie (University of Southampton), Charlie Young (Plastron), Cranfield University partners
The UK currently faces challenges in launching and recovering life science experiments in low Earth orbit for comparative studies, resulting in less reliable data. However, with rapid growth in the UK's space sector, there is a clear ambition to expand into space-based life sciences. The UK government's recent investment of up to £15 million in a British spaceflight with Axiom Space underscores this ambition.
This project aims to develop initial designs for orbital science experiments to showcase to potential customers; establish standards for both space- and Earth-based experiments to guide future missions and support regulatory development and expand market research to attract more commercial and academic partners interested in space-based research.
Big planets and shining stars galaxy in space - stock photo
Supporting the UK's ambition to become a leader in the global space industry, this initiative is designed to empower the UK Space Sector to independently launch life science experiments into orbit from UK facilities in Scotland.
 
 

Systematic Threat Analysis of Radiation from Space (STARS): systematic reviews

Systematic Threat Analysis of Radiation from Space (STARS): systematic reviews

Funded by: European Space Agency (ESA) InternProgramme, COST-EU Action, University of Plymouth, Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) – ‘Cross-disciplinary research for Discovery Science Fewllowship Awards, Berlin Institute of Health – QUEST Centre Fellow Programme.
Partners: European Space Agency, Berlin Institute of Health, University of California, University of Liverpool, University of the Philippines Open University, University of Toronto
Lead investigators: Professor Mona Nasser, Dr Alexandra Bannach Brown (Quest Centre, Berlin Institute of Health), Dr Anna Fogtman (Space Medicine Team, European Space Agency)
University of Plymouth investigators: Professor Mona Nasser, Nicole Elango (BDS student), Olufemi AJipatutu (MSc student), Marieke Dewulf (MSc student)
Systematic reviews on the impact of ionising radiation, STARS uses a series of innovative approaches to investigate the effects of radiation from space. This includes a new quality assessment for in-vitro studies and developing a machine learning algorithm that can screen complex data.
Through this, STARS investigates sex differences in the susceptibility of ionised radiation, and the non-neoplastic effects on the central nervous system.


Open Science Forum:
 
 

Caving Analog Mission: Ocean, Earth, Space (CAMões)

In Portugal, the Institute of Systems and Computer Engineering, Technology and Science (INESC TEC) has engaged a Portuguese and international team of research institutions to develop and implement research programs focused on bioastronautics, space medicine, geosciences, robotics, suborbital spaceflight, human health, and atmospheric science. Over the past two years, these teams have come together for an annual technical summit in Portugal where they review collaborative projects, exchange findings, and explore further scientific endeavours to push the limits of their technology and discoveries.
The result has been increased university student involvement across each country, the introduction of a new university curriculum in Portugal, increased access to international experts, co-publication of technical work, and a growing database of knowledge. This year has been a pivotal one for this team as INESC TEC announced the inauguration of a new scientific test bed: a lava tube cave.
Selected members of the organisations will be carrying out an inaugural space research analogue, the Caving Analog Mission: Ocean, Earth, Space (CAMões), in the Azores November 21-28, 2023. The CAMões team will live and work inside the Natal Cave on Terceira Island for this analogue. An analogue is something that is similar or comparable to something else.
For the space industry, there is a growing number of unique or extreme environments used to test planetary exploration. Analogue studies using lava tubes on Earth inform the solutions for a spectrum of industries such as geological, climate, medical, and biological.
There are scientific characteristics of Azorean lava tube systems that can contribute to unique studies. A member of this first CAMões crew is Yvette Gonzalez, a Visiting Researcher with the Plymouth Institute of Health and Care Research. She will work closely with Dr Daniela Oehring, Professor Mona Nasser, Professor Stephen Hall, and Dr Prashanti Eachempati on novel ocular and medical research in this rare context.
The experiments are partially supported by the Brain Research & Imaging Centre (BRIC) – University of Plymouth.
People with hard hats on in a cave
Caving Analog Mission: Ocean, Earth, Space (CAMões)
 
 

Plymouth Institute of Health and Care Research

Transformation in life course, ageing, methodologies, e-health, technology and interventions in health, social care, lifestyle, health and wellbeing.
From basic research discovering the causes of disease, through to evaluating novel ways of delivering care to the most vulnerable people in society, the Plymouth Institute of Health and Care Research (PIHR) is a thriving community that conducts adventurous world-leading research with the explicit purpose of improving the health and care of the populations we serve. At the heart of PIHR’s mission is a desire to solve the problems that really matter to people.
abstract medical pharmacy healthcare innovative concept background

Publications and presentations

  • Nasser M, Gonzalez Y, Eachempati P, Oehring D. Non-Invasive Monitoring of Jaw Dynamics in Stressful Environments: A Case Study from CAMões, 75th International Astronautical Congress (IAC), Milan, Italy 14-18 October 2024,
  • Waldherr, A., Nasser, M., Hemmann, L., Roessler, F., Lorini, G., Oeztuerk, I., Borromeo, R., Bannach-Brown, A. & Fogtman, A. A Citizen Science Approach to Crowdsource Decision Making for Systematic reviews in Space Medicine. ELGRA - European Low Gravity Research Association, Liverpool, UK 3-4 Sep 2024.
  • Nasser M, Young C, Webb A. Orbital Life Sciences: UK infrastructure & Capability. ELGRA - European Low Gravity Research Association, Liverpool, UK 3-4 Sep 2024.
  • Hasny, M., Vasile, A.P., Gianni, M., Bannach-Brown, A., Nasser, M., Mackay, M., Donovan, D., Šorli, J., Domocos, I., Dulloo, M. and Patel, N., 2023, June. BERT for Complex Systematic Review Screening to Support the Future of Medical Research. In International Conference on Artificial Intelligence in Medicine (pp. 173-182). Cham: Springer Nature Switzerland.
  • Nasser M, Steyaert P, Maranan D et al. Meta-futurism: an immersive workshop with science fiction elements to facilitate a conversation on climate change and space exploration. IAC, 2022, Paris, France.
  • Kim DS, Weber T, Straube U, Hellweg CE, Nasser M, Green DA, Fogtman A. The Potential of Physical Exercise to Mitigate Radiation Damage-A Systematic Review. Front Med (Lausanne). 2021 Apr 29;8:585483. doi: 10.3389/fmed.2021.585483. PMID: 33996841; PMCID: PMC8117229.
  • Nasser M, Fogtman A, Bannach-Brown A, et al. Methodological innovation/Adaptation for systematic reviews for space medicine, Proceedings of the International Astronautical Congress, IAC, 2021, Dubai, UAE.
  • Nasser M, Margarida Esteves A, Vermeulen A, et al. Diversifying the concept of analogue missions to explore and evaluate new concepts for future space missions. Proceedings of the International Astronautical Congress, IAC, 2021, Dubai, UAE.
  • Nasser M, Knight J, Haines A, etc al. Virtual futuristic analogue missions to drive methodological innovation for clinical research for space mission and earth. Proceedings of the International Astronautical Congress, IAC, 2021, Dubai, UAE.
  • Nasser M, Peres N, Knight J, Haines A, Young C, Maranan D, Wright J, Carvil P, Robinson K, Westmore M, Griffin J, Halkes M. Designing clinical trials for future space missions as a pathway to changing how clinical trials are conducted on Earth. J Evid Based Med. 2020 May;13(2):153-160. doi: 10.1111/jebm.12391. Epub 2020 May 25.
  • Konda NN, Karri RS, Winnard A, Nasser M, Evetts S, Boudreau E, Caplan N, Gradwell D, Velho RM. A comparison of exercise interventions from bed rest studies for the prevention of musculoskeletal loss. NPJ Microgravity. 2019 May 8;5:12.
  • Winnard A, Nasser M, Debuse D, Stokes M, Evetts S, Wilkinson M, et al. Systematic review of countermeasures to minimise physiological changes and risk of injury to the lumbopelvic area following long-term microgravity. Musculoskeletal science & practice. 2017;27 Suppl 1:S5-s14.
  • Richter C, Braunstein B, Winnard A, Nasser M, Weber T. Human Biomechanical and Cardiopulmonary Responses to Partial Gravity - A Systematic Review. Frontiers in physiology. 2017;8:583.