The Universities Space Research Association (USRA) is very pleased to congratulate its scientific staff at the Division of Space Life Sciences (DSLS), in Houston, TX, on their recently awarded research projects covering a range of health and biomedical topics.

These awards, which were made under NASA and the National Space Biomedical Research Institute (NSBRI) "Research and Technology Development to Support Crew Health and Performance in Space Exploration Missions" announcement, involve studies in key areas that include bone loss, muscle weakening, vision impairment, cardiovascular deconditioning, and other investigations that are critical to astronaut health and performance on future deep space exploration missions.

The proposals were openly solicited from academia, industry and government laboratories and were judged for scientific merit by non-NASA technical experts. Following external peer review, NASA and NSBRI selected 29 meritorious proposals (out of 104 proposals submitted) representing 11 states and 25 institutions.

The selected investigations address astronaut health and performance risks for future space exploration missions. These 29 grants are collectively valued at approximately $26 million over their lifetimes of one to three years.

Among the projects in which USRA scientists will participate are:

Susana Zanello, Ph.D., Universities Space Research Association, Evaluation of Hindlimb Suspension as a Model to Study Ophthalmic Complications in Microgravity: Ocular Structure and Function and Association with Intracranial Pressure (NASA Award) Lori Ploutz-Snyder, Ph.D., Universities Space Research Association, Integrated Resistance and Aerobic Exercise Training with Small Compact Exercise Equipment (NSBRI Award)

Dr. Neal Pellis, Director of USRA's Division of Space Life Sciences, cited the division's participation in these awards as a clear demonstration of the Association's strong capabilities in this area and ongoing commitment to astronaut well-being.

Dr. Pellis said, "USRA shares the goal of developing countermeasures to overcome health challenges which are crucial to the success of future manned-missions into space."