Welcome to the ISS National Lab Grand Challenge
Proposal No. CASIS 2015-4 | Issued September 15, 2015
Due Date: October 16, 2015
Based on a robust response to the recently closed Request for Information, 3D Microphysiological Systems for Organs-On-Chips, the ISS National Lab is issuing a “Grand Challenge” seeking flight projects for the International Space Station U.S. National Laboratory.
This funding opportunity seeks to accelerate the development of human microphysiological systems, tissue-on-chip, organ-on-chip, and related technologies that address challenges in predictive toxicity assessment during the preclinical phase of drug development or in tissue engineering for regenerative medicine to benefit human disease research on Earth. One or two respondents will be selected to share an award of up to $1M in research grant sponsorship to support a flight project to the ISS National Lab.
The Grand Challenge seeks to support in-vitro models and platform technologies for either fundamental discovery or translational research in microgravity where outcomes may be extrapolated to understanding whole organ response to drug exposure or disease onset and progression. Technology platforms of interest will enable space-based research in microphysiological systems or tissue engineering related to tissue-on-a-chip, organ-on-chip, or 3D organotypic tissue constructs that recapitulate the microarchitecture and functions of living organs using human cells. Responsive applicants should seek to use microphysiological systems in microgravity to create and/or interrogate 3D, in-vitro models for bone and cartilage, skeletal muscle, brain, gastrointestinal tract, lung, liver, microvasculature, skin, or other tissues.
Respondents are encouraged to focus on the areas identified below but may propose other topics:
- Development of models of any system from established human cell lines, human tissues, or human embryonic, induced pluripotent stem (iPS) or progenitor cell lines. The microsystems should model aspects of the three-dimensional architecture and cellular composition of the target organ, such that a specific normal or pathological function of interest for addressing a specific biological question can be recapitulated in microgravity.
- Development of assays for toxicity assessment that reflect relevant functional readouts of the organ system in microgravity (e.g., contractile response to chronotropic drugs).
- Development of cell-type specific reporter or biosensor systems that will enable assessment of the cellular architecture and functional output of the microsystem to capture the dynamics of biological responses in microgravity.
Please follow the steps below to indicate your interest in this project:
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Please click the following link to find instructions on how to submit a proposal in response to Proposal No. CASIS 2015-4: |
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All submittals must be made in PDF format electronically and emailed to info@issnationallab.org. The ISS National Lab must receive proposals by 5:00pm EDT on October 16, 2015. |
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For questions regarding this Challenge, you are welcome to contact: Michael S. Roberts, Ph.D., ISS National Lab Senior Scientist Email: mroberts@issnationallab.org Telephone: 321.757.6127 |
The ISS National Lab encourages applicants to read the instructions before submitting proposals to ensure compliance with required content. We thank you for your interest in conducting research on the ISS!
** Please verify that none of the information submitted is subject to the export control laws of the United States, such as the EAR or the ITAR; if any information is subject to such laws, please mark all pages containing such information and identify the appropriate export control jurisdiction and classification.**
