State to promote drug development in space through 'Galactic Grant Competition'

Nov 13, 2014, 10:33am EST

Send this to a friend

Photo Courtesy of NASA

Former astronaut Dan Tani was aboard the Space Shuttle Endeavor on its 2001 mission to the International Space Station.

BioFlash Editor- Boston Business Journal
Email  |  Twitter

The state's agency that promotes life science firms today announced an opportunity for biotechs to develop drugs in space.

Gov. Deval Patrick announced the so-called "Galactic Grant Competition" at the Boston Museum of Science. The competition is supported by the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center and the Center for the Advancement of Science in Space, a Florida-based nonprofit that promotes and manages the use of the International Space Station for experiments that could develop innovative new technology. Former astronaut Dan Tani, who performed a spacewalk on 2001 as part of a mission from the Space Shuttle Endeavor, accompanied Patrick.

Starting in December, Massachusetts-based companies will have the opportunity to apply to have life science experiments — including drug discovery, development, delivery, and diagnostics — conducted in the U.S. lab on the ISS. Up to $500,000 will be available to help pay for any projects from any life sciences company with operations in the Bay State, and another $50,000 will be invested in science, technology, engineering and mathematics education initiatives intended to "connect Massachusetts students to the ISS," according to a statement from MLSC.

The extremely light gravity onboard the ISS affects organisms from bacteria to humans, including at the genetic level and the formation of tissue. According to a the CASIS website, "studies of astronauts reveal a variety of spaceflight-induced health conditions, many of which may serve as models of ground-based ailments such as aging and trauma."

Applications will be accepted from Dec. 1 through April 3, 2015, with winners announced next July. Several information sessions are planned for three months starting in December for anyone interested in applying.

Comments

If you are commenting using a Facebook account, your profile information may be displayed with your comment depending on your privacy settings. By leaving the 'Post to Facebook' box selected, your comment will be published to your Facebook profile in addition to the space below.

Inside the Boston Business Journal

© 2014 American City Business Journals. All rights reserved. Use of this Site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement (updated 12/23/13) and Privacy Policy (updated 12/23/13).

Your California Privacy Rights.

The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of American City Business Journals.

Ad Choices.