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Project Title:  Mechanical and Gravitational Countermeasures to Ocular Changes During Strict Head-Down Tilt Bedrest Reduce
Images: icon  Fiscal Year: FY 2022 
Division: Human Research 
Research Discipline/Element:
HRP HHC:Human Health Countermeasures
Start Date: 08/21/2020  
End Date: 08/01/2022  
Task Last Updated: 06/21/2022 
Download report in PDF pdf
Principal Investigator/Affiliation:   Marshall-Goebel, Karina  Ph.D. / NASA Johnson Space Center 
Address:  Mail Code SK111 
2101 NASA Parkway 
Houston , TX 77058 
Email: Karina.j.marshallgoebel@nasa.gov  
Phone: 281-792-9996  
Congressional District: 36 
Web:  
Organization Type: NASA CENTER 
Organization Name: NASA Johnson Space Center 
Joint Agency:  
Comments: New affiliation as of spring 2022: NASA Johnson Space Center; Human Physiology, Performance, Protection & Operations (H-3PO) Laboratory New affiliation as of fall 2018: KBR/NASA Johnson Space Center, Cardiovascular and Vision Laboratory, Houston; previously at Massachusetts General Hospital 
Co-Investigator(s)
Affiliation: 
Brunstetter, Tyson  O.D., Ph.D. NASA Johnson Space Center 
Huang, Alex  M.D., Ph.D. Doheny Eye Institute 
Kramer, Larry  M.D. University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston 
Laurie, Steven  Ph.D. KBR/NASA Johnson Space Center 
Lee, Stuart  Ph.D. KBR/NASA Johnson Space Center 
Lovering, Andrew  Ph.D. University of Oregon 
Martin, Bryn  Ph.D. Alcyone Therapeutics Inc. 
Young, Millennia  Ph.D. NASA Johnson Space Center 
Lytle, Jason  KBR/NASA Johnson Space Center 
Pardon, Laura  KBR/NASA Johnson Space Center 
Macias, Brandon  Ph.D. NASA Johnson Space Center 
Greenwald, Scott  KBR/NASA Johnson Space Center 
Key Personnel Changes / Previous PI: NOTE: P.I. changed to B. Macias effective 08/26/2022. For subsequent reporting, please see "Mechanical and Gravitational Countermeasures to Ocular Changes During Strict Head-Down Tilt Bedrest (PI: Macias)". (Ed. 8/30/2022) June 2022 report: CoInvestigators Alan Hargens, Jessica Jasien, and Benjamin Levine are no longer with the project (Ed., 7/22/22).
Project Information: Grant/Contract No. Directed Research 
Responsible Center: NASA JSC 
Grant Monitor: Stenger, Michael  
Center Contact: 281-483-1311 
michael.b.stenger@nasa.gov 
Unique ID: 14317 
Solicitation / Funding Source: Directed Research 
Grant/Contract No.: Directed Research 
Project Type: GROUND 
Flight Program:  
TechPort: No 
No. of Post Docs:
No. of PhD Candidates:
No. of Master's Candidates:
No. of Bachelor's Candidates:
No. of PhD Degrees:
No. of Master's Degrees:
No. of Bachelor's Degrees:
Human Research Program Elements: (1) HHC:Human Health Countermeasures
Human Research Program Risks: (1) SANS:Risk of Spaceflight Associated Neuro-ocular Syndrome (SANS)
Human Research Program Gaps: (1) SANS-302:Test mechanical countermeasures in a strict bed rest analog.
(2) SANS-401:Test non-mechanical countermeasures in a strict bed rest analog.
Flight Assignment/Project Notes: End date changed to 08/01/2022 as Dr. Brandon Macias took over this project in August 2022. Original end date was 08/20/2024 (Ed., 8/30/22)

Task Description: The Spaceflight Associated Neuro-ocular Syndrome (SANS) is associated with structural and functional ocular and brain changes and develops in ~2/3rds of astronauts during long-duration spaceflight. Although the etiology of SANS is unknown, a weightlessness-driven headward fluid redistribution relative to the upright position on Earth is hypothesized to be a primary initiating factor. A countermeasure that can successfully reverse this headward fluid shift for multiple hours per day may be needed to prevent SANS. Exposure to 30 days of the spaceflight analog strict 6 degree head-down tilt (HDT) bedrest induces the development of optic disc edema, a hallmark sign of SANS, in 2/3 of subjects; thus, NASA will utilize this platform to test the effectiveness of various countermeasures to prevent or reduce the development of SANS findings. This study will include a control group exposed to 30 days of strict 6 degree HDT. A second group of subjects will be exposed to 6 hours of 25 mmHg lower body negative pressure (LBNP), daily, during 30 days of strict 6 degree HDT bedrest. A third group of subjects will be exposed to 6 hours of upright posture per day, and 6 degree HDT for the remaining 18 h/day. This will help determine if daily exposure to 6 hours total of upright posture, fully reversing the headward fluid for the same duration of use as the LBNP group, is sufficient to prevent SANS findings, and thus can direct future countermeasure studies with respect to the duration needed to successfully prevent SANS. We will assess multiple cerebral, vascular, and ocular outcome measures to determine the effects of 30 days strict 6 degree HDT bedrest, and the ability of daily 6 hour exposure to LBNP or upright positioning to prevent these changes.

Specific Aims:

1. To determine if daily exposure to actual (upright posture) and simulated (LBNP) hydrostatic pressure gradients prevents ocular and cerebral structural changes during 30 days of strict 6° head-down tilt bedrest.

2. To determine if daily exposure to actual (upright posture) and simulated (LBNP) hydrostatic pressure gradients prevents ocular functional changes during 30 days of strict 6° head-down tilt bedrest.

3. To determine if daily exposure to actual (upright posture) and simulated (LBNP) hydrostatic pressure gradients prevents vascular and cerebrospinal fluid changes during 30 days of strict 6° head-down tilt bedrest.

This bedrest study will be implemented in the :envihab facility at the German Aerospace Center (DLR) in Cologne, Germany.

Rationale for HRP Directed Research: The Element recommended this task be implemented as a directed task due to the highly constrained nature of this research, which brings to maturation work that was recently completed in a precursor study (the Venous Congestion Countermeasure Study, VCCM). In the VCCM study, this combined team of investigators, comprised of Johnson Space Center (JSC) personnel and external experts, tested different combinations of mechanical countermeasures in a laboratory setting of acute posture changes in order to determine the most efficacious mechanical countermeasure. The identified countermeasure now needs to be tested on subjects exposed to 30-days of strict 6º head-down tilt (HDT) bedrest, with an expectation that this will ultimately lead to testing of the countermeasure during spaceflight. Time constraints are a secondary rationale, as the bedrest study is slated to start in the spring of 2021, and NASA’s Research Operations Integration Element requires the proposed science immediately in order to finalize implementation.

Research Impact/Earth Benefits: Data collection has been completed for campaigns 1 (September-November 2021) and 2 (January-March 2022) of this bedrest study (n = 23, including 12 LBNP countermeasure subjects and 11 upright posture countermeasure subjects).

In this reporting period, personnel from the Cardiovascular and Vision Laboratory (CVL) traveled to the German Aerospace Center (DLR) to provide in-person training sessions to DLR staff and to oversee baseline data collection (BDC) on the 12 subjects who participated in the first campaign of the study. Due to unforeseen issues with the Dynamic Vessel Analyzer (DVA) hardware that resulted in the company being unable to train DLR staff prior to BDC as planned, a CVL team member collected all BDC data on the 12 subjects and then returned to DLR on an additional unplanned trip to collect recovery day 2 data (R+2) and continue training DLR staff to perform DVA measurements so that they could successfully collect data on R+12. Data analysis for campaign 1 (n=6 LBNP subjects, n=6 upright posture countermeasure subjects) is complete; data analysis for campaign 2 is ongoing (n=6 LBNP subjects, n=5 upright posture countermeasure subjects). In addition to the originally planned data analyses, we supported the analysis of lower body negative pressure (LBNP) environmental and physiological data. We also streamlined the data analysis workflow to improve efficiency of data organization and subsequent analysis for the large volume of data generated in the study.

Task Progress & Bibliography Information FY2022 
Task Progress: NOTE: P.I. changed to B. Macias effective 08/26/2022. For subsequent reporting, please see "Mechanical and Gravitational Countermeasures to Ocular Changes During Strict Head-Down Tilt Bedrest (PI: Macias)". (Ed. 8/30/2022)

June 2022 Report:

Data collection has been completed for campaigns 1 (September-November 2021) and 2 (January-March 2022) of this bedrest study (n = 23, including 12 LBNP countermeasure subjects and 11 upright posture countermeasure subjects).

In this reporting period, personnel from the Cardiovascular and Vision Laboratory (CVL) traveled to the German Aerospace Center (DLR) to provide in-person training sessions to DLR staff and to oversee baseline data collection (BDC) on the 12 subjects who participated in the first campaign of the study. Due to unforeseen issues with the Dynamic Vessel Analyzer (DVA) hardware that resulted in the company being unable to train DLR staff prior to BDC as planned, a CVL team member collected all BDC data on the 12 subjects and then returned to DLR on an additional unplanned trip to collect recovery day 2 data (R+2) and continue training DLR staff to perform DVA measurements so that they could successfully collect data on R+12. Data analysis for campaign 1 (n=6 LBNP subjects, n=6 upright posture countermeasure subjects) is complete; data analysis for campaign 2 is ongoing (n=6 LBNP subjects, n=5 upright posture countermeasure subjects). In addition to the originally planned data analyses, we supported the analysis of lower body negative pressure (LBNP) environmental and physiological data. We also streamlined the data analysis workflow to improve efficiency of data organization and subsequent analysis for the large volume of data generated in the study.

Bibliography: Description: (Last Updated: 10/29/2023) 

Show Cumulative Bibliography
 
 None in FY 2022
Project Title:  Mechanical and Gravitational Countermeasures to Ocular Changes During Strict Head-Down Tilt Bedrest Reduce
Images: icon  Fiscal Year: FY 2021 
Division: Human Research 
Research Discipline/Element:
HRP HHC:Human Health Countermeasures
Start Date: 08/21/2020  
End Date: 08/20/2024  
Task Last Updated: 07/06/2021 
Download report in PDF pdf
Principal Investigator/Affiliation:   Marshall-Goebel, Karina  Ph.D. / NASA Johnson Space Center 
Address:  Mail Code SK111 
2101 NASA Parkway 
Houston , TX 77058 
Email: Karina.j.marshallgoebel@nasa.gov  
Phone: 281-792-9996  
Congressional District: 36 
Web:  
Organization Type: NASA CENTER 
Organization Name: NASA Johnson Space Center 
Joint Agency:  
Comments: New affiliation as of spring 2022: NASA Johnson Space Center; Human Physiology, Performance, Protection & Operations (H-3PO) Laboratory New affiliation as of fall 2018: KBR/NASA Johnson Space Center, Cardiovascular and Vision Laboratory, Houston; previously at Massachusetts General Hospital 
Co-Investigator(s)
Affiliation: 
Brunstetter, Tyson  O.D., Ph.D. NASA Johnson Space Center 
Greenwald, Scott  Ph.D. KBR/NASA Johnson Space Center 
Hargens, Alan  Ph.D. University of California, San Diego 
Huang, Alex  M.D., Ph.D. Doheny Eye Institute 
Kramer, Larry  M.D. University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston 
Laurie, Steven  Ph.D. KBR/NASA Johnson Space Center 
Lee, Stuart  Ph.D. KBR/NASA Johnson Space Center 
Levine, Benjamin  M.D. University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center 
Lovering, Andrew  Ph.D. University of Oregon 
Macias, Brandon  Ph.D. NASA Johnson Space Center 
Martin, Bryn  Ph.D. Alcyone Therapeutics Inc. 
Young, Millennia  Ph.D. NASA Johnson Space Center 
Lytle, Jason  KBR/NASA Johnson Space Center 
Jasien, Jessica  KBR/NASA Johnson Space Center 
Pardon, Laura  KBR/NASA Johnson Space Center 
Key Personnel Changes / Previous PI: July 2021 report: Jason Lytle, Jessica Jasien, and Laura Pardon were added as co-investigators to this project.
Project Information: Grant/Contract No. Directed Research 
Responsible Center: NASA JSC 
Grant Monitor: Stenger, Michael  
Center Contact: 281-483-1311 
michael.b.stenger@nasa.gov 
Unique ID: 14317 
Solicitation / Funding Source: Directed Research 
Grant/Contract No.: Directed Research 
Project Type: GROUND 
Flight Program:  
TechPort: No 
No. of Post Docs:  
No. of PhD Candidates:  
No. of Master's Candidates:  
No. of Bachelor's Candidates:  
No. of PhD Degrees:  
No. of Master's Degrees:  
No. of Bachelor's Degrees:  
Human Research Program Elements: (1) HHC:Human Health Countermeasures
Human Research Program Risks: (1) SANS:Risk of Spaceflight Associated Neuro-ocular Syndrome (SANS)
Human Research Program Gaps: (1) SANS-302:Test mechanical countermeasures in a strict bed rest analog.
(2) SANS-401:Test non-mechanical countermeasures in a strict bed rest analog.
Task Description: The Spaceflight Associated Neuro-ocular Syndrome (SANS) is associated with structural and functional ocular and brain changes and develops in ~2/3rds of astronauts during long-duration spaceflight. Although the etiology of SANS is unknown, a weightlessness-driven headward fluid redistribution relative to the upright position on Earth is hypothesized to be a primary initiating factor. A countermeasure that can successfully reverse this headward fluid shift for multiple hours per day may be needed to prevent SANS. Exposure to 30 days of the spaceflight analog strict 6 degree head-down tilt (HDT) bedrest induces the development of optic disc edema, a hallmark sign of SANS, in 2/3 of subjects; thus, NASA will utilize this platform to test the effectiveness of various countermeasures to prevent or reduce the development of SANS findings. This study will include a control group exposed to 30 days of strict 6 degree HDT. A second group of subjects will be exposed to 6 hours of 25 mmHg lower body negative pressure (LBNP), daily, during 30 days of strict 6 degree HDT bedrest. A third group of subjects will be exposed to 6 hours of upright posture per day, and 6 degree HDT for the remaining 18 h/day. This will help determine if daily exposure to 6 hours total of upright posture, fully reversing the headward fluid for the same duration of use as the LBNP group, is sufficient to prevent SANS findings, and thus can direct future countermeasure studies with respect to the duration needed to successfully prevent SANS. We will assess multiple cerebral, vascular, and ocular outcome measures to determine the effects of 30 days strict 6 degree HDT bedrest, and the ability of daily 6 hour exposure to LBNP or upright positioning to prevent these changes.

Specific Aims:

1. To determine if daily exposure to actual (upright posture) and simulated (LBNP) hydrostatic pressure gradients prevents ocular and cerebral structural changes during 30 days of strict 6° head-down tilt bedrest.

2. To determine if daily exposure to actual (upright posture) and simulated (LBNP) hydrostatic pressure gradients prevents ocular functional changes during 30 days of strict 6° head-down tilt bedrest.

3. To determine if daily exposure to actual (upright posture) and simulated (LBNP) hydrostatic pressure gradients prevents vascular and cerebrospinal fluid changes during 30 days of strict 6° head-down tilt bedrest.

This bedrest study will be implemented in the :envihab facility at the German Aerospace Center (DLR) in Cologne, Germany.

Rationale for HRP Directed Research: The Element recommended this task be implemented as a directed task due to the highly constrained nature of this research, which brings to maturation work that was recently completed in a precursor study (the Venous Congestion Countermeasure Study, VCCM). In the VCCM study, this combined team of investigators, comprised of Johnson Space Center (JSC) personnel and external experts, tested different combinations of mechanical countermeasures in a laboratory setting of acute posture changes in order to determine the most efficacious mechanical countermeasure. The identified countermeasure now needs to be tested on subjects exposed to 30-days of strict 6º head-down tilt (HDT) bedrest, with an expectation that this will ultimately lead to testing of the countermeasure during spaceflight. Time constraints are a secondary rationale, as the bedrest study is slated to start in the spring of 2021, and NASA’s Research Operations Integration Element requires the proposed science immediately in order to finalize implementation.

Research Impact/Earth Benefits:

Task Progress & Bibliography Information FY2021 
Task Progress: In this reporting period, we have coordinated with the Research Operations and Integration element to develop the Integrated Research Document that describes the study schedule and implementation, procured hardware and consumables, shipped equipment to the DLR (targeted delivery to DLR by August 2021), developed and prepared study protocols, developed and prepared training materials for the DLR, and intend to hold multiple virtual training sessions with the DLR staff by the end of this reporting period. Additional preparations and training materials have been developed to support the virtual nature of the trainings with DLR. Furthermore, we have modified and tested our ultrasound and optical coherence tomography data analysis programs to accommodate the SANS bedrest study design for data analysis. We have obtained NASA Institutional Review Board (IRB) approval and anticipate completing multiple human-in-the-loop trainings and dry run experiments with the DLR prior to the first campaign of the study.

The first campaign of this bedrest study (n=12) is scheduled to begin data collection in September 2021 and end in November 2021.

Bibliography: Description: (Last Updated: 10/29/2023) 

Show Cumulative Bibliography
 
Abstracts for Journals and Proceedings Marshall-Goebel K, Laurie S, Lee S. Greenwald S, Pardon L, Lovering A, Huang A, Martin B, Brunstetter T, Young M, Levine B, Hargens A, Kramer L, Macias B. "Mechanical and Gravitational Countermeasures to Ocular Changes during Strict Head-Down Tilt Bedrest." Poster presentation. 2021 NASA Human Research Program Investigators’ Workshop, Virtual, February 1-4, 2021.

Abstracts. 2021 NASA Human Research Program Investigators’ Workshop, Virtual, February 1-4, 2021. , Feb-2021

Project Title:  Mechanical and Gravitational Countermeasures to Ocular Changes During Strict Head-Down Tilt Bedrest Reduce
Images: icon  Fiscal Year: FY 2020 
Division: Human Research 
Research Discipline/Element:
HRP HHC:Human Health Countermeasures
Start Date: 08/21/2020  
End Date: 08/20/2024  
Task Last Updated: 03/17/2021 
Download report in PDF pdf
Principal Investigator/Affiliation:   Marshall-Goebel, Karina  Ph.D. / NASA Johnson Space Center 
Address:  Mail Code SK111 
2101 NASA Parkway 
Houston , TX 77058 
Email: Karina.j.marshallgoebel@nasa.gov  
Phone: 281-792-9996  
Congressional District: 36 
Web:  
Organization Type: NASA CENTER 
Organization Name: NASA Johnson Space Center 
Joint Agency:  
Comments: New affiliation as of spring 2022: NASA Johnson Space Center; Human Physiology, Performance, Protection & Operations (H-3PO) Laboratory New affiliation as of fall 2018: KBR/NASA Johnson Space Center, Cardiovascular and Vision Laboratory, Houston; previously at Massachusetts General Hospital 
Co-Investigator(s)
Affiliation: 
Brunstetter, Tyson  O.D., Ph.D. NASA Johnson Space Center 
Greenwald, Scott  Ph.D. KBR/NASA Johnson Space Center 
Hargens, Alan  Ph.D. University of California, San Diego 
Huang, Alex  M.D., Ph.D. Doheny Eye Institute 
Kramer, Larry  M.D. University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston 
Laurie, Steven  Ph.D. KBR/NASA Johnson Space Center 
Lee, Stuart  Ph.D. KBR/NASA Johnson Space Center 
Levine, Benjamin  M.D. University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center 
Lovering, Andrew  Ph.D. University of Oregon 
Macias, Brandon  Ph.D. NASA Johnson Space Center 
Martin, Bryn  Ph.D. University of Idaho 
Young, Millennia  Ph.D. NASA Johnson Space Center 
Project Information: Grant/Contract No. Directed Research 
Responsible Center: NASA JSC 
Grant Monitor: Stenger, Michael  
Center Contact: 281-483-1311 
michael.b.stenger@nasa.gov 
Unique ID: 14317 
Solicitation / Funding Source: Directed Research 
Grant/Contract No.: Directed Research 
Project Type: GROUND 
Flight Program:  
TechPort: No 
No. of Post Docs:  
No. of PhD Candidates:  
No. of Master's Candidates:  
No. of Bachelor's Candidates:  
No. of PhD Degrees:  
No. of Master's Degrees:  
No. of Bachelor's Degrees:  
Human Research Program Elements: (1) HHC:Human Health Countermeasures
Human Research Program Risks: (1) SANS:Risk of Spaceflight Associated Neuro-ocular Syndrome (SANS)
Human Research Program Gaps: (1) SANS-302:Test mechanical countermeasures in a strict bed rest analog.
(2) SANS-401:Test non-mechanical countermeasures in a strict bed rest analog.
Task Description: The Spaceflight Associated Neuro-ocular Syndrome (SANS) is associated with structural and functional ocular and brain changes and develops in ~2/3rds of astronauts during long-duration spaceflight. Although the etiology of SANS is unknown, a weightlessness-driven headward fluid redistribution relative to the upright position on Earth is hypothesized to be a primary initiating factor. A countermeasure that can successfully reverse this headward fluid shift for multiple hours per day is needed to prevent SANS. Exposure to 30 days of strict 6 degree head-down tilt (HDT) bedrest has been shown to result in optic disc edema, a hallmark sign of SANS in 2/3rds of subjects and thus, NASA will utilize this platform to test various countermeasures for SANS. This study will include a control group exposed to 30 days of strict 6 degree HDT, and a posture control group that is upright during the day and supine at night. Another group of subjects will be exposed to 6 hours of 25 mmHg lower body negative pressure (LBNP), daily, during 30 days of strict 6 degree HDT bedrest. An additional group of subjects will be exposed to 6 hours of upright posture per day, and 6 degree HDT for the remaining 18 h/day to determine if daily exposure to 6 hours total of upright posture, the equivalent of a gold standard countermeasure, is sufficient to prevent SANS, and thus can direct future countermeasure studies with respect to the duration needed to successfully prevent SANS. We will assess multiple cerebral, vascular, and ocular outcome measures to determine the effects of 30 days strict 6 degree HDT bedrest, and the ability of daily 6 hour exposure to LBNP or upright positioning to prevent these changes.

Specific Aims: 1. To determine if daily exposure to actual (upright posture) and simulated (LBNP) hydrostatic pressure gradients prevents ocular and cerebral structural changes during 30 days of strict 6° head-down tilt bedrest.

2. To determine if daily exposure to actual (upright posture) and simulated (LBNP) hydrostatic pressure gradients prevents ocular functional changes during 30 days of strict 6° head-down tilt bedrest.

3. To determine if daily exposure to actual (upright posture) and simulated (LBNP) hydrostatic pressure gradients prevents vascular and cerebrospinal fluid changes during 30 days of strict 6° head-down tilt bedrest.

This bedrest study will be implemented in the envihab facility at the German Aerospace Center (DLR) in Cologne, Germany.

Rationale for HRP Directed Research: The Element recommended this task be implemented as a directed task due to the highly constrained nature of this research, which brings to maturation work that was recently completed in a precursor study (the Venous Congestion Countermeasure Study, VCCM). In the VCCM study, this combined team of investigators, comprised of Johnson Space Center (JSC) personnel and external experts, tested different combinations of mechanical countermeasures in a laboratory setting of acute posture changes in order to determine the most efficacious mechanical countermeasure. The identified countermeasure now needs to be tested on subjects exposed to 30-days of strict 6º head-down tilt (HDT) bedrest, with an expectation that this will ultimately lead to testing of the countermeasure during spaceflight. Time constraints are a secondary rationale, as the bedrest study is slated to start in the spring of 2021, and NASA’s Research Operations Integration Element requires the proposed science immediately in order to finalize implementation.

Research Impact/Earth Benefits:

Task Progress & Bibliography Information FY2020 
Task Progress: New project for FY2020.

Bibliography: Description: (Last Updated: 10/29/2023) 

Show Cumulative Bibliography
 
 None in FY 2020