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Project Title:  Effects of Acute and Protracted Galactic Cosmic Radiation on Bone Strength Reduce
Images: icon  Fiscal Year: FY 2024 
Division: Human Research 
Research Discipline/Element:
HRP SR:Space Radiation
 Start Date: 06/30/2021  
End Date: 04/14/2025  
Task Last Updated: 07/22/2024 		 Download Task Book report in PDF pdf
Principal Investigator/Affiliation:   Lau, Anthony G Ph.D. / College of New Jersey 
Address:  Department of Biomedical Engineering 
2000 Pennington Rd, P.O. Box 7718 
Ewing , NJ 08618-1104 		 Email: LauA@tcnj.edu 
Phone: 609-771-2644  
Congressional District: 12 
Web:  
 Organization Type: UNIVERSITY 
Organization Name: College of New Jersey 
Joint Agency:  
Comments: NOTE: As of Fall 2015, Dr. Lau is at The College of New Jersey. Previously at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill while NSBRI postdoc. 
Co-Investigator(s)
Affiliation: 
Davis, Catherine  Ph.D. Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences 
Project Information: Grant/Contract No. 80NSSC21K1506 
Responsible Center: NASA JSC 
Grant Monitor: Zawaski, Janice  
Center Contact:  
janice.zawaski@nasa.gov 
Unique ID: 14592  		Solicitation / Funding Source: 2020 HERO 80JSC019N0001-HFBP, OMNIBUS3 Crew Health: Human Factors and Behavioral Performance-Appendix E; Omnibus3-Appendix F 
Grant/Contract No.: 80NSSC21K1506 
Project Type: Ground 
Flight Program:  
TechPort: No  		No. of Post Docs: 1 
No. of PhD Candidates:  
No. of Master's Candidates:  
No. of Bachelor's Candidates: 7  		No. of PhD Degrees:  
No. of Master's Degrees:  
No. of Bachelor's Degrees: 3 
Human Research Program Elements: (1) SR:Space Radiation
Human Research Program Risks: (1) BMed:Risk of Adverse Cognitive or Behavioral Conditions and Psychiatric Disorders
(2) Bone Fracture:Risk of Bone Fracture due to Spaceflight-induced Changes to Bone
(3) Osteo:Risk Of Early Onset Osteoporosis Due To Spaceflight
Human Research Program Gaps: (1) BMed-102:Identify and characterize key C/P/Psy/N outcome measures (biomarkers) and domains of relevance that are at risk due to spaceflight environmental stressors in exploration class missions and determine validated thresholds for identified biomarkers of adverse C/P/Psy/N outcomes to enable mission objectives and identify indicators of risk before progression to clinical levels of impairment.
(2) BMed-103:Identify validated, evidence-based countermeasures to prevent or treat adverse C/P/Psy/N conditions caused by single or combined exposures to spaceflight environmental stressors.
(3) Osteo 4:We don't know the contribution of each risk factor on bone loss and recovery of bone strength, and which factors are the best targets for countermeasure application.
Flight Assignment/Project Notes: NOTE: End date changed to 04/14/2025 per NSSC information (Ed., 10/12/24).

NOTE: End date changed to 06/29/2024 per NSSC information (Ed., 7/20/23).

NOTE: End date changed to 06/30/2023 per NSSC information (Ed., 8/5/22).

Task Description: The exposure to ionizing space radiation can lead to damage of multiple biological tissue systems. The proposed work investigates degeneration of the central nervous system (CNS) and bone tissues from exposure to different does of simulated space radiation. Radiation is known to affect biological pathways that regulate both the CNS and bone. The objective of the proposed work to is to investigate the relationship between declines in cognitive function and declines from exposure to simulated space radiation, as well as to quantify these changes. The objectives will be addressed through animal studies exposing rats to acute and protracted (or fractionated) simulated galactic cosmic radiation and investigating the relationship between neurobehavioral deficits and bone degradation 7, 30, 90, and 180 days after radiation exposure.

This tissue sharing proposal is part of an on-going collaboration between Dr. Catherine Davis at Uniformed Services University, who is currently funded by NASA to investigate the cognitive degradation in rats exposed to space radiation. Our lab has been collecting the hind limbs from her studies to investigate the corresponding bone strength changes in these rats. Neurobehavioral assessments include odor recognition memory tests and sustained attention tests. A multi-length scale approach will be performed to assess the corresponding bone health changes. Bone health assessments include microstructural (microCT scans), material property (micro-indentation), and whole bone (3-point bending) evaluations of bone strength. Analysis will be performed on CNS and bone endpoint measurements to determine whether the neurobehavioral deficits are predictive of declines in bone strength. The work is significant to NASA’s goal for astronaut health during long duration spaceflight. Establishing a relationship between the CNS and bone response to radiation can provide valuable information for potential mechanisms and countermeasure targets for both systems.

In the 2023-2024 performance period, we are also exploring the effects of high dose head-only radiation in a mini-pig animal model.

Research Impact/Earth Benefits: This research provides new insights on how lower doses of ionizing radiation (<0.5 Gy) affects bone health and strength. The skeletal changes from these lower doses could be considered for exposure to clinical radiation for diagnostic (i.e. CT Scans) and radiation therapies.

Task Progress & Bibliography Information FY2024 
Task Progress: During the past reporting period, we have and are in the process of collecting the final cohort of subjects (radiation exposure Fall 2023 and Spring 2024). All biomechanical testing and material property testing has been completed for specimens that have been collected. There is a final 90-day timepoint to be collected August 2024 and 180-day time point to be collected in November 2024. Biomechanical tests will be performed as those specimens are collected.

While waiting for final cohort of subjects to be collected, we have been expanding the infrastructure in the lab through new equipment purchases. This includes a Hysitron TS77 Nanoindenter to perform smaller scale indentation tests on the bone, a Keyence VHX-7100 Digital Microscope to perform imaging of the cortical bone cross sections, and a Scanco uCT50 microCT Scanner, which is scheduled to be delivered August/September of 2024. MicroCT analysis and subsequent Finite Element Modeling for these final cohort of subjects will be performed during the Fall 2024 Semester once the microCT scanner is installed and online.

We have also been scaling up our analysis and equipment to perform biomechanical analyses on the hindlimb and cranial bones of minipigs exposed to high doses of head-only radiation as part of a costed-extension.

Bibliography: Description: (Last Updated: 03/30/2016) 

Show Cumulative Bibliography
 
 None in FY 2024
Back to Search Results    
Project Title:  Effects of Acute and Protracted Galactic Cosmic Radiation on Bone Strength Reduce
Images: icon  Fiscal Year: FY 2023 
Division: Human Research 
Research Discipline/Element:
HRP SR:Space Radiation
 Start Date: 06/30/2021  
End Date: 06/29/2024  
Task Last Updated: 06/30/2023 		 Download Task Book report in PDF pdf
Principal Investigator/Affiliation:   Lau, Anthony G Ph.D. / College of New Jersey 
Address:  Department of Biomedical Engineering 
2000 Pennington Rd, P.O. Box 7718 
Ewing , NJ 08618-1104 		 Email: LauA@tcnj.edu 
Phone: 609-771-2644  
Congressional District: 12 
Web:  
 Organization Type: UNIVERSITY 
Organization Name: College of New Jersey 
Joint Agency:  
Comments: NOTE: As of Fall 2015, Dr. Lau is at The College of New Jersey. Previously at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill while NSBRI postdoc. 
Co-Investigator(s)
Affiliation: 
Davis, Catherine  Ph.D. Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences 
Project Information: Grant/Contract No. 80NSSC21K1506 
Responsible Center: NASA JSC 
Grant Monitor: Zawaski, Janice  
Center Contact:  
janice.zawaski@nasa.gov 
Unique ID: 14592  		Solicitation / Funding Source: 2020 HERO 80JSC019N0001-HFBP, OMNIBUS3 Crew Health: Human Factors and Behavioral Performance-Appendix E; Omnibus3-Appendix F 
Grant/Contract No.: 80NSSC21K1506 
Project Type: Ground 
Flight Program:  
TechPort: No  		No. of Post Docs: 1 
No. of PhD Candidates:  
No. of Master's Candidates:  
No. of Bachelor's Candidates: 8  		No. of PhD Degrees:  
No. of Master's Degrees:  
No. of Bachelor's Degrees: 3 
Human Research Program Elements: (1) SR:Space Radiation
Human Research Program Risks: (1) BMed:Risk of Adverse Cognitive or Behavioral Conditions and Psychiatric Disorders
(2) Bone Fracture:Risk of Bone Fracture due to Spaceflight-induced Changes to Bone
(3) Osteo:Risk Of Early Onset Osteoporosis Due To Spaceflight
Human Research Program Gaps: (1) BMed-102:Identify and characterize key C/P/Psy/N outcome measures (biomarkers) and domains of relevance that are at risk due to spaceflight environmental stressors in exploration class missions and determine validated thresholds for identified biomarkers of adverse C/P/Psy/N outcomes to enable mission objectives and identify indicators of risk before progression to clinical levels of impairment.
(2) BMed-103:Identify validated, evidence-based countermeasures to prevent or treat adverse C/P/Psy/N conditions caused by single or combined exposures to spaceflight environmental stressors.
(3) Osteo 4:We don't know the contribution of each risk factor on bone loss and recovery of bone strength, and which factors are the best targets for countermeasure application.
Flight Assignment/Project Notes: NOTE: End date changed to 06/29/2024 per NSSC information (Ed., 7/20/23).

NOTE: End date changed to 06/30/2023 per NSSC information (Ed., 8/5/22).

Task Description: The exposure to ionizing space radiation can lead to damage of multiple biological tissue systems. The proposed work investigates degeneration of the central nervous system (CNS) and bone tissues from exposure to different does of simulated space radiation. Radiation is known to affect biological pathways that regulate both the CNS and bone. The objective of the proposed work to is to investigate the relationship between declines in cognitive function and declines from exposure to simulated space radiation, as well as to quantify these changes. The objectives will be addressed through animal studies exposing rats to acute and protracted (or fractionated) simulated galactic cosmic radiation and investigating the relationship between neurobehavioral deficits and bone degradation 7, 30, 90, and 180 days after radiation exposure.

This tissue sharing proposal is part of an on-going collaboration between Dr. Catherine Davis at Uniformed Services University, who is currently funded by NASA to investigate the cognitive degradation in rats exposed to space radiation. Our lab has been collecting the hind limbs from her studies to investigate the corresponding bone strength changes in these rats. Neurobehavioral assessments include odor recognition memory tests and sustained attention tests. A multi-length scale approach will be performed to assess the corresponding bone health changes. Bone health assessments include microstructural (microCT scans), material property (micro-indentation), and whole bone (3-point bending) evaluations of bone strength. Analysis will be performed on CNS and bone endpoint measurements to determine whether the neurobehavioral deficits are predictive of declines in bone strength. The work is significant to NASA’s goal for astronaut health during long duration spaceflight. Establishing a relationship between the CNS and bone response to radiation can provide valuable information for potential mechanisms and countermeasure targets for both systems.

Research Impact/Earth Benefits: This research provides new insights on how lower doses of ionizing radiation (<0.5 Gy) affects bone health and strength. The skeletal changes from these lower doses could be considered for exposure to clinical radiation for diagnostic (i.e. CT Scans) and radiation therapies.

Task Progress & Bibliography Information FY2023 
Task Progress: During the past reporting period, the bone analysis of the 180-day cohort of animals was performed and completed. Analysis is ongoing as additional animals are being added to this Galactic Cosmic Radiation (GCR) study with exposures tentatively scheduled for Fall of 2023 and Spring of 2024.

Animals from an Acute and Protracted Proton Exposure Cohort have been collected at 7, 30, 90, and 180 days after exposure, with biomechanical analysis ongoing.

Bibliography: Description: (Last Updated: 03/30/2016) 

Show Cumulative Bibliography
 
 None in FY 2023
Back to Search Results    
Project Title:  Effects of Acute and Protracted Galactic Cosmic Radiation on Bone Strength Reduce
Images: icon  Fiscal Year: FY 2022 
Division: Human Research 
Research Discipline/Element:
HRP SR:Space Radiation
 Start Date: 06/30/2021  
End Date: 06/30/2023  
Task Last Updated: 07/07/2022 		 Download Task Book report in PDF pdf
Principal Investigator/Affiliation:   Lau, Anthony G Ph.D. / College of New Jersey 
Address:  Department of Biomedical Engineering 
2000 Pennington Rd, P.O. Box 7718 
Ewing , NJ 08618-1104 		 Email: LauA@tcnj.edu 
Phone: 609-771-2644  
Congressional District: 12 
Web:  
 Organization Type: UNIVERSITY 
Organization Name: College of New Jersey 
Joint Agency:  
Comments: NOTE: As of Fall 2015, Dr. Lau is at The College of New Jersey. Previously at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill while NSBRI postdoc. 
Co-Investigator(s)
Affiliation: 
Davis, Catherine  Ph.D. Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences 
Project Information: Grant/Contract No. 80NSSC21K1506 
Responsible Center: NASA JSC 
Grant Monitor: Zawaski, Janice  
Center Contact:  
janice.zawaski@nasa.gov 
Unique ID: 14592  		Solicitation / Funding Source: 2020 HERO 80JSC019N0001-HFBP, OMNIBUS3 Crew Health: Human Factors and Behavioral Performance-Appendix E; Omnibus3-Appendix F 
Grant/Contract No.: 80NSSC21K1506 
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: 5  		No. of PhD Degrees:  
No. of Master's Degrees:  
No. of Bachelor's Degrees: 4 
Human Research Program Elements: (1) SR:Space Radiation
Human Research Program Risks: (1) BMed:Risk of Adverse Cognitive or Behavioral Conditions and Psychiatric Disorders
(2) Bone Fracture:Risk of Bone Fracture due to Spaceflight-induced Changes to Bone
(3) Osteo:Risk Of Early Onset Osteoporosis Due To Spaceflight
Human Research Program Gaps: (1) BMed-102:Identify and characterize key C/P/Psy/N outcome measures (biomarkers) and domains of relevance that are at risk due to spaceflight environmental stressors in exploration class missions and determine validated thresholds for identified biomarkers of adverse C/P/Psy/N outcomes to enable mission objectives and identify indicators of risk before progression to clinical levels of impairment.
(2) BMed-103:Identify validated, evidence-based countermeasures to prevent or treat adverse C/P/Psy/N conditions caused by single or combined exposures to spaceflight environmental stressors.
(3) Osteo 4:We don't know the contribution of each risk factor on bone loss and recovery of bone strength, and which factors are the best targets for countermeasure application.
Flight Assignment/Project Notes: NOTE: End date changed to 06/30/2023 per NSSC information (Ed., 8/5/22).

Task Description: The exposure to ionizing space radiation can lead to damage of multiple biological tissue systems. The proposed work investigates degeneration of the central nervous system (CNS) and bone tissues from exposure to different does of simulated space radiation. Radiation is known to affect biological pathways that regulate both the CNS and bone. The objective of the proposed work to is to investigate the relationship between declines in cognitive function and declines from exposure to simulated space radiation, as well as to quantify these changes. The objectives will be addressed through animal studies exposing rats to acute and protracted (or fractionated) simulated galactic cosmic radiation and investigating the relationship between neurobehavioral deficits and bone degradation 7, 30, 90, and 180 days after radiation exposure.

This tissue sharing proposal is part of an on-going collaboration between Dr. Catherine Davis at Uniformed Services University, who is currently funded by NASA to investigate the cognitive degradation in rats exposed to space radiation. Our lab has been collecting the hind limbs from her studies to investigate the corresponding bone strength changes in these rats. Neurobehavioral assessments include odor recognition memory tests and sustained attention tests. A multi-length scale approach will be performed to assess the corresponding bone health changes. Bone health assessments include microstructural (microCT scans), material property (micro-indentation), and whole bone (3-point bending) evaluations of bone strength. Analysis will be performed on CNS and bone endpoint measurements to determine whether the neurobehavioral deficits are predictive of declines in bone strength. The work is significant to NASA’s goal for astronaut health during long duration spaceflight. Establishing a relationship between the CNS and bone response to radiation can provide valuable information for potential mechanisms and countermeasure targets for both systems.

Research Impact/Earth Benefits: This research provides new insights on how lower doses of ionizing radiation (<0.5 Gy) affects bone health and strength. The skeletal changes from these lower doses could be considered for exposure to clinical radiation for diagnostic (i.e. CT Scans) and radiation therapies.

Task Progress & Bibliography Information FY2022 
Task Progress: During the past reporting period, the bone analysis of the 7, 30, and 90-day cohort of animals were performed. The microCT scans and biomechanical testing for these cohorts have been completed. Quantitative microCT analysis, Finite Element analysis, and microindentation are still ongoing. The 180-day cohort of animals have all been collected and the microCT scans for these final 60 specimens are ongoing. The quantitative microCT analysis and Finite Element analysis for this cohort will begin once all the microCT scans have been completed. Biomechanical testing has been completed on the 180-day cohort of animals and microindentation has been started.

Bibliography: Description: (Last Updated: 03/30/2016) 

Show Cumulative Bibliography
 
 None in FY 2022
Back to Search Results    
Project Title:  Effects of Acute and Protracted Galactic Cosmic Radiation on Bone Strength Reduce
Images: icon  Fiscal Year: FY 2021 
Division: Human Research 
Research Discipline/Element:
HRP SR:Space Radiation
 Start Date: 06/30/2021  
End Date: 06/29/2022  
Task Last Updated: 09/09/2021 		 Download Task Book report in PDF pdf
Principal Investigator/Affiliation:   Lau, Anthony G Ph.D. / College of New Jersey 
Address:  Department of Biomedical Engineering 
2000 Pennington Rd, P.O. Box 7718 
Ewing , NJ 08618-1104 		 Email: LauA@tcnj.edu 
Phone: 609-771-2644  
Congressional District: 12 
Web:  
 Organization Type: UNIVERSITY 
Organization Name: College of New Jersey 
Joint Agency:  
Comments: NOTE: As of Fall 2015, Dr. Lau is at The College of New Jersey. Previously at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill while NSBRI postdoc. 
Co-Investigator(s)
Affiliation: 
Davis, Catherine  Ph.D. Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences 
Project Information: Grant/Contract No. 80NSSC21K1506 
Responsible Center: NASA JSC 
Grant Monitor: Zawaski, Janice  
Center Contact:  
janice.zawaski@nasa.gov 
Unique ID: 14592  		Solicitation / Funding Source: 2020 HERO 80JSC019N0001-HFBP, OMNIBUS3 Crew Health: Human Factors and Behavioral Performance-Appendix E; Omnibus3-Appendix F 
Grant/Contract No.: 80NSSC21K1506 
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) SR:Space Radiation
Human Research Program Risks: (1) BMed:Risk of Adverse Cognitive or Behavioral Conditions and Psychiatric Disorders
(2) Bone Fracture:Risk of Bone Fracture due to Spaceflight-induced Changes to Bone
(3) Osteo:Risk Of Early Onset Osteoporosis Due To Spaceflight
Human Research Program Gaps: (1) BMed-102:Identify and characterize key C/P/Psy/N outcome measures (biomarkers) and domains of relevance that are at risk due to spaceflight environmental stressors in exploration class missions and determine validated thresholds for identified biomarkers of adverse C/P/Psy/N outcomes to enable mission objectives and identify indicators of risk before progression to clinical levels of impairment.
(2) BMed-103:Identify validated, evidence-based countermeasures to prevent or treat adverse C/P/Psy/N conditions caused by single or combined exposures to spaceflight environmental stressors.
(3) Osteo 4:We don't know the contribution of each risk factor on bone loss and recovery of bone strength, and which factors are the best targets for countermeasure application.
Task Description: The exposure to ionizing space radiation can lead to damage of multiple biological tissue systems. The proposed work investigates degeneration of the central nervous system (CNS) and bone tissues from exposure to different does of simulated space radiation. Radiation is known to affect biological pathways that regulate both the CNS and bone. The objective of the proposed work to is to investigate the relationship between declines in cognitive function and declines from exposure to simulated space radiation, as well as to quantify these changes. The objectives will be addressed through animal studies exposing rats to acute and protracted (or fractionated) simulated galactic cosmic radiation and investigating the relationship between neurobehavioral deficits and bone degradation 7, 30, 90, and 180 days after radiation exposure.

This tissue sharing proposal is part of an on-going collaboration between Dr. Catherine Davis at Uniformed Services University, who is currently funded by NASA to investigate the cognitive degradation in rats exposed to space radiation. Our lab has been collecting the hind limbs from her studies to investigate the corresponding bone strength changes in these rats. Neurobehavioral assessments include odor recognition memory tests and sustained attention tests. A multi-length scale approach will be performed to assess the corresponding bone health changes. Bone health assessments include microstructural (microCT scans), material property (micro-indentation), and whole bone (3-point bending) evaluations of bone strength. Analysis will be performed on CNS and bone endpoint measurements to determine whether the neurobehavioral deficits are predictive of declines in bone strength. The work is significant to NASA’s goal for astronaut health during long duration spaceflight. Establishing a relationship between the CNS and bone response to radiation can provide valuable information for potential mechanisms and countermeasure targets for both systems.

Research Impact/Earth Benefits:

Task Progress & Bibliography Information FY2021 
Task Progress: New project for FY2021.

Bibliography: Description: (Last Updated: 03/30/2016) 

Show Cumulative Bibliography
 
 None in FY 2021
Back to Search Results