Spaceflight causes changes in cell signaling pathways that are better understood only by increasing the analysis resolution level. In this project, we will deploy new technologies, i.e. spatial transcriptomics, single-nucleus RNA-sequencing, multi-omic spatial mapping (human and microbial), and systems biology algorithms to discover new insights relevant to the impact of spaceflight on human health. These data and methods will shed light on the complex biosystem dynamics that spaceflight causes in humans. We will be able to clearly dissect the gene expression changes occurring at the single-cell level, analyze how these changes affect the cell-cell genetic and physical interactions, and begin the first-ever in vivo human-microbial interaction maps from spaceflight. To do so we will conduct rigorous and cutting-edge omics analysis using two complementary platforms (10x Genomics Visium and Nanostring’s GeoMx) with six main rodent organs collected throughout several past spaceflight missions and their corresponding ground controls. Our integrated biology approach will allow us to understand physiological, anatomic, and molecular mechanisms of adaptation and response in animals to spaceflight.

For our organism-wide study we will leverage the extensive amount of samples collected throughout several Rodent Research (RR) missions which are accessible through the Life Sciences Data Repository (LSDA). Several of these specimens have already been allocated for Dr. Mason through LSDA. Our study will represent the first-of-its-kind in space biology and will provide foundational discoveries that will allow us to understand not only how astronaut conditions can be improved during spaceflight, but also how the changes induced by spaceflight can be translated into modern medicine to improve human health on Earth. Moreover, we will apply several statistical and machine learning techniques in order to predict changes induced by spaceflight at the organism level for future long-term missions.