Responsible Center: NASA JSC
Grant Monitor: Meck, J@n
Center Contact: 281-244-5405 janice.v.meck@nasa.gov
Unique ID: 7626
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Solicitation / Funding Source: Directed Research
Grant/Contract No.: Directed Research
Project Type: FLIGHT
Flight Program: ISS
TechPort: No |
No. of Post Docs: 0
No. of PhD Candidates: 0
No. of Master's Candidates: 0
No. of Bachelor's Candidates: 0
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No. of PhD Degrees: 0
No. of Master's Degrees: 0
No. of Bachelor's Degrees: 0
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Human Research Program Elements: |
(1) SHFH:Space Human Factors & Habitability (archival in 2017)
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Human Research Program Risks: |
None
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Human Research Program Gaps: |
None
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Flight Assignment/Project Notes: |
ISS Increments 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18
NOTE: Change in end date to 12/31/2009 per JSC info (12/2009) |
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Task Description: |
Data gathered from past Space Shuttle missions suggest that some of the medications packed in the Shuttle's medical pack degrade even after relatively brief periods (less than 20 days) of space flight. The observed degradation included both physical and chemical characteristics of medicine formulations. The degradation was sufficient to influence FDA stipulated shelf-life for these formulations and may result in a loss of potency. Physical and chemical instability of medications could render treatments with degraded drugs ineffective for assurance of optimal crew health during long duration space exploration missions. An evaluation of subjective data on medications used by crewmembers during space flight indicated that eight percent of all treatments administered in the Space Shuttle program were reported ineffective. Pharmaceutical instability may modify effectiveness and safety, and is one possible cause of the ineffectiveness of treatments. Degradation of food products will also render them ineffective in providing health and energy sustenance. The stability of medications and foods used by the crew, therefore, must be adequate to facilitate safe exploration of space in the future. The Stability of Pharmacotherapeutic and Nutritional Compounds (Stability) investigation will evaluate mission critical medications and foods to understand issues relating loss of potency for medicines and to nutritional adequacy of foods in space.
See also http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/science/experiments/Stability.html |
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Research Impact/Earth Benefits: |
The results of this investigation will help understand the effects of adverse environments on food and medicines, this information will assist Earth based explorers make healthy choices for long term exploration of remote and adverse habitats like the Antarctic, arctic and the world oceans. |