On October 13, Mount Sinai's miBrains, 3D human brain tissue models derived from stem cells, launched to the International Space Station aboard SpaceX CRS-35. The study is led by our colleague Joel Blanchard, PhD, with co-investigators Miranda Yang, PhD, and Louise Mesentier-Louro, PhD, in partnership with NASA and Space Tango.
Spaceflight's microgravity and radiation produce changes that resemble accelerated aging, yet astronauts respond differently. The hypothesis is that genetics shapes how brain tissue responds to this stress. miBrains integrate neurons, glia and vascular cells, and the study aims to:
1. Identify biomarkers of space-induced brain injury.
2. Define how genetic risk factors such as APOE4 alter susceptibility.
3. Evaluate neuroprotective countermeasures.
The insights reach beyond astronauts to people on Earth, where aging and genetic risk converge in Alzheimer's disease. Proud to see the miBrain platform can fly. 🚀
Read about this Mount Sinai and NASA
Human brain tissue in orbit: what spaceflight can teach us about brain aging.
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