The National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) are partnering to conduct biomedical experiments that astronauts could perform on the International Space Station (ISS). In a recent notice to scientists at universities, medical centers, and companies across the United States, the NIH announced its willingness to fund highly meritorious biomedical experiments that could utilize the unique environment in space and produce breakthroughs to improve human health on Earth. The NIH solicitation is the next step in a new partnership to apply the National Laboratory to research that complements NASA’s space exploration efforts. For more information on the announcement, go to the NIH Announcement website – http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PAR-09-120.html

In addition, NIH and NASA are organizing a BioMed-ISS pre-application/technical interchange meeting to inform prospective applicants about hardware and equipment already developed for use on the International Space Station (ISS). The meeting will also provide the prospective applicants with an opportunity to meet potential implementation partners that have experience preparing experiments for transportation to and implementation on the ISS. Although attendance at this meeting is not required, it is the most efficient way for investigators who are not familiar with ISS facilities to match their needs with existing research equipment and the implementing organizations familiar with spaceflight. NIH and NASA staff will be on site to explain the goals and objectives for the BioMed-ISS program and answer questions.

All prospective applicants are highly encouraged to attend in person, although teleconferencing access will also be available. Instructions for registration to attend the conference in person or by telephone are provided below.

BioMed-ISS Pre-Application Meeting Date and Time:
Tuesday, June 16, 2009, 8:00am to 4:00pm CST.

Location:
Gilruth Center, NASA/Johnson Space Center, Houston, TX

Registration Instructions:

There is no fee for participating in the Biomed-ISS Pre-Application Meeting in person or by telephone. However, all prospective applicants must pre-register by no later than Monday, June 1, 2009, 5:00pm CST. All implementation partners must pre-register by no later than Friday, May 8, 2009, 5:00pm CST.

To pre-register, please email your full name, title, affiliation, address, telephone number, fax number, email address and citizenship information to: JSC-ISS-PAYLOADS-HELPLINE@mail.nasa.gov and put “BioMed-ISS Pre-Application Meeting” in the subject field of your email. Please also indicate whether you will participate in person or via telephone. Do not mail registration information; paper registrations will not be accepted.

A meeting location map, hotel information and other late-breaking information will be provided to pre-registered “in-person” participants. Call-in information (toll-free for calls originating in the United States) and other late-breaking information will be provided to pre-registered “teleconferencing” participants. Slides and other information planned to be used at the meeting will be posted at http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/science/nlab/nlab_proposal.html by Friday, June 12, 2009, 5:00pm CST. Following the meeting, a video archive and a Q&A list from the meeting are planned to be posted at http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/science/nlab/nlab_proposal.html.

Inquiries

Interested applicants are encouraged to contact the NIAMS Program Staff Member below:

Elijah Weisberg, MSE
Lieutenant, USPHS
Research Program Analyst
National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases
E-mail: weisberge@mail.nih.gov
Phone: 301-594-5055

Interested implementation partners are encouraged to contact the ISS National Lab Office below:

Marybeth Edeen
ISS National Lab Office Manager
E-mail: marybeth.a.edeen@nasa.gov
Phone: 281-483-9122

For more information on the announcement, go to the NIH Announcement website – http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PAR-09-120.html
For more information on the meeting, go to the Pre Application Meeting Notice website – http://grants1.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-AR-10-020.html