NASA astronaut Kjell Lindgren will talk via live downlink transmission from the International Space Station (ISS) to attendees at the world’s largest biomedical conference on Tuesday, June 14. This unique conversation will highlight opportunities for biomedical research in a space-based environment and what the future could hold for utilizing space to improve drug discovery and therapeutic development for patients on Earth.
This downlink, held in conjunction with NASA and the ISS National Laboratory, will connect some of the greatest minds in life science research with one of humankind’s greatest technical and research platforms, the ISS, at the BIO International Convention in San Diego, being held June 13-16, 2022.
Lindgren, who is board-certified in emergency medicine, and Jennifer Strong, editorial director of audio and live for MIT Technology Review, will deep dive into how the ISS can support life science research to improve life and health on Earth. Biomedical research is a strategic priority for the ISS National Lab, and from the time crew operations began on the space station more than 20 years ago, NASA, the ISS National Lab, and international partners have sponsored more than 1,200 biology and biotechnology experiments on station. Lindgren, ISS Expedition 67 crew commander, has supported more than 100 experiments during his nearly 200 days in space.
Following the downlink, Strong will continue the discussion with a highly decorated panel of researchers, launch providers, and ISS National Lab Commercial Service Providers. The group will talk about how the unique conditions on the ISS can support an array of life science investigations to improve patient care on Earth and provide self-sustaining business opportunities in the future low Earth orbit economy.
The ISS National Lab is proud to work with all of the representatives taking part in the panel session:
Michael Lopez-Alegria, former NASA astronaut and commander of Axiom-1, the first all-private astronaut mission to the ISS
Jessica Jensen, Vice President of Customer Operations and Integration, SpaceX
Ken Savin, Chief Scientific Officer, Redwire Space
Paul Reichert, Research Fellow, Merck
For those attending the convention in person, the session is slated to take place Tuesday, June 14, from 10:45 a.m. PT to 12 p.m. PT at the BIO International Convention mainstage.
Additionally, for those in attendance at the conference, BIO International will hold another session on microgravity research Wednesday, June 15, from 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. PT in room 5A at the San Diego Convention Center. This session will include ISS National Lab-sponsored researchers from Axiom Space, Bristol Myers-Squibb, and LambdaVision, all highlighting their respective science and potential next steps.
Those interested in learning more about the BIO International Convention can read all about it at www.bio.org/events/bio-international-convention.
