University of Zurich test tubes on their way to the ISS

The University of Zurich (UZH) is researching the production of human tissue in space. According to a press release, 250 test tubes have accordingly been sent by the university to the International Space Station (ISS). The resupply mission Space X CRS-20 took off from Cape Canaveral, FL, USA at 23.50 EST. 

On board were adult human stem cells. The two leaders of the UZH Space Hub, Cora Thiel und Oliver Ullrich, are using this project to test a process they have developed together. It should in future allow replacement tissue such as cartilage or new liver cells to be grown in space. The experiment is taking place in a mobile mini-lab, namely the CubeLab module of the US company Space Tango.

The researchers are working on the assumption that the newly formed cells will organize themselves into three-dimensional tissues without an additional matrix or other auxiliary structures due to the low gravity environment on board the ISS. An additional application area for precision medicine is now also emerging: “Artificially produced autologous human tissue could be used to determine which combination of drugs is the most suitable for the patient in question”, comments Oliver Ullrich, Professor of Anatomy at UZH and Director of the UZH Space Hub. This could also see a reduction in the number of animal experiments.

Airbus is a partner of this experimental project. The Defence and Space division at Airbus guarantees the safety of the UZH samples by way of specially designed transport boxes. Moreover, Airbus is organizing access to the ISS as well as transportation of the test tubes containing the cell cultures to and from the space station. The company will also provide ground support equipment.  

Transportation into space no longer needs to cost the world. “In space projects, the main cost drivers are the custom-made hardware and the bureaucracy”, according to Ullrich, who then adds: “In a few decades, humankind will use the Low Earth Orbit as a routine place for research, development and production”.