Immunoengineering Microgravity Platform for Accessible Cell-based Therapies (IMPACT)
Head PI: Meenal Datta, assistant professor in the Department of Aerospace and Mechanical and Engineering
Co-PIs: Brian Baker, Coleman Professor of Life Sciences in the Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry; Hsueh-Chia Chang, Bayer Corporation Professor in the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering; Xin Lu, John M. and Mary Jo Boler Collegiate Associate Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences; Tengfei Luo, Dorini Family Professor for Energy Studies and associate chair in the Department of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering; Sharon Stack, Kleiderer-Pezold Professor of Biochemistry and Ann F. Dunne & Elizabeth Riley Director of the Harper Cancer Research Institute; and Matt Webber, Keating-Crawford Collegiate Professor of Engineering, associate professor of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering and acting director of the Berthiaume Institute for Precision Health
The cells and tissues that make up the human immune system are constantly subjected to physical forces, both inside the body (pulling, pushing, squeezing) and outside the body (gravity). However, although applied forces are known to impact immunity, it is not fully understood how the immune system responds to the variety and combination of forces acting within and upon the human body. Furthermore, these forces have not been thoroughly investigated for their potential roles (as supporters or suppressors) during the production of engineered immune cells outside of the body, which are used for the treatment of diseases such as cancer.
Interestingly, the low (micro)gravity conditions of space—as found on the International Space Station (ISS)—create a unique environment in which the biomanufacturing of certain cells and tissues is faster in space than it is on Earth. With humanity’s ongoing expansion into space (from new space stations orbiting Earth, to permanent habitats on the Moon and Mars, to deep space voyages), accompanied by daily payload launches and returns, the opportunities to mass produce cancer-fighting immune cells in space for patients on Earth will rapidly become more numerous and affordable.
The multidisciplinary team of immunologists, cancer biologists, and engineers leading Project IMPACT will first investigate the effects of internal and external forces on cancer-fighting immune cells on the ground, including in engineered tissues and microgravity simulators. The team will then translate their Earth-based findings to the real space environment and test novel biomanufacturing techniques for immune cell-based cancer therapies on the ISS or upcoming commercial space stations. In fact, two members of Project IMPACT have previously performed cancer modeling and sensing experiments on the ISS.
Project IMPACT’s work will not only advance treatments for cancer patients on Earth, but it will also inform health strategies for humans traveling to and living in space.