Axiom Space & WFIRM Team Up for $15M NSF Grant to Advance Regenerative Medicine in Space
Axiom Space, the leading provider of commercial human spaceflight services, has joined forces with the renowned Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine (WFIRM). Backed by a $15 million grant from the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF), this groundbreaking partnership aims to unlock the secrets of tissue and organ regeneration in the cosmos.
The collaboration, known as the In-Space ITEC, will explore the potential benefits of space environments for regenerative medicine. Dr. Anthony Atala, WFIRM's director, is thrilled about the partnership's potential to expand job opportunities and stimulate economic growth in the Winston-Salem region. Jana Stoudemire, Axiom Space's director of in-space manufacturing, sees this as an opportunity for breakthrough discoveries that could revolutionize healthcare on Earth.
Axiom Space is constructing the world's first commercial space station, Axiom Station, to facilitate sustained human presence and innovative research in space. The partnership aims to address user-inspired technical challenges in tissue and organ regeneration, with a focus on in-space manufacturing. The NSF Engines award provides up to $160 million over 10 years to support this ambitious endeavor.
While no official start date has been announced for the cooperation, the partnership between Axiom Space and WFIRM promises exciting advancements in regenerative medicine. With their combined expertise and substantial funding, they are poised to make significant strides in understanding and harnessing the power of microgravity for human health.
