Finding solutions for cardiovascular disease in space

By cultivating human endothelial cells in space, researchers are gaining knowledge about the way our blood vessels function. This could help prevent and treat diseases such as atherosclerosis, hypertension, diabetes and thrombosis here on Earth, while keeping astronauts healthy in space.

In this video, biochemist and molecular biologist Dr Markus Wehland discusses the Spheroids experiment, which ran on the International Space Station during ESA astronaut Tim Peake’s Principia mission in 2016. Cells cultivated in microgravity during this experiment assembled into globular and tubular structures. These structures were similar to the inner lining of blood vessels inside our bodies, but had never been achieved before by scientists cultivating cells on Earth.

A better understanding of cell growth and structures is gained through this study and adds to the tissue engineering knowledge base seeking to replace damaged blood vessels in patients. This knowledge may also become useful to improve the efficiency and safety of drugs that help regulate vessel development. It is good news for those affected by cardiovascular disease and a great example of the way in which research in microgravity is enhancing life on Earth.

Full results published in Cellular Physiology and Biochemistry (April 2019) here.