On April 4, a project proposed by Associate Professor Masahiro Chatani (Department of Dental Pharmacology/Pharmacological Science Research Center, Faculty of Dentistry) of Showa University (Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo, President: Masashi Hisamitsu) was announced as part of the JAXA Institute for Space and Astronautical Science 2024 Front Loading Research. (*1) was adopted. In response to this, a research team from Showa University and other institutions has started space medical science research (*2) to elucidate the effects of gravity and cosmic radiation on life and apply it to medicine, with the aim of conducting experiments in the space environment. The results obtained from this research are expected to contribute to health management for humans as they venture into space and to discover new life principles.
【background】
On January 30, 2020, in his policy speech, Prime Minister Kishida mentioned the Artemis project (*3) in the space field and stated that Japan aims to become the first Japanese to land on the moon by the late 2020s. This is expected to lead to dramatic progress in space research and development in Japan.
It is known that gravity and cosmic radiation affect living things in outer space, and progress in space medicine is important. Space experiments to obtain scientific data are considered important for this purpose, and the International Space Station (*4) has been utilized so far, and the Lunar Orbital Platform Gateway (*5) currently under development will also be used in the future. It is expected to play an important role in space research.
This time, Associate Professor Masahiro Chatani and colleagues from Showa University proposed a new space medical science research theme with space experiments as one of the goals, and it was selected for the JAXA Institute of Space and Astronautical Science’s 2024 front-loading research.
[Summary of proposed research]
In the microgravity environment of space, effects such as a decrease in bone and muscle mass occur, and factors such as gravity are important to maintain these homeostasis. However, how organisms sense and respond to changes in gravity, that is, the gravitational stress response mechanism, is poorly understood. This can be said to be one of the important issues that humans must solve as they aim to advance into space.
In this research, we will use a simulated microgravity generator (*6) and a weighted force generator (*7) to apply gravity fluctuations to organisms such as genetically modified mice, thereby elucidating the response mechanism of living organisms to gravity. We aim to clarify this at the molecular level and connect it to experiments on the space station in the future. The results obtained from this research are expected to contribute to health management for humans as they venture into space and to discover new life principles.
[Comment from Associate Professor Masahiro Chatani of Showa University]
I am honored and excited to have been selected for the 2024 JAXA front-loading research and to begin research with a new team. We aim to be a research team that combines life science research and medical research with space in mind, and with this in mind, we conceived the research field of space medical science research. Life on Earth always has a gravity sensor that senses and responds to gravity. I hope to produce as many results as possible that can contribute to the coming space age, and to stimulate space medical science research. We would like to develop our research from a variety of perspectives, so if you are interested in this research, please contact us using the contact information below.
[Term explanation]
*1: Front loading research
Research aimed at experiments in the space environment supported by the Institute of Space and Astronautical Science of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA).
*2: Space medical science research
Research aimed at analyzing the effects of gravity and cosmic radiation on life and applying it to medicine in order to clarify the relationship between the universe and life. A research area advocated and promoted by Showa University’s Associate Professor Masahiro Chatani and others.
*3: Artemis Plan
A manned spaceflight program funded by the United States federal government. The original plan was to land “the first woman and the next man” on the moon by 2024.
*4: International Space Station
A space station in orbit around the Earth, built through multinational cooperation, where scientific experiments and research on living and working in space are conducted. It is jointly operated by space agencies from different countries and contributes to the development of space exploration and technology.
*5: Lunar orbit platform gateway
A manned space station proposed to be built in orbit around the moon by multiple countries.
*6: Simulated microgravity device
By rotating the sample in three dimensions, this culture device can evenly distribute gravity and create an environment where the sum of the gravity vectors over a given period of time is zero.
*7: Weighted force generator
A device that uses centrifugal force to create an environment that applies excessive gravity to a sample.
[Contents of research grant]
・Name: JAXA Institute of Space and Astronautical Science Front Loading Research
・Representative researcher: Masahiro Chatani
・Project title: Identification of biomolecules that respond to changes in gravity and their functions
・Allocation amount for FY2024: 8,700,000 yen
・Research period: Within 3 years
[Research team members]
・Showa University: Associate Professor Masahiro Chatani, Professor Masamichi Takami, Professor Yoichi Miyamoto, Professor Nobuhiro Sakai, Lecturer Akiko Karagawa, Assistant Professor Yuki Taketsu, Assistant Professor Yusuke Momodo, Assistant Professor Kiyoto Sasa, Assistant Professor Ryota Nakano, Special Researcher Natsuhiro Takahashi ( DC2)
・Kyoto University: Associate Professor Shinji Maekawa
・Gifu University: Associate Professor Riki Abe
・Tokyo Institute of Technology: Professor Emeritus Akira Kudo
・JAXA: Associate Professor Hirofumi Hashimoto
▼Contact information regarding this matter
Showa University School of Dentistry Department of Dental Pharmacology/Pharmacological Science Research Center
Masahiro Chatani
TEL: 03-3784-8175
E-mail: [email protected]
▼This release source
Showa University Educational Corporation General Affairs Department General Affairs Division University Public Relations Section
TEL: 03-3784-8059
E-mail: [email protected]
[Release source]University Press Center https://www.u-presscenter.jp/
Tags: Research teams Showa University institutions entered joint research agreement JAXA space medical science research Showa University
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