Alexa Quinones’ Post

I interact daily with medical professionals interested in joining the space medicine industry. Their enthusiasm is palpable, but I often get these questions: ❓ Do I need a specialized space medicine degree to work in this field? ❓ How can my medical specialization be relevant to space medicine? ❓ Can I contribute to the health and safety of astronauts with my medical degree? As someone deeply involved in space medicine, I can assure you that a specialized space medicine degree IS NOT a prerequisite for working in the space industry. Many space companies are increasingly looking beyond traditional backgrounds. Medical doctors, with their unique skillsets and problem-solving abilities, are a valuable asset, especially in the R&D space industry. The focus? Passion for pushing the boundaries of space exploration. Therefore I always say that everyone has a space in the space industry, but they didn't know yet. Check out this document for a detailed guide on how to leverage your medical specialty in the space medicine industry. Remember, your passion for space exploration, combined with your unique medical expertise, could be the missing piece for the next giant leap! NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration SpaceX European Space Agency - ESA MEDES - Institute for Space Medicine and Physiology Women's Aerospace Network #SpaceMedicine #MedicalInnovation #SpaceExploration #Healthcare #FutureOfMedicine

🚀Introducing the IIAS-02 Call for Science The International Institute for Astronautical Sciences (IIAS) is thrilled to open its IIAS-02 Call for Science to the global scientific community. This initiative invites researchers to submit proposals for payloads to fly aboard Virgin Galactic’s Delta-class suborbital spaceship, a cutting-edge platform for conducting impactful research and advancing human spaceflight. 🪐What We’re Looking For: Our mission focuses on innovative, high-impact research in: - Biomedical Sciences: Advancing women’s health, neuroscience, accessibility in space, and astronaut health biomarkers. - Technological Innovations: Developing biomonitoring devices, AI-driven health technologies, and tools to enhance human spaceflight. - Physical and Materials Sciences: Pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in microgravity environments. 🌎Key Highlights: Selected payloads will undergo rigorous review based on scientific merit, technical feasibility, mission compatibility, and societal impact. IIAS provides access to a range of testbeds, from suborbital and parabolic flight to neutral buoyancy and hypobaric chambers. Proposals may leverage human-tended, wearable, or rack-mounted payloads to maximize the flight’s pre-, post-, and in-flight periods. 📆Important Dates: - Community Brief: Join our virtual Q&A session on December 18, 2024, at 9:00 AM PST. - Application Deadline: Submit your proposals by January 31, 2025, at 23:59 PST.  Visit astronauticsinstitute.org to learn more and submit your proposal today. Together, we can pioneer advancements in space science that benefit both humanity and future space exploration

Opportunities for research in diabetes in space, and what space science can do for diabetes are increasing! Let's hope Europe and Denmark catch on and lead the way!

Conversational Science Communication #CSC 👇 " What Does a Neuro Ophthalmologist Do? Neuro-ophthalmology is a subspecialty of both neurology and ophthalmology. Neuro ophthalmologists specialize in vision problems that relate to your nervous system. Such issues include vision problems due to brain injuries or diseases, including trauma, a stroke, or an infection. Sometimes, these issues might not be a serious cause for concern, but other times, they can lead to more serious complications, such as vision loss. FEATURED Ocular Hypertension Symptoms 12 Reasons for Watery Eyes Top Causes of Dry Eyes " neuro-ophthalmologist can diagnose and treat neurological and systemic diseases that affect your sight and the movement of your eyes. The tests they may give you include electroretinography, optical coherence tomography, and multi-focal ERGs. The treatment a neuro-ophthalmologists may give you will depend on your specific situation, but may include: Corrective lenses Botox injections for muscle spasms Surgical procedures Neuro-Ophthalmologist Education and Training A neuro-ophthalmologist typically receives: A 4-year bachelor’s degree A 4-year medical degree At least 5 years of clinical training following medical school (residency and fellowship training) In addition to the above education and training, many (but not all) neuro-ophthalmologists become board-certified in neurology, ophthalmology, or both. Board-certification means that these doctors are up-to-date with the latest advancements in their field. Some get additional training to perform surgical procedures, while others might pursue training to perform specialized testing. " 👇 READ THE LIFE STORY OF ONE OF THE GREATEST NEUROOPTHALMOLOGIST NEUROLIGIST ASTRONAUT 👇 Shawna Pandya, MD ❗️

🚀 Just completed Duke's Space Medicine course on Coursera! It was fascinating to see how medicine and engineering intertwine to solve the dangers of space travel, making space medicine a frontier for future medical advancements. This field embodies preventative medicine, similar to Singapore's healthcare focus. The course highlighted how we tackle hypoxia, handle pressure changes, and manage G-forces, with eye-opening parallels to dangers on Earth like decompression sickness. Key issues astronauts face include eyesight problems, bone and muscle atrophy in microgravity, radiation, and psychological isolation. Learning about designing for resource-constrained environments and preparing for Mars was particularly intriguing and inspiring, showcasing the potential for groundbreaking innovations in medicine. 🌌#SpaceMedicine #Coursera #DukeUniversity #Innovation #PreventiveMedicine

NASA’s Human Research Program encourages innovative research from new or early-career investigators. Could there be an opportunity within the Fire Service’s “Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG)- Research and Development (R&D)” to support a similar approach, providing a platform for fresh, innovative solutions to emerge from those newer to the field of fire service psychology? “NASA is soliciting investigations lasting no more than one year that provide innovative approaches to any of the risks and gaps contained in the Integrated Research Plan (https://lnkd.in/grwCXpk8) of the Human Research Program. NASA is also soliciting novel research ideas that might not be directly aligned with HRP’s identified risks from new investigators or early career investigators who have not received funding from NASA HRP, NASA Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research, the National Space Biomedical Research Institute, or the Translational Research Institute for Space Health in the last ten years. Early career investigators must additionally be no more than ten years from their terminal research degree or clinical training. See the solicitation for details.” https://lnkd.in/g-p7cS7C

Emergency Medicine Beyond Earth: A New Frontier As we move closer to the reality of humans living on other planets, the need for healthcare in space becomes undeniable. Emergency medicine will undoubtedly play a critical role in the success of long-term space missions and extraterrestrial settlements. In the harsh and unpredictable environment of space, healthcare professionals will need to manage trauma, illnesses, and other emergencies in unique conditions like zero gravity and radiation exposure. Will we see hospitals built on Mars or the Moon? It’s highly likely. These medical facilities would need to be highly advanced, equipped with cutting-edge technology to handle everything from basic healthcare needs to complex surgeries, all while operating in low-gravity environments. Doctors of the future in space will require specialized training in aerospace medicine, emergency procedures for space conditions, and perhaps even robotic surgery. As a specialist in emergency medicine, it’s exciting to think about how our field might evolve to support the next era of human exploration and habitation. #SpaceMedicine #EmergencyMedicine #FutureOfHealthcare #SpaceExploration #HealthcareInnovation SpaceX NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration Blue Origin #ilonmusk

NASA's Top Station Science News: August 9, 2024 Highlights Groundbreaking Research in Space: Enhancing Health and Manufacturing for Future Missions In a recent study, researchers explored a novel treatment on cartilage and bone tissue cultures subjected to compressive impact injury. The study revealed intriguing differences in the metabolites and proteins released by cells in space compared to those on Earth, alongside partial improvements in both gravity conditions. These findings suggest that the treatment is safe and has the potential to enhance the health of astronauts on future missions, as well as patients on Earth. Musculoskeletal injuries are common among astronauts, and joint injuries leading to post-traumatic osteoarthritis are a […] https://lnkd.in/dUe2VUSg https://lnkd.in/dqQx3wWU

In a world where scientific breakthroughs drive #technologicalinnovation and #economicgrowth, the importance of stable funding for research cannot be overstated. However, as highlighted in a recent article by The Planetary Society on NASA’s 2025 budget, relying on U.S. government support for critical space programs can often feel like walking a tightrope. The article discusses how political gridlock and pre-election paralysis are delaying NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s #budgetapproval, potentially threatening key scientific missions. This serves as a crucial reminder that government funding—while vital—is inherently uncertain, especially in the current U.S. space ecosystem. NASA’s Science Mission Directorate, responsible for groundbreaking initiatives like the Mars Sample Return and the Dragonfly mission to Titan, is facing over a billion dollars in cuts and inflation-driven losses. Despite broad support for #SpaceExploration, competing House and Senate proposals are leaving essential projects in limbo. The Planetary Society and other organizations are advocating for a restoration of funding, but the process will take time and is subject to political ebbs and flows. While this challenge is particularly acute in the U.S., similar issues are emerging in other countries as well. Governments around the world are grappling with budget constraints and political uncertainty, which can delay or disrupt vital #ScientificResearch. At Space Bridge Partners, we believe that relying solely on government funding for scientific research is risky, whether in the U.S. or elsewhere. The stop-and-go nature of political decision-making can jeopardize not only individual projects but also the broader mission of advancing science and technology. In contrast, a #DiversifiedFunding model that includes private sector and media partnerships, #philanthropic contributions, and #BrandSponsorships can provide the stability needed to keep the lights on in your research lab—even when one source dries up. 📸 NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration #Space #Funding

The International Space Station (ISS) is an incredible feat of engineering, designed to support human life in profoundly inhospitable conditions. But the tiny metal bubble in the big black void can only do so much. Life in space, with zero gravity and higher exposure to cosmic radiation, can have serious consequences for spacefarers’ health.   Now, a team including both ground-based scientists and NASA crew is taking health research to the final frontier. Their results may help prevent dangerous blood clots for astronauts on missions—and lead to better treatments for clotting and immune disorders back on Earth. How Space Affects Blood Health Researchers had known for decades that astronauts on missions are more likely to develop blood clots, and longer missions may be particularly hazardous, says Matthew Rondina, MD, professor of internal medicine and pathology at University of Utah Health and the Utah-based site lead for the project. “As the duration that astronauts spend in space increases, we believe the risk of blood clots likely continues to accumulate,” Rondina says.   In the isolated environment of a space station, clots can present a serious problem, adds Hansjorg Schwertz, PhD, MD, project lead, physician at Billings Clinic, and adjunct assistant professor of occupational medicine at U of U Health. “You don’t want to have astronauts developing any occlusive thrombi [blood clots] up in space,” Schwertz says. “It requires a lot of logistics and a lot of treatment.”   Schwertz and Rondina are working together with NASA astronauts, who will do experiments on the ISS that show how spaceflight affects blood cells.   The team is specifically looking at platelets—cells that are directly involved in blood clotting—and megakaryocytes, bone marrow cells that produce platelets. After growing megakaryocytes and platelets aboard the ISS, researchers will analyze their gene activity, proteins, and functionality to learn how space exposure changes them. Continue reading “Health Research Launches into Orbit to Discover How Spaceflight Affects Blood” here: https://lnkd.in/grBDQW_S