Latest news with #Fityan
Time of India
21-06-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Axiom-4 astronauts to study insulin behaviour in microgravity, revolutionise diabetes treatment
New Delhi: Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla's Axiom-4 mission to the International Space Station (ISS) is set to offer a ray of hope for diabetics to travel to space, as a UAE-based healthcare provider is conducting an experiment on how glucose behaves in microgravity part of the "Suite Ride" experiment planned by Burjeel Holdings and Axiom Space, some astronauts of the Axiom-4 mission will be wearing continuous glucose monitors during their 14-day stay on board the orbital lab. The studies of the behaviour of glucose and insulin in microgravity conditions will help scientists develop wearable technologies for astronauts and patients who are bedridden or have limited mobility due to illnesses such as paralysis. "We are trying just to see if there is any change or fluctuation to the blood-sugar levels while they are in space," Mohammad Fityan, chief medical officer at Burjeel Holdings, Abu Dhabi, told PTI. The astronauts will also carry insulin pens in refrigerated and ambient temperatures to examine how the molecules respond to microgravity conditions. "We are hoping that if we learn something about the metabolism or the effect, we will bring some information and we can do something for our patients on Earth," Fityan said. Currently, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) does not allow insulin-dependent diabetics to travel to space. There are no official exclusions for non-insulin-dependent diabetics, but so far, no astronaut with diabetes has travelled to space. "It has the potential to transform the future of space travel for astronauts with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM), a condition historically considered disqualifying for space missions," Fityan said. He said the study will pave the way for several innovative technologies and treatment approaches for developing advanced glucose-monitoring tools optimised for extreme or low-activity environments, improving wearable tech for both astronauts and patients with limited mobility on Earth. It will also help identify new pharmacologic targets by observing how metabolic and hormonal responses change in microgravity, leading to drugs that enhance insulin sensitivity or mimic the benefits of exercise in sedentary individuals. The AI-powered predictive models based on real-time physiologic data in space can be adapted to personalise diabetes care on Earth by forecasting insulin needs or metabolic shifts with higher accuracy. The research will also help develop remote monitoring platforms for continuous metabolic-data capture that could revolutionise diabetes care in underserved or remote areas on Earth as well as in tele-health settings.
Time of India
08-06-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Glucose in space: Ax-4 crew to play key role in diabetes study
TITUSVILLE (FLORIDA): Each astronaut aboard the Axiom- mission (Ax-4), including India's Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, is contributing to a first-of-its-kind medical study - an experiment called Suite Ride - that could redefine who gets to go to space. While TOI broke this story in March, more details have now emerged from an exclusive interview with Mohammad Fityan, Clinical Lead for the Suite Ride experiment and Chief Medical Officer at Burjeel Medical City. He said the crew is central to validating new technologies that could one day allow even insulin-dependent diabetics to safely fly. "At present, astronauts with diabetes-particularly those requiring insulin-are excluded from spaceflight. This study is laying the groundwork to change that," said Dr Fityan. The Suite Ride experiment, developed in collaboration between Burjeel Holdings and Axiom Space, is focused on monitoring how glucose behaves in microgravity and whether insulin remains stable during space missions. None of the four astronauts aboard Ax-4 has diabetes, but each has undergone pre-flight tests to establish individual glucose baselines on Earth. "They act as healthy controls. This allows us to compare data from space against ground-based measures, which is crucial to validate the reliability of continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) in orbit," Dr Fityan said. At least one astronaut will wear a CGM ( continuous glucose monitoring ) device throughout the mission, with real-time metabolic data transmitted back to the research team. In addition, insulin pens-though not used by the crew-have been flown to test how the compound behaves when exposed to space conditions. Samples stored at ambient and refrigerated temperatures will be analysed after the flight to check for degradation. "Microgravity gives us a chance to observe metabolic functions without the confounding factors of gravity, posture and muscle use," Dr Fityan said. This makes it easier to isolate how hormones and cells regulate glucose and could reveal early signs of insulin resistance that are harder to detect on Earth. The results, according to him, may eventually influence medical protocols for long-duration missions. "If this technology proves accurate and stable, the exclusion of insulin-treated diabetics could be reconsidered. This would be a step forward in making spaceflight more inclusive." Suite Ride also has terrestrial benefits. It could lead to smarter glucose monitoring tools and more effective insulin therapies for people on Earth-particularly those in remote or resource-limited settings. Technologies being tested include blood glucose monitors, i-STAT (blood analyser) devices, lancets, and remote data capture platforms.
Indian Express
07-06-2025
- Health
- Indian Express
Onboard Shubhanshu Shukla's mission: Study to enable diabetes patients travel to space
AMONG the studies and experiments that will keep India's Shubhanshu Shukla and other astronauts on Axiom-4 mission busy during their two-week stay in space expected to launch June 10, is one aimed at enabling diabetic people to travel into space. As of now, insulin-dependent diabetic patients are not selected to become astronauts. That is because the space environment, particularly micro-gravity conditions, makes it difficult to control and maintain blood sugar levels. But scientists around the world have been working for the last several years to make this possible. A diabetes-related research project on Axiom-4 mission marks an important step in that effort. One or more astronauts on the mission — it is not disclosed who they may be — will wear Continuous Glucose Meters (CGMs) throughout their stay in space, and their real-time blood sugar measurements will be monitored by the research team on Earth. They will also collect blood samples during their flight which can be tested later to validate the readings of the CGM. The mission will also carry two varieties of insulin pens: one refrigerated, the other in ambient air conditions. These will check whether their integrity remains intact in micro-gravity conditions. 'One of the primary objectives of the study is collect data that is relevant for enabling space travel possible for diabetic people. But it is not just that. The research can be helpful for the management of diabetes on Earth as well,' Mohammad Fityan, the Dubai-based clinical lead for this research project called Suite Ride, told The Indian Express in an interview. Fityan is the chief medical officer at the Burjeel Medical City, a hospital in Dubai which is collaborating with Axiom Space for this research project. Diabetes research in space is not new. Studies on this has been going on for several years. Even CGMs have been worn by astronauts before. The astronauts on the Polaris Dawn mission, a private mission that remained in space for five days in September last year, wore CGMs. But this was limited to collecting blood sugar data while in space. Last year, the Galactic 07 mission, a sub-orbital flight operated by Virgin Galactic, demonstrated for the first time that commercially available insulin pens can be used to effectively deliver the hormone in space. Fityan said the study on Axiom-4 mission is a more 'well-rounded attempt' on diabetes research in space. 'Real-time measurement of blood sugar, the validation of CGMs, and an assessment whether insulin maintains its viability and integrity in space… these are the things that have never been done before,' Fityan said. 'The study will continue for the two weeks of the mission. This is still a short-term study. We would not be able to monitor the blood glucose levels over a longer period. But even this data is very critical for understanding the effect of zero-gravity on diabetes. Microgravity removes many of the physical and gravitational forces acting on the body, allowing us to observe metabolic processes in a fundamentally different context,' he said. Fityan said the research was relevant for diabetic people on Earth as well. 'Previous studies on the International Space Station for example have shown that the effect of microgravity causes fluid shifts in the astronauts. This kind of situation is similar to long-term bed-ridden patients, whose movement is severely restricted. The data that we are hoping to get from the Axiom-4 mission might be very helpful in improving the management of diabetes on Earth as well,' he said. 'Then there is this possibility of the data throwing up some unexpected insights which can lead to secondary outcomes. This kind of thing happens all the time in scientific research,' he said. Anonna Dutt is a Principal Correspondent who writes primarily on health at the Indian Express. She reports on myriad topics ranging from the growing burden of non-communicable diseases such as diabetes and hypertension to the problems with pervasive infectious conditions. She reported on the government's management of the Covid-19 pandemic and closely followed the vaccination programme. Her stories have resulted in the city government investing in high-end tests for the poor and acknowledging errors in their official reports. Dutt also takes a keen interest in the country's space programme and has written on key missions like Chandrayaan 2 and 3, Aditya L1, and Gaganyaan. She was among the first batch of eleven media fellows with RBM Partnership to End Malaria. She was also selected to participate in the short-term programme on early childhood reporting at Columbia University's Dart Centre. Dutt has a Bachelor's Degree from the Symbiosis Institute of Media and Communication, Pune and a PG Diploma from the Asian College of Journalism, Chennai. She started her reporting career with the Hindustan Times. When not at work, she tries to appease the Duolingo owl with her French skills and sometimes takes to the dance floor. ... Read More
Al Etihad
07-05-2025
- Health
- Al Etihad
Abu Dhabi medical team gears up to monitor blood sugar levels of astronauts in space
7 May 2025 19:57 A. SREENIVASA REDDY (ABU DHABI)A team of Burjeel doctors led by Dr Mohammad Fityan is preparing to monitor blood glucose levels of astronauts on the Axiom-4 (Ax-4) scientific mission to the International Space Station (ISS).The Burjeel-led study aims to explore glucose metabolism and aspects of diabetes in microgravity. Ax-4 is a planned private spaceflight to the ISS, operated by Axiom Space in partnership with SpaceX and NASA. Scheduled for launch on May 29, the mission will carry four astronauts from Kennedy Space Center in Florida aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 and Crew Dragon the 14-day mission, the crew will conduct around 60 scientific studies from 31 countries, with the Burjeel study among them.'We will study the effect of the space environment on glucose metabolism in the body. This can enhance our understanding of diabetes as well as other metabolic diseases that affect blood sugar levels,' said Dr Fityan said in an interview with Aletihad.'On Earth, it's difficult to isolate the effects of gravity, muscle use, and posture on glucose regulation. In microgravity, changes in muscle mass, fluid distribution, and circadian rhythm provide a new lens through which we can study how glucose metabolism and insulin sensitivity are regulated,' he all crew members will wear monitors. 'One or more astronauts will be wearing glucose monitors for the entire mission,' he said. 'A dedicated research team and laboratory experts at Burjeel will monitor real-time health data from the ISS,' he study will also examine insulin stability in space. 'Insulin pens will be sent on the flight, but astronauts will not use them. We are testing the viability and stability of insulin in the space environment.'Burjeel will also send lancets, needles, and point-of-care blood glucose machines. 'Blood samples will be taken during the flight to validate glucose levels,' said Dr Fityan, who is currently serving as Director of Medical Education at Burjeel Holdings and is also its Chief Medical Fityan, a US citizen of Iraqi origin, is a double board-certified physician in Internal Medicine and Obesity Medicine. He has also served as an Assistant Clinical Professor and Student Clerkship Director in the United States. He noted that current spaceflight protocols exclude insulin-dependent diabetics. 'NASA has excluded insulin-dependent diabetics from travelling to space. There are no official exclusions for non–insulin-dependent diabetics, but so far, no astronaut with diabetes has travelled to space' said Dr Fityan, who will be present at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida on the day of the proposed launch. 'By understanding blood glucose patterns, validating glucose monitors' reliability, assessing insulin stability, and evaluating data transmission, this research will help ensure the safety of astronauts with insulin-dependent diabetes in future missions.'Dr Fityan believes the findings could benefit Earth-based care as well. 'These findings may help us uncover novel regulatory pathways or early biomarkers for insulin resistance, potentially leading to preventive interventions long before diabetes manifests,' he added: 'The study may also evolve glucose monitoring tools optimised for low-activity or remote settings, benefiting patients on Earth through wearable tech and telehealth innovations.'Ultimately, Dr Fityan sees the Ax-4 study as a stepping stone toward more inclusive space missions. 'Understanding how glucose regulation is affected in non-diabetic individuals in microgravity is the first step toward assessing what might happen in those with impaired glucose metabolism.' 'In the long run, studies like Ax-4 can help rewrite the criteria for spaceflight eligibility—not by lowering standards, but by developing technologies and protocols that make space more accessible for people living with chronic conditions like diabetes.'
The National
25-04-2025
- Health
- The National
UAE study on diabetes heads to space to unlock new treatments
A UAE-led medical study heading to space could help astronauts with insulin-dependent diabetes join future missions and lead to new technologies that make treating the condition easier and more effective on Earth. The research by Abu Dhabi's Burjeel Hospital and Houston-based Axiom Space will be carried out as part of the Axiom Mission 4, also known as Ax-4. It will be launched on a SpaceX rocket from a Florida spaceport, with a target launch date currently set for May 29. Ax-4 will include veteran Nasa astronaut Peggy Whitson, Shubhanshu Shukla, India's first astronaut since 1984, Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski of Poland and Tibor Kapu of Hungary. Dr Mohammad Fityan, chief medical officer at Burjeel Medical City and clinical lead of the research, told The National that it is difficult to isolate the effects of gravity, muscle use and posture on glucose regulation, but Earth's orbit offers a unique advantage. 'In microgravity, changes in muscle mass, fluid distribution and circadian rhythm provide a new lens, through which we can study how glucose metabolism and insulin sensitivity are regulated,' he said. 'This can lead to insights that are not apparent under Earth conditions such as how quickly insulin resistance may develop without regular mechanical loading of muscles, or how hormonal and cellular responses adapt in the absence of gravity.' The astronauts will wear continuous glucose monitors, commonly used by people on Earth, during their 14-day mission to track their blood sugar levels in real time while in microgravity. They will follow a detailed schedule of tests before, during and after the mission to help researchers understand how well these monitors perform in orbit. It will also test to see how insulin behaves in space by studying the drug's exposure to microgravity and checking its strength and stability once it returns to Earth. 'These findings may help us uncover novel regulatory pathways or early biomarkers for insulin resistance, potentially leading to preventive interventions long before diabetes manifests,' said Dr Fityan. The research aims to make space more accessible for people suffering from the disease. Nasa currently does not consider patients with Type-1 diabetes eligible for spaceflight because of unpredictable blood sugar fluctuations and the challenges of administering insulin without immediate medical support. The study also builds on a breakthrough from Virgin's Galactic 07 mission in June, which proved that insulin pens can work properly in microgravity. Dr Fityan said the research could also lead to new technologies such as advanced glucose monitors designed for extreme environments, as well as artificial intelligence tools that can predict insulin needs with greater accuracy. It may also help develop medications that improve insulin sensitivity or mimic the effects of exercise, offering better treatment options for people with limited mobility. Figures from the International Diabetes Federation show that about 783 million people, or one in eight adults, will be living with diabetes by 2045, marking a 46 per cent increase. In the North America and Caribbean region, the number is expected to rise by 24 per cent, while in the Middle East and North African region, it is projected to increase by 87 per cent. 'The technologies and advances that could result from this project could also improve our ability to provide remote care for patients with diabetes and other health conditions on Earth,' said Dr Mike Harrison, chief medical officer at Axiom Space.
