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India Today
20 hours ago
- Health
- India Today
Shubhanshu Shukla's space mission could rewrite the rules of diabetes care. Here's how
Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla is currently part of a historic mission aboard the International Space Station (ISS), participating in over 60 scientific experiments as part of the Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4). Among them is a study that could reshape how we understand and manage diabetes: not just in space, but also on years, people with insulin-dependent diabetes have been excluded from space missions because of the challenges of managing blood sugar levels in a zero-gravity environment. The Ax-4 mission is now rethinking that 'SUITE RIDE' PROJECT: A STEP TOWARD INCLUSION A major highlight of the Ax-4 mission is a research project called Suite Ride, designed to study how glucose metabolism is affected by ultimate goal is to make it safe for people with diabetes to live and work in space."Suite Ride is investigating how the space environment affects glucose metabolism in the human body. This can enhance our understanding of diabetes and other metabolic diseases that impact blood sugar regulation," Dr. Mohammad Fityan, Clinical Lead for the Suite Ride project (Ax-4) from Burjeel Holdings, Chief Medical Officer, Burjeel Medical City, told Dr. Mohammad Fityan (right), Clinical Lead of the Burjeel–Ax-4 Space Health Research, with Gavin D'Elia (L), Global Head Of Pharma at Axiom Space and Dr. Lucie Low, Chief Scientist for Axiom Space at Kennedy Space Center. advertisementBurjeel Holdings, the research collaborator behind the project, partnered with Axiom Space to explore how Continuous Glucose Monitors (CGMs) and insulin fare in space. These tools are already revolutionising diabetes care on SPACE IS A GAME-CHANGER FOR DIABETES RESEARCHMicrogravity provides an environment that allows scientists to study the body without the usual gravitational pressures. This makes it possible to observe glucose metabolism in an entirely new light."Microgravity allows us to study metabolism without the influence of gravity. Changes in muscle mass, fluid distribution, and circadian rhythm offer new insights into glucose metabolism and insulin sensitivity. This may lead to the identification of novel pathways and early biomarkers for insulin resistance," said Dr. studying healthy individuals in space, scientists can create a foundation for understanding how diabetes behaves in such conditions, an essential step toward future space travel for those with chronic THE STUDY WORKS ABOARD ISSDuring the two-week mission, one or more astronauts are wearing CGMs for the entire duration. These devices continuously monitor blood glucose levels and send data back to Earth. The Ax-4 crew members aboard the International Space Station. (Photo: Nasa) "One or more astronauts are wearing CGMs for the entire duration of the mission. Readings are continuously monitored, and data is being collected. Insulin pens were sent on the flight, but astronauts are not using them. We are testing the viability and stability of insulin in the space environment. Point-of-care blood samples are also being taken during the mission to validate glucose levels. Lancets, needles, and blood glucose analyzers (i-STAT) were provided by Burjeel Holdings," said Dr. BARRIERS FOR DIABETICS IN SPACEDr. Fityan explained the current barriers that keep people with diabetes from going to space:Glucose variability and hypoglycemia can be life-threatening in space, where immediate medical help isn't challenges due to storage temperatures, fluid shifts, and inconsistent absorption in need for extremely accurate glucose control, which is hard to maintain on long Ax-4 mission is helping scientists understand how healthy metabolism behaves in microgravity and whether CGMs can be safely used by astronauts with diabetes in future CARE ON EARTHThe findings from Ax-4 are not just for future astronauts. They could also benefit people on Earth, especially in remote or underserved areas. advertisementThis study could lead to:Remote monitoring platforms for real-time metabolic glucose monitors for extreme or low-resource predictive models for personal diabetes drug targets to improve insulin sensitivity."This research helps expand eligibility for spaceflight, not by lowering standards, but by creating technologies and protocols that enable safe participation for individuals with chronic conditions, such as insulin-dependent diabetes," Dr. Fityan told NEXT?Once the mission returns, researchers will analyse the data to determine the next steps."We hope this research opens the door to future studies, including sending the first astronaut with diabetes into space and exploring other metabolic and chronic conditions," said Dr. Ax-4 mission, with Shubhanshu Shukla on board, could mark a historic event, one where space is accessible even for those managing chronic conditions like diabetes, and where the lessons from above help save lives back on Earth.- EndsTune InMust Watch
Al Etihad
25-06-2025
- Health
- Al Etihad
UAE-led diabetes research initiative embarks on space mission
25 June 2025 22:55 SREENIVASA REDDY (ABU DHABI)In a milestone for the UAE's scientific aspirations, a pioneering healthcare research initiative has been launched into space aboard Axiom Space's Ax-4 mission, which took off from Kennedy Space Centre in Florida after several delays. Central to the mission is Suite Ride, a novel research effort developed in partnership between Abu Dhabi-based Burjeel Holdings and Axiom Space, aiming to redefine the potential of space travel for individuals living with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM)—a condition previously seen as incompatible with Ax-4 mission has now set course for the International Space Station (ISS), where its four-member international crew will undertake 14 days of scientific work in microgravity. Their agenda includes conducting technology demonstrations and biomedical research that promise to advance knowledge across multiple Suite Ride study is designed to test the effectiveness of Continuous Glucose Monitors (CGMs)—now standard for diabetes management—under conditions of microgravity. These monitors will collect real-time glucose data throughout the mission, with comprehensive protocols spanning the preflight, inflight and postflight phases. In addition, the mission will examine how insulin behaves in space, evaluating its stability and potency after the scientific component of the project is Dr Mohammad Fityan, Chief Medical Officer at Burjeel Medical City and Clinical Lead for the Burjeel–Ax-4 Space Health Research. Working closely with Axiom Space's team, Dr Fityan will analyse CGM data to understand how these technologies perform in orbit, with the aim of translating the findings into practical healthcare solutions on Earth.'After months of preparation, we're excited to see our research project take flight aboard Ax-4. We're confident that the valuable insights gained will help improve healthcare access in underserved and hard-to-reach communities around the world, including in the MENA region,' said Dr commemorate the occasion, Burjeel Medical City is hosting a special exhibition highlighting the Suite Ride initiative, offering the UAE public and scientific circles an opportunity to engage with the broader implications of space health research. The UAE Embassy in Washington, D.C. also recently featured the project as a notable milestone in the country's growing role in human the Suite Ride mission is taking place against the backdrop of a steep rise in diabetes prevalence. The International Diabetes Federation projects 783 million cases by 2045, with the MENA region expected to see an 87% increase—underlining the urgent need for advanced remote healthcare technologies. Commanded by NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson, the Ax-4 mission crew includes Mission Pilot Shubhanshu Shukla (India) and Mission Specialists Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski (ESA/Poland) and Tibor Kapu (Hungary). Collectively, they are set to conduct over 60 experiments sourced from 31 countries.
Indian Express
25-06-2025
- Health
- Indian Express
Axiom 4 and Shubhanshu Shukla lift off: How diabetes and cancer research on board ISS will impact treatment
AAs India's astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla has blasted off into space on the Axiom-4 mission, he will be part of several medical experiments in space. These will not just be relevant to space travel but also to the future of therapy on Earth and precision medicine. The first is related to people with insulin-dependent diabetes and whether they can travel to space. As of now, they 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. Diabetes research One of the astronauts will be wearing 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 microgravity conditions. '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, said. 'Previous studies on the International Space Station (ISS) 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 or are in intensive care. 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 added. These include studies on muscle health, microbial life, and how astronauts interact with technology in microgravity. A key focus will be on diabetes-related research, specifically examining insulin and glucose behavior in space using continuous glucose monitors (CGMs). Even after the astronauts return, the impact of their journey will continue. Data from CGMs, blood samples, and insulin tests will be analysed in ground-based labs. Muscle health Research will investigate muscle degeneration and identify countermeasures. It will also investigate the effects of space flights on joints and blood flow. Algae as food Studies on cyanobacteria and microalgae will explore their viability for use in life support systems and as a potential food source. Resilient organisms like tardigrades, will be studied for their survival and gene activity in space. Cancer Research Previous research has shown cancer stem cells can regenerate more easily and become more resistant to therapies in microgravity. The study will also look at how microgravity affects stem cell aging. Researchers will use tumour organoids, specifically from triple-negative breast cancer, to validate previous findings on early cancer warning signs and to test potential new drug targets. These studies will be conducted with the help of the Sanford Stem Cell Institute and the JM Foundation. Microgravity allows scientists to identify better drug candidates for faster-progressing cancers. Impact on mental health This experiment will investigate how the physical and cognitive impact of utilising computer screens in microgravity. The research will study how pointing tasks, gaze fixation and rapid eye movements are affected. 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
