Bold new frontier in biomedical research: Cedars-Sinai teams with Exobiosphere to run organoid studies aboard the Haven-1 space station.
Cedars-Sinai is joining forces with Exobiosphere, a company that has created automated hardware for conducting biomedical experiments in space and on Earth. Using this equipment, Cedars-Sinai researchers will send experiments to Haven-1, which Long Beach–based aerospace firm Vast plans to turn into the world’s first commercial space station.
The researchers aim to observe how reduced gravity affects the growth of organoids—tiny, lab-grown cell clusters that mimic real human organs. Organoids are widely used to model diseases and test drugs, and the hope is that microgravity could accelerate their development compared with Earth-based growth.
Pursuing faster breakthroughs in biology
“Our overarching objective is to accelerate biological research and discovery,” said Arun Sharma, PhD, director of Cedars-Sinai’s Center for Space Medicine Research and a research scientist at the Board of Governors Regenerative Medicine Institute. “Partnering with Exobiosphere advances Cedars-Sinai’s leadership in space biomedicine and deepens our understanding of how organoids evolve in microgravity.”
Sharma and colleagues aim to quicken the identification of therapies for astronaut health challenges—bone and muscle deterioration, as well as heart and immune system declines. Many of these advances could also benefit terrestrial patients facing similar conditions, such as sarcopenia (muscle loss), osteoporosis (bone thinning), and cardiomyopathy (heart muscle disease).
“Drugs that help astronauts may also help people back on Earth, extending the impact to millions of patients,” Sharma noted.
Overcoming the hurdles of space-based science
Microgravity brings vast research opportunities but also unique obstacles not seen on Earth. For instance, opening Petri dishes in space can cause fluids and cells to drift away. A Cedars-Sinai study, co-authored by Sharma and led by Maedeh Mozneb, PhD, demonstrated that even in 96-well plates—much smaller than standard dishes—surface tension can keep contents in place.
“This was the first demonstration that affordable, ground-used hardware can be adapted for space to do cell biology research,” said Sharma, a research professor in the Department of Biomedical Sciences and the Smidt Heart Institute. “In a sense, it democratizes life sciences.”
Building on this insight, Exobiosphere created a platform that automates organoid experiments in microgravity. The system combines precise liquid handling, environmental control, robotic manipulation, and live imaging capabilities that previously required extensive astronaut involvement.
“This platform removes barriers for researchers,” said Kyle Acierno, CEO of Exobiosphere. “By simplifying space-based experimentation, we enable scientists to focus on the science—delivering data faster, with more consistency, and at a scale never before possible in orbit.”
Compact and capable, the unit fits roughly the size of a carry-on suitcase and seats six 96-well plates. It includes a built-in incubator, a microfluidic liquid dispenser, a plate reader, and a robotic arm. While optimized for microgravity, the platform also enhances laboratory productivity on Earth.
Exobiosphere’s progress helped it earn a place in Cedars-Sinai Accelerator+ and align with Cedars-Sinai Technology Ventures, which recently invested $1.4 million and will provide mentorship from researchers.
“As an academic medical center committed to innovation, we’re excited to back a company performing meaningful biosciences research in space while collaborating with our colleagues at the Center for Space Medicine Research,” said Nirdesh K. Gupta, PhD, managing partner of Cedars-Sinai Intellectual Property Company. “This collaboration exemplifies our dedication to advancing breakthrough technologies that transform healthcare in space and on Earth.”
Related links
- Cedars-Sinai
- Space Medicine Technology and Systems
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