The press release is reproduced below:

Beth Dickey/Melissa Mathews
Headquarters, Washington
202-358-2087/1272
beth.dickey-1@nasa.gov, melissa.mathews-1@nasa.gov

William Jeffs
Johnson Space Center, Houston
281-483-5111
william.p.jeffs@nasa.gov

Kathy Major
National Space Biomedical Research Institute (NSBRI), Houston
713-798-5893
major@bcm.edu

RELEASE: 07-211

NASA, NSBRI Select 17 Proposals in Space Radiation Research

WASHINGTON - The crews of future missions to the moon and Mars could face serious health risks from exposure to space radiation. NASA and the National Space Biomedical Research Institute, known as NSBRI, Houston, will fund 17 new research projects that will enable NASA to better understand and reduce those risks. Scientists at universities, research institutions and private companies in eight states will conduct the studies.

The goal of NASA's space radiation research is to enable the human exploration of space by understanding and limiting astronaut health risks from space radiation. The health risks of radiation during space travel may include cancer, acute radiation sickness and degenerative tissue damage, including damage to the central nervous system. The new research is designed to deliver products that will help in the development of effective shielding or biological countermeasures for radiation exposure.

The 17 projects were selected from 98 proposals received in response to a NASA and NSBRI announcement, Ground-Based Studies in Space Radiation. Scientific and technical experts from academia and government laboratories reviewed the proposals. The total potential value of the selected proposals is about $15 million.

NSBRI is a NASA-funded consortium of institutions studying the health risks related to long-duration spaceflight. The institute's science, technology and education projects take place at more than 70 institutions across the United States.

A complete list of the selected principal investigators, organizations and proposals is available at:


For information about NASA and agency programs, visit:



For information about NSBRI, visit:


Source: NASA Press Release 07-211

The contract release is reproduced below:

Beth Dickey/Melissa Mathews
Headquarters, Washington
202-358-2087/1272
beth.dickey-1@nasa.gov, melissa.mathews-1@nasa.gov

William Jeffs
Johnson Space Center, Houston
281-483-5111
william.p.jeffs@nasa.gov

CONTRACT RELEASE: C07-049

NASA Extends Cooperative Agreement With NSBRI

HOUSTON -- NASA's Johnson Space Center has awarded a five-year, $120-million extension of its cooperative agreement with the National Space Biomedical Research Institute, also known as NSBRI, of Houston. Under the extension, the institute and NASA's Human Research Program will continue biomedical research in support of a long-term human presence in space.

The base period of the cooperative agreement began April 1, 1997, with a value of $93.6 million. The first five-year extension was exercised in 2002, extending the agreement to Sept. 30, 2007, and increasing its value by $148.5 million. This second five-year option will extend the agreement through Sept. 30, 2012, and increase its value by an additional $120 million, bringing the total value to $362 million.

The NSBRI studies the health risks related to long-duration spaceflight and develops countermeasures to mitigate them. NSBRI projects address space health concerns such as bone and muscle loss, cardiovascular changes, infection, balance problems, sleep disturbances, radiation exposure effects, nutrition, physical fitness, rehabilitation, remote-treatment medical technologies and neurobehavioral and psychosocial factors.

The institute's science, technology and education projects take place at more than 70 institutions in 26 U.S. states.

For information about NASA and agency programs, visit:

For information about NSBRI, visit:


Source: NASA Contract Release C07-049