The NationalAeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) presented Stefan Judex, Ph.D.,Assistant Professor in Stony Brook University’s Department of BiomedicalEngineering, with a three-year research award totaling $764,073.
Judex receivedthe grant for the study entitled, ‘?The Genetic Basis of the Loss ofMusculo-Skeletal Tissue During Weightlessness: Towards the Identification ofIndividuals that are at Greatest Risk,’ which will attempt to identifyspecific regions on chromosomes that predispose individuals to excessive boneor muscle mass loss during long-term space flight.
The loss of boneand muscle under reduced gravity condition is a major stumbling block toman’s extended presence in space. The health and well being of astronautsis severely compromised when they return to Earth because of the tremendousbone and muscle loss suffered in space.
‘?NASA iscommitted to selecting research that will help to solve problems humans face inspace flight,’ said Guy Fogleman, Ph.D., Acting Director, BioastronauticsResearch Division. ‘?We look forward to working with Dr. Judex to helpNASA achieve this goal.’
Bone losssimilar to that which astronauts experience during space travel afflictsmillions of people during periods of bed rest and immobilization on Earth.This osteoporosis varies between individuals and it is believed that geneticvariations can account for most of this variability.
‘?Thisaward will be fundamental in advancing Dr. Judex’s research inidentifying the role genetics plays in bone loss, and which is a key etiologicfactor in the osteoporosis that haunts millions of Americans,’ said Dr.Clinton T. Rubin, Chair of Stony Brook’s Department of BiomedicalEngineering, Stony Brook University. ‘?Further, I believe this awardrepresents a firm indication of the cutting edge research that our Departmentand Stony Brook University are pioneering in areas of space science.’
