EFFECTS OF SPACE TRAVEL FOCUS OF UH CANCER CENTER GRANT
UH Cancer Center researcher , John Shepherd , PhD , was awarded more than $ 330,000 from one of NASA ’ s Human Resource Program partners , The Translational Research Institute for Space Health , to study ways to measure body composition on long-duration space flights . The results of the ASTRO3DO study on muscle loss and loss of function will be directly applicable to cancer cachexia research .
3D optical models accurately estimate bone and body composition , but lack space acclimation experience . A research team led by Shepherd , will monitor frailty risk using 3D optical whole body scans , and create a space-feasible prototype for microgravity testing . their muscles and bones ,” said Shepherd . “ With the technology we develop we hope the astronauts can modify their nutrition and adjust training to minimize muscle loss while on long-duration flights , such as missions to Mars . We will mount several small cameras inside the space capsule to collect data . The astronauts will spin while they are floating in space , so we can capture their entire body .”
Measurement of body composition is a relatively new area for cancer research that has direct implications for understanding how obesity and body shape contribute to the development of , and outcomes from , cancer . Shepherd ’ s team aims to do follow up studies with cachexia patients in Hawaiʻi .
“ Astronauts lose muscle mass from the effects of microgravity . When they finish a long-duration flight , many times they can ’ t even walk when they return to earth . While they are on the flight they need to be able to have direct feedback on the quality of
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