Research & Technology Development

Research & Innovation

The Space Medicine Section at UTHealth Houston advances research and innovation at the intersection of emergency medicine, aerospace health, and extreme-environment operations. Our work focuses on understanding human performance, physiology, and medical decision-making in environments where resources are limited, communication is delayed, and conditions are unpredictable.

Our section participates in interdisciplinary studies related to human physiology in extreme environments, medical guidance systems, and operational mission support.

Research Topics

Topics include:

  • Microgravity-related changes in physiology
  • Medical risk mitigation for long-duration missions
  • Health monitoring and remote care systems
  • High-fidelity mission simulations

These research efforts aim to improve medical readiness for spaceflight while generating insights applicable to emergency medicine, disaster response, and global health.

Advancing Human Spaceflight Medicine

Research is a cornerstone of our Space Medicine Fellowship, driving innovation in astronaut health, mission safety, and long-duration spaceflight readiness. Fellows are encouraged to pursue projects that intersect clinical medicine, aerospace engineering, and human performance. By working closely with NASA, SpaceX, and other aerospace partners, fellows gain practical, hands-on experience in designing, executing, and analyzing studies that have direct implications for the future of human space exploration.

Understanding the history of space medicine is essential for appreciating current advances. For example, Inventing Apollo: Spaceflight Biomedical Sensors from the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum highlights the early development of biomedical monitoring systems, providing perspective on how far the field has evolved and the challenges that pioneers overcame.=

Past, Present, and Future Projects

  • Polaris Dawn Experiment – Fellows engage in physiological monitoring and research during commercial spaceflight, studying the effects of microgravity and other stressors on human health.
  • Additional Projects (TBD) – Initiatives are being planned to advance medical capabilities for extended missions beyond low Earth orbit. These projects explore innovative approaches to health monitoring, emergency interventions, and mission safety protocols.

Publications

Our fellows and faculty actively contribute to the scientific literature in space medicine. Selected publications authored or co-authored by our team showcase research findings, experimental results, and insights into astronaut health and mission preparation.

Sam Beger, MD, MPH

  • Beger, S., Dupre, A., Alexander, D. (2023, May). LSAH Evidence for the Treatment and Prevention of Space Motion Sickness. Aerospace Medicine Association Conference 2023
  • Petersen, E., Pattarini, J.M., Mulcahy, R.A., Beger, S.B., Mitchell, M.R., Hu, Y.D., Middleton, K.N., Frazier, W., Mormann, B., Esparza, H., & Asadi, A. (2021). Adapting Disease Prevention Protocols for Human Spaceflight During COVID-19. Aerospace Medicine and Human Performance, 92(7), 597–602.
  • Beger, S.B., Mejia, E., & Bobrow, B.J. (2023). Challenges of Remotely Witnessed Emergencies – A Case of International Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest Recognition via Video Call. The American Journal of Emergency Medicine, 63, 182-e1.

Kris Lehnhardt, MD, FACEP

  • Anderson A, Stratton E, Nelson A, Lemery J, Berens K, Hilmers DC, Lehnhardt, KR. Development of Progressively Earth-Independent Medical Operations to Enable NASA Exploration Missions. Wilderness & Environmental Medicine. 2025. https://doi.org/10.1177/10806032241310386

Anil Menon, MD, MPH

  • Antonsen, E., Fogarty, J., Menon, A., & Harris, N. S. (2025, September). Medicine in the Final Frontier. Wilderness & Environmental Medicine, 36(1 Suppl), 1S–2S.