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Biomanufacturing and In-Space Production Applications on the ISS National Lab
Michael Roberts, Chief Scientific Officer, International Space Station National Laboratory, United States of America

NASA and the ISS National Laboratory are enabling the commercial development of low-Earth orbit by sponsoring both fundamental research and the in space manufacturing of advanced materials and biological products that improve life on Earth. As the International Space Station continues to offer access to the unique benefits of a microgravity laboratory, producing breakthrough research as well as new and improved products and technologies, it is also pioneering the path forward for the transition to commercially LEO platforms.

Title to be Confirmed.
Yupeng Chen, Associate Professor, University of Connecticut, United States of America

Single Cell Sequencing Reveals Non-Random Genetic Alterations in a Cyanobacterium During the Biology and Mars Experiment (BIOMEX)
Yuguang Liu, Assistant Professor and Associate Consultant, Microbiome Program, Mayo Clinic, United States of America

Understanding the impact of long-term exposure of microorganisms to space is critical in understanding how these exposures impact life during extended human missions. Here, we subjected Nostoc sp. CCCryo 231-06, a cyanobacterium capable of surviving in extreme conditions, to a 23-month stay at the International Space Station (BIOMEX, on the EXPOSE-R2 platform) and returned it to Earth for single-cell whole genome analysis. We used a microfluidic platform to isolate single cells, and amplify femtograms of DNA in a precisely controlled manner with minimal contamination, and sequenced their whole genome to identify the genomic changes in single Nostoc cells. The variant profile showed that biofilm and photosystem associated loci were the most altered, with an increased variant rate of synonymous base pair substitutions. We concluded that the combined effect of complex cosmic radiation and UV exposure may result in synergistic damage effects, with a higher number of synonymous variants with simultaneous exposure to cosmic and UV radiations. The cause(s) and evolutionary implications of the non-random synonymous genomic substitutions observed at the single cell level under long-term cosmic exposure warrants further investigation, and may revolutionize our views on how evolution occurs at the single cell, and also population level.

Biomanufacturing in Microgravity - Where we are Today and Where we Plan to Go in the Future
Molly Mulligan, Director, Business Development, Redwire, United States of America

Biomanufacturing at scale in space is not today but it will be in the future. Using 3D bioprinters and automated crystallization systems with real time data, biomanufacturing is poised to have a breakthrough in microgravity. This talk will focus on the technology and possibilities of today on ISS and what the future holds on CLDs for true scale biomanufacturing in small and large molecule crystallization and 3D bioprinting.

Successful Microfluidic Fabrication Strategies for Experiments in Microgravity
Leanna Levine, Founder & CEO, ALine, Inc., United States of America

This talk will discuss the pioneering work ALine did to enable a range of devices for experiments in microgravity, whether in autonomous satellite packages or on the international space station.

Low Earth Orbit Research Opportunities on the International Space Station
Kristin Kopperud, Science Program Director, Biological Sciences, International Space Station National Laboratory, United States of America

Overview of the ISS National Laboratory, including its mission, role, and unique set of experimental conditions. I will also discuss some research opportunities, from past to upcoming, that are available to researchers desiring to conduct experiments in microgravity.

Title to be Confirmed.
Danilo Tagle, Director, Office of Special Initiatives, National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences at the NIH (NCATS), United States of America