TRISH Launches Call for Scientific Proposals Using Commercial Spaceflight Health Data

The Translational Research Institute for Space Health (TRISH) has opened the EXPAND Database and Biorepository to the scientific community, inviting proposals for secondary analyses of de-identified health and performance data from commercial astronauts. This initiative aims to harness data collected from pre-, in-, and post-flight health assessments of volunteer participants in collaboration with commercial spaceflight providers.

The EXPAND Program, which stands for Enhancing eXploration Platforms and Analog Definition, seeks to advance research on health changes experienced during short-duration space missions among non-governmental astronauts. Jimmy Wu, TRISH deputy director and chief engineer, emphasized that this database is intended to lead the field of commercial spaceflight health research and to facilitate hypothesis-driven inquiries.

Selected researchers will be granted access to TRISH’s Essential Measures data, which includes comprehensive health and performance variables from numerous private astronaut missions and analog studies. The data encompasses multi-omics information, wearable sensor data tracking sleep and activity, cognitive performance assessments, standardized questionnaires, and other significant biomedical measures. Dr. Jackson Brougher, a TRISH space health research scientist, expressed enthusiasm about the potential advancements this data could bring to space health research.

Proposals must consist of both Step-1 and Step-2 submissions, with awarded projects expected to commence in fall 2026. The deadline for Step-1 proposals is 11:59 p.m. ET on April 23, and a pre-proposal briefing will take place at 2 p.m. ET on March 26, with a recording available for reference.

TRISH partners with NASA’s Human Research Program to foster advancements in space health, ensuring benefits for both astronauts and individuals on Earth. By focusing on operational needs and innovative collaborations, TRISH aspires to directly link the space and health sectors, enhancing human performance in both environments.