Science Friday Science Friday

The new frontier of cancer research is in space

May 14, 2026 · 17m

Summary

Dr. Katrina Jamieson and Dr. Minil Datta discuss how microgravity accelerates tumor growth, enabling rapid cancer research on the ISS. They explain that space stress activates the ADAR1 gene, leading to the development of Rebexinib, a potential drug for various malignancies. The episode also covers how space studies reveal immune system behaviors and resilience mechanisms in astronauts, offering new insights into treating glioblastoma and autoimmune disorders.

Topics discussed

Sponsor message from Progressive Insurance Introduction: Cancer research on the ISS Why tumors grow faster in space and the 'dark genome' Microgravity benefits for 3D tumor organoids Astronaut safety and stem cell resilience Immune system suppression in space Rebexinib drug discovery and clinical trials Commercial break Glioblastoma research and future space missions Commercial space labs and human vs AI research Space medicine for autoimmune and neurodegenerative diseases Concluding thoughts and credits
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