iotechnology experiments conducted aboard the Space Shuttle Columbia (STS-80) in late 1996 could have far-reaching implications for breast cancer victims and heart transplant recipients. The Consortium for Materials Development in Space at the University of Alabama at Huntsville (UAH) and Instrumentation Technology Associates (ITA) jointly sponsored the Commercial ITA-MDA Experiments-05 (CMIX-05) payload. CMIX uses microgravity for biotechnology research to develop services and processes to generate materials.

John Cassanto of ITA served as industry participant program manager, and Dr. Marian Lewis managed project and commercial investigators for UAH. An optical system recorded the experiments for the first time. Formal results are due soon.

"I am delighted to report that our preliminary 'quick look' results for the UAH CMIX-05 payload indicate an unqualified success for all the UAH commercial principal investigations," said Lewis. ITA research of commercial biomolecules, such as cytokines, hormones, enzymes and specialized proteins, included the growth of urokinase crystals for breast cancer research.

The Consortium for Materials Development in Space researched aligned heart muscle cells for transplantation. The center foresees the eventual production of transplantable cells or tissues not available through standard Earth-bound processes. Other experiments involved anti-cancer compounds from plant cells, the improved encapsulation of islet cells for diabetes treatment, the evaluation of calcium dynamics in a model animal (mysid shrimp) system and the evaluation of cytokine secretions by lymphocytes.

For more information, contact Dr. Marian Lewis at the University of Alabama at Huntsville.
Call 205/890-6553,Fax 205/890-6376, E-mail: lewisml@emailuah.edu
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