HRR - Gap - IM-403: Test, optimize and validate stress reduction techniques as preventive and mitigative immune dysfunction countermeasures.

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IM-403: Test, optimize and validate stress reduction techniques as preventive and mitigative immune dysfunction countermeasures.

Last Published: 11/23/20 11:55:10 AM (Central)

Responsible Element: Human Health Countermeasures (HHC)

Status: Open

Description

Present state of knowledge: It is well established that stress has a profoundly negative impact on immunity in general, and on the prognosis for certain terrestrial diseases. The practice of stress relieving techniques is therefore beginning to move into mainstream medicine, to augment more traditional pharmacological interventions. Anecdotally, several recent ISS astronauts have practiced a defined stress relieving protocol onboard ISS and reported benefits. These techniques have therefore been incorporated into the suggested interdisciplinary countermeasures protocol for deep space missions.

Research approach: Several HRP-funded efforts are underway or in planning phases, and in this area close collaboration is expected between the Human Health Countermeasures (HHC) Element and the Human Factors Behavioral Health (HFBP) Element. An upcoming study funded by the Vermont Space Grant Consortium in collaboration with HRP will explore how hypothalamic pituitary adrenal (HPA) axis activation during times of stress impacts immune competence, potentially leading to latent herpesvirus reactivation and replication. This study will utilize a virtual reality headset-based stress relieving protocol that may be applicable for deep space missions. A ground analog-based study has been initiated in the HERA isolation facility utilizing guided imagery added to analog subjects’ exercise sessions. A study is being planned to take place in the Antarctic Palmer Station that will evaluate an integrated immune countermeasure including stress-reduction measures. An ISS flight study to evaluate the beneficial effects of stress reduction techniques on immune system dysfunction is planned as well.

Target for Closure

Validated stress-reducing countermeasures for prevention/mitigation of immune dysfunction.

Mappings

Risk of Adverse Health Event Due to Altered Immune Response

IM-403: Test, optimize and validate stress reduction techniques as preventive and mitigative immune dysfunction countermeasures.

Active

Can behavioural countermeasures module the risk of stress-induced altered immunity and latent herpesvirus shedding in college students

Task Book: Entry Unavailable
Principal Investigator: TBD

Short Title: VGSC support

Responsible HRP Element: Human Health Countermeasures

Collaborating Org(s):

Funding Status: Active - Currently funded and in progress

Procurement Mechanism(s):

Directed

Aims:
SA 1 : Investigate the effect if academic stress on cytokine profiles and other relevant immune/stress biomarkers

SA 2 : Investigate the effect of academic stress on the reactivation and shedding of latent herpesviruses

SA 3: Characterize the other positive effect of the behavioral countermeasure on mitigating the immune dysregulation associated with academic stress.

Resources (Other)

Deliverables (1)

Planned-Funded

Immune Countermeasures Validation (Analog)

Task Book: Entry Unavailable
Principal Investigator: TBD

Short Title: Immune CM Validation (Analog)

Responsible HRP Element: Human Health Countermeasures

Collaborating Org(s):

Human Factors and Behavioral Performance (HFBP) Element

Funding Status: Planned-Funded - Task expected to be within budget

Procurement Mechanism(s):

Solicited

Aims:

The purpose of this study will be to develop countermeasures (i.e., exercise, pharmaceutical or nutritional supplements) to mitigate the adverse effects of spaceflight on the immune system as documented by Immune SMO study.

Integration/Unique Aspects: TBD

Resources (Ground Analog)

Deliverables (2)

Category: Risk Characterization, Quantification
Subcategory: Evidence or Risk Characterization

Description:
A report characterizing the need of countermeasure (i.e., exercise, pharmaceutical or nutritional supplements) to mitigate the adverse effects of spaceflight on the immune system as documented by Immune SMO study. This should contribute along with the other comprehensive studies within Gap IM-01 to bring this Gap closure to near 95%.

Internal Customers:
None External Customers:
None Is a Customer-Supplier Agreement (CSA) Required? No

Category: Countermeasure
Subcategory: Clinical Procedure/Prescription

Description:
Delivery of a countermeasure ready for flight validation based on innate and adaptive immunity.

Internal Customers:
Human Health Countermeasures
External Customers:
None Is a Customer-Supplier Agreement (CSA) Required? No

Immune Countermeasures Validation - Flight

Task Book: Entry Unavailable
Principal Investigator: TBD

Short Title: Flight Immune CM Validation

Responsible HRP Element: Human Health Countermeasures

Collaborating Org(s):

Funding Status: Planned-Funded - Task expected to be within budget

Procurement Mechanism(s):

Directed

Solicited

Aims:
Multiple lines of evidence indicate that immune dysregulation exists during spaceflight. The mid-point Integrated Immune data indicate that this phenomenon persists during long-duration spaceflight. Should the data indicate that countermeasures development be required, such development would first occur using ground- analogs.

1. This study placeholder is for in-flight validation of the developed countermeasures. Such validation should occur, using the ISS platform, prior to the initiation of exploration-class deep space missions.

Integration/Unique Aspects: TBD

Resources (Flight)

Deliverables (1)

Immune Countermeasure

Task Book: Entry Unavailable
Principal Investigator: TBD

Short Title: Immune CM

Responsible HRP Element: Human Health Countermeasures

Collaborating Org(s):

Funding Status: Planned-Funded - Task expected to be within budget

Procurement Mechanism(s):

TBD

Aims:
TBD

Resources (None Listed)

Deliverables (1)

Documentation:

No Documentation Available

Related Gaps (11)

IM7: It is necessary to correlate the observed effects of spaceflight-associated immune system dysregulation with known terrestrial clinical conditions.

Common Item(s)
	Risk of Adverse Health Event Due to Altered Immune Response
	Immune Countermeasures Validation (Analog)

IM-101: Evaluate the effects of deep-space radiation on immune dysfunction, as an additional hazard to the effects of psychophysiological stress and weightlessness.

Common Item(s)
	Risk of Adverse Health Event Due to Altered Immune Response
	Immune Countermeasures Validation - Flight

IM-102: Evaluate the effects of altered atmospheric conditions such as elevated CO2 levels or mildly hypoxic exploration atmosphere on immune dysfunction.

Common Item(s)
	Risk of Adverse Health Event Due to Altered Immune Response

IM-103: Evaluate for novel endogenous viral reactivation

Common Item(s)
	Risk of Adverse Health Event Due to Altered Immune Response

IM-104: Evaluate immune dysfunction on missions greater than six months.

Common Item(s)
	Risk of Adverse Health Event Due to Altered Immune Response
	Immune Countermeasures Validation (Analog)
	Immune Countermeasures Validation - Flight

IM-105: Identify immune biomarkers that correlate with known spaceflight-related immune dysfunction and immune outcomes, as a first step in designing in-flight monitoring paradigms.

Common Item(s)
	Risk of Adverse Health Event Due to Altered Immune Response

IM-201: Based on immune dysfunction biomarkers identified in Scientific Objective 1, identify, develop, and implement in-flight immune function monitoring tools for support of research during Gateway, Lunar, and Mars missions.

Common Item(s)
	Risk of Adverse Health Event Due to Altered Immune Response

IM-301: Identify appropriate ground-based analogs to spaceflight-induced immune dysfunction to enable ground validation of preventive/mitigative countermeasures and derive mechanistic insights.

Common Item(s)
	Risk of Adverse Health Event Due to Altered Immune Response

IM-401: Test, optimize and validate nutrition-based preventive/mitigative countermeasures

Common Item(s)
	Risk of Adverse Health Event Due to Altered Immune Response
	Immune Countermeasures Validation (Analog)

IM-402: Test, optimize and validate pharmacological preventive/mitigative countermeasures.

Common Item(s)
	Risk of Adverse Health Event Due to Altered Immune Response
	Immune Countermeasures Validation (Analog)

IM-501: Test the finalized, integrated, multi-component immune countermeasure in flight.

Common Item(s)
	Risk of Adverse Health Event Due to Altered Immune Response
	Immune Countermeasures Validation - Flight

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PRRs (1)

NASA Developer: Daniel Febus Responsible NASA Official: Susan Torney Contact HRP for a 508 compliant PDF Budgets, Strategic Plans, and Accountability Reports Equal Employment Opportunity Data Posted Pursuant to the No Fear Act Information-Dissemination Policies and Inventories Freedom of Information Act President's Management Agenda Privacy Policy & Important Notices Inspector General Hotline Contact HRP Human Health and Performance DIR Johnson Space Center USA.gov ExpectMore.gov

Ground-Based Flight Analogs	ICE Field Analog, Long Duration (4 months or more) – isolated, confined and extreme; may not have spaceflight mission scenario [e.g., Antarctica]
Number of Subjects	17