The University of Pittsburgh’s McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine has launched a new Center for Space Biomedicine led by Dr. Afshin Beheshti. This center is part of Pitt’s Space Initiative, which also includes Space Engineering and Space Science, and is focused on addressing health challenges on Earth and in space while developing technologies to improve patient care for humans!
Beheshti, who joins Pitt from NASA Ames Research Center, aims to foster global collaboration through a multi-institutional research consortium. “Space exploration is a global effort,” Beheshti said. “The best research comes from working together.”
Dr. Beheshti, who also holds positions as associate director of the McGowan Institute and professor at Pitt’s School of Medicine, brings expertise in mitochondria and microRNAs, key factors in how space affects human health. His research could lead to treatments for space-related conditions and major health issues on Earth, like long COVID and mitochondrial diseases.
According to Dr. Chandan K. Sen, director of the McGowan Institute, Beheshti’s leadership will drive tissue repair and regeneration innovation. “Our current research indicates that exposure to the space environment induces genomic plasticity, which could unveil novel tissue repair and regeneration pathways. With Dr. Beheshti’s leadership and extensive network of collaborators, we are poised to drive groundbreaking innovation in space biomedicine.”