A new perspective article just published in Stem Cell Reports, “Biomanufacturing in Low Earth Orbit: A Paradigm Shift,” features insights from the ISS National Laboratory’s very own Program Director for In-Space Biomanufacturing Davide Marotta, Deputy Chief Scientist Donna Roberts and Chief Scientist Michael Roberts, as well as leading researchers in regenerative medicine.
This exciting new article highlights
- the rapid rise of biomedical R&D and in-space biomanufacturing on the ISS and how it's accelerating breakthrough advances in stem cell research and tissue engineering (made possible by the novel environment of microgravity).
- The role of key partners and new partnerships — including universities, biotechnology and pharmaceutical firms, and spaceflight hardware pioneers — joining with NASA and other government agencies to create new capabilities in low Earth orbit (LEO).
- The emergence of in-space biomanufacturing as an engine to catalyse innovation off Earth to improve health outcomes on Earth and create a new marketplace in LEO.
Why this matters
Microgravity as a catalyst: The article underscores how the space station’s environment boosts tissue formation, enhances the accuracy of or accelerates disease modelling, and supports the precision production of biologic therapies.
From discovery to delivery: Advances made in LEO could transform manufacturing processes for therapeutics — making drugs more effective, scalable and affordable for patients on Earth (and, eventually, beyond).
A collaborative pathway forward: The authors call for aligned investment, supportive policies and cross-sector partnerships to scale space-based biomanufacturing into an impactful, new frontier in healthcare.
Under the management of the Center for the Advancement of Science in Space (CASIS), the ISS National Lab has been the engine driving this expansion of space-enabled biomedical innovation — supporting dozens of projects that explore stem cell growth, organoid disease modelling, tissue engineering, and in-space manufacturing.
This latest publication amplifies ISS's mission: to position the ISS not just as a science lab in orbit, but as a burgeoning marketplace for therapeutics that can benefit humanity — today and for generations to come.
