Dubai: The Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC) has launched an innovative oral health study in a simulated microgravity environment on Earth in association with the Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences (MBRU) and New York University Abu Dhabi (NYUAD).
Emirati astronaut Mr. Sultan AlNeyadi has announced the project from the International Space Station (ISS), which is set to redefine understanding of oral health in space.
The study, titled “Oral tissues and neural crest derived stem cells as a model to study oral health in microgravity environment”, seeks to comprehend the development, function, and disease processes of oral and dental tissues under microgravity conditions.
Led by Dr. Mohamed Jamal, Associate Professor of Endodontics at MBRU, the project plans to simulate the International Space Station’s environment on Earth for long-term experiments.
We are proud to be collaborating with Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences and New York University Abu Dhabi for this study, which will play a key role in understanding how microgravity impacts oral health, enabling us to enhance the well-being of astronauts on extended space missions. The results from this study are sure to provide valuable insights that will shape the future of oral health in space and on Earth.
Mr. Adnan AlRais, Mission Manager, UAE Astronaut Program, stated.
The study is one of the projects managed by MBRSC under the UAE’s National Space Programme and funded by the ICT Fund of the Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority (TDRA), which aims to support research and development in the ICT sector in the UAE and promote the country’s integration on the global stage.
MBRU, the academic arm of Dubai Academic Health Corporation (DAHC), will be leading the scientific aspects of the project and conducting the study at their campus in collaboration with NYUAD. Their role also includes the analysis of the data obtained from the study and the preparation of samples.
The study’s potential implications are significant for the field of oral health, as it will aid scientists in understanding oral tissues’ function in a microgravity environment, thereby providing crucial data.
It will also help develop reproducible and high-quality stem cell models to study oral health in space. The results of the study could also lead to the development of innovative 3D tissue models for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine, highlighting the potential of microgravity to model genetic diseases.
This oral health study showcases human adaptability and ingenuity, propelling the boundaries of space health research. The outcomes of this research will lay the foundation for future studies into the effects of microgravity on human health, heralding a new era of space medicine and well-being.