Agnirva Space Premier League - Expedition #31261: Building Organs in Space: Recellularization Using Stem Cells

Imagine rebuilding organs using your own stem cells—and doing it better in space. That’s the idea behind the experiment titled The Effect of Microgravity on Stem Cell Mediated Recellularization. Conducted aboard the ISS during Expeditions 51/52 and 53/54, this experiment explores how microgravity affects the process of stem cells populating and forming functional tissues.

Led by scientists from UTMB Galveston and the Houston Methodist Research Institute, the project involved sending decellularized organ scaffolds into orbit. These are organ-shaped structures stripped of their cells. In space, researchers added stem cells to see how they grow and attach in microgravity.

Why do this in space? On Earth, gravity causes cells to settle, which can limit uniform growth. In microgravity, cells float and may distribute more evenly. This could improve the quality of tissue-engineered organs.

The results could lead to breakthroughs in regenerative medicine, organ transplantation, and even treatments for damaged tissues. It also teaches us how space can become a laboratory for solving Earth’s toughest medical challenges.

Join the Agnirva Space Internship Program

Get certified with over 100 hours of immersive, self-paced learning in astronomy, cosmology, space technology, and climate science through the Agnirva Space Internship Program. Join, complete virtual projects, and earn a digital certificate to showcase your space fluency in interviews, resumes, and beyond.