By Cedars Sinai
The Register and Gizmodo recently interviewed Arun Sharma, PhD, a stem cell biologist in the Smidt Heart Institute, and Clive Svendsen, PhD, executive director of the Cedars-Sinai Board of Governors Regenerative Medicine Institute, to discuss the potential of growing stem cells in space.
Sharma and Svendsen are leading a first-of-its-kind effort to create pluripotent stem cells from scratch in outer space. Scientists are looking to leverage microgravity conditions aboard the International Space Station to improve stem cell production—a process that is difficult to do on Earth.
“Gravity constantly pulls these pluripotent stem cells towards Earth, putting pressure on them and providing a stimulus to start turning into other cell types,” Svendsen told The Register.