Afshin Beheshti has been appointed to lead biomedical research at the University of Pittsburgh as the director of the McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine’s new Center for Space Biomedicine, which is part of the recently launched Pitt Space initiative.
The center aims to develop technologies to make spaceflight safer for humans and apply these advancements to improve healthcare on Earth. Beheshti, who joined Pitt from NASA Ames Research Center, emphasizes the importance of global collaboration in space exploration and plans to establish a multi-institutional research consortium.
Beheshti chose Pitt for its extensive research capabilities and potential for exciting collaborations. He will also serve as associate director of the McGowan Institute and professor of surgery and computational and systems biology at the School of Medicine.
Chandan Sen, director of the McGowan Institute, expressed enthusiasm for Beheshti’s leadership, highlighting the potential for groundbreaking innovation in space biomedicine. Recent increases in spaceflight have led to a “second space age,” necessitating a better understanding of the effects of space radiation and microgravity on the human body.
Beheshti’s research focuses on mitochondria, the cell’s energy hubs, and their role as biomarkers for health. He is testing supplements to mitigate space travel damage and exploring their implications for conditions on Earth. Additionally, he studies microRNAs, which regulate genes and could serve as biomarkers for space radiation-related damage. He is investigating antagomirs to repair this damage.
Beheshti aims to make Pitt a prominent space research university through collaborative, open science.
Read more at the link attached here: https://www.health.pitt.edu/news/pitt-launches-new-center-space-biomedic...