The Space Precision Medicine Association (SPMA) is an international group of physicians, scientists, engineers, and specialists working to apply personalized and precision medicine in the spaceflight environment. The SPMA is on a developmental track to become a constituent organization of the Aerospace Medical Association (AsMA). The SPMA founders consist of members and officers of the Aerospace Medical Association.
The Space Precision Medicine Association is concerned with advancing the field of individualized medicine in human spaceflight. This encompasses using complex molecular, physiologic, and behavioral analytics to identify patterns of variance unique to each astronaut or space traveler. From these unique patterns of variance, individualized (personalized, precision) countermeasures can be developed that positively impact the ability for astronauts to execute missions and thrive in the spaceflight environment. A further goal is to extend astronaut careers and sustain optimal health when their spaceflight careers have ended.
The terms personalized medicine, individualized medicine, and precision medicine are widely used...
Explore →The terms personalized medicine, individualized medicine, and precision medicine are widely used to describe the application of advanced molecular profiling (and other methods of assessment) in an effort to understand the molecular landscape of an individual or group. These data are carefully interpreted, assigned biological meaning, and used to guide a tailored therapy.
According to the National Research Council, “personalized medicine” is an original term with a meaning that has shared elements with “precision medicine.” However, there was concern that the word “personalized” could be understood to imply that treatments and prevention measures are being developed uniquely for each individual. The NRC noted that, in precision medicine, the focus is on identifying which approaches will be effective for groups of patients based on genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors. They thought that this more ‘stratified’ approach might be more amenable to general practice than true personalized (or individualized) medicine.
Indeed, in Earth-based medical practice, it has not always seemed practical to apply true personalized medicine to patients, due to cost and complexity. However, the spaceflight environment and its extreme demands represents one of the most relevant contexts in which to provide true personalization, based individual molecular, physiologic, and other phenotypic data.
In the spaceflight application, the goal is both personalization and precision. Personalization is e...
In the spaceflight application, the goal is both personalization and precision. Personalization is employed to meet the unique needs of each individual and precision is attained via the use of high-resolution analytics to guide research, patient care, and countermeasure development. In the SPMA, the terms personalized medicine and precision medicine are used in a complementary fashion.
This is done to recognize the fact that the approach is used to optimize solutions for the individual astronaut but that its precision is rooted in the use of molecular profiling and other forms of assessment to more accurately develop 1) new testable hypotheses, 2) new understanding of mechanism, 3) novel preventive measures, 4) novel treatments, 5) advanced countermeasures, and 6) training approaches tailored to the individual. This approach also necessarily encompasses a systems approach that incorporates systems theory, systems biology, systems medicine, and systems integration.
The foundation of precision medicine applied to human spaceflight is roote...
Explore →The foundation of precision medicine applied to human spaceflight is rooted in deep molecular profiling coupled with physiologic, morphologic, and behavioral phenotype assessment. This detailed profiling is then used to tailor training, prevention, and treatment to the individual astronaut.
Close ModalDeep molecular profiling coupled with physiologic, morphologic, and behavio...
Explore →Deep molecular profiling coupled with physiologic, morphologic, and behavioral phenotype assessment is important to better understanding individual risk. Understanding of generalized risk can be coupled with this understanding of individual risk in order to better personalize countermeasures.
Close ModalUse of analytics to understand risk can be translated into methods to prevent...
Explore →Use of analytics to understand risk can be translated into methods to prevent disease. Once an astronaut understands that he or she carries a specific gene or genotype, the astronaut may be able to make lifestyle changes or receive individual targeted interventions to mitigate illness or enhance performance. For example, astronauts who carry the APOE4 genotype may have greater risk to cognitive decline associated with spaceflight (as is the case on Earth). To prevent the APOE genotype from manifesting as disease, physicians may apply specific pre-mission, in-mission, and post-mission countermeasures.
Close ModalDeeper knowledge of an individual’s biological response can lead to measu...
Explore →Deeper knowledge of an individual’s biological response can lead to measures that optimize performance or mitigate the impairment of performance in space. For instance, drug-drug or gene-drug interactions may adversely impact performance on an EVA by modifying molecular networks. Individualizing drug selection based on such measures as pharmacogenomics can mitigate these effects on performance.
Not all astronauts respond similarly to the space environment as evidenced...
Explore →Not all astronauts respond similarly to the space environment as evidenced by roughly one-fourth developing space associated neuro-ocular syndrome and roughly one-half developing jugular vein stasis (dependent upon mission duration). Complex profiling of the molecular, physiologic, morphologic, and behavioral phenotypes can inform about the features that may lead to a given response in space.
Close ModalFundamental to precision medicine is the assessment, which is typically seen...
Explore →Fundamental to precision medicine is the assessment, which is typically seen to be rooted in molecular assessment of the following: genome, epigenome, transcriptome, proteome, metabolome, exposome, and microbiome. These are usually done as either targeted or untargeted profiling. These measures are then coupled with the physiologic, morphologic, and behavioral phenotype, each of which have their own set of measures.
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The Aerospace Medical Association (AsMA) is the largest, most-representative professional membership organization in the fields of aerospace medicine and human performance. AsMA is organized exclusively for scientific, educational, and charitable purposes.
AsMA is a scientific forum providing a setting for many different disciplines to come together and share their expertise for the benefit of all persons involved in air and space travel. The Association has provided its expertise to a multitude of Federal and international agencies on a broad range of issues, including aviation and space medical standards, the aging pilot, and physiological stresses of flight. AsMA’s membership includes aerospace medicine specialists, flight nurses, physiologists, psychologists, human factors specialists, physician assistants, and researchers in this field. Most are with industry, civil aviation regulatory agencies, departments of defense and military services, the airlines, space programs, and universities.
The SPMA is a new organization that has a goal of becoming a constituent organization within the Aerospace Medical Association. In an effort to grow its membership, dues will be waived until January 2024.
If you would like to become a member, please send your request to our President, Dr. Michael A. Schimdt at: info@spaceprecisionmedicine.org
