Failing Forward: Stem Cells in Space

Dr. Davide Marotta is the Program Director for In-Space Biomanufacturing at the International Space Station National Laboratory. Dr. Catriona Jamieson is the Director of the Sanford Stem Cell Institute at the University of California, San Diego.  In this special episode recorded in front of a live audience at ISSCR 2024 in Hamburg, Germany, they talk about the opportunities and challenges of working with stem cells in a microgravity environment, and what this could mean for the future of stem cell-based therapies. They discuss the challenges of culturing cells in space, the need for risk reduction and collaboration, and how microgravity affects stem cell growth and aging. They also discuss the opportunities that come with the growing popularity of private spaceflight.