The Canadian Nuclear Laboratories (CNL) collaboration with Western University is a groundbreaking initiative that aims to address the critical issue of radiation exposure on astronauts during long-duration space missions. The project, led by researchers Tamie Poepping and Eugene Wong, is developing innovative organ-on-chip and organoid-on-chip systems to study the complex effects of radiation on human tissue.
One of the key challenges in space exploration is understanding the long-term effects of radiation exposure on the human body. As astronauts venture further from Earth, they face increased exposure to space radiation, which poses significant biological risks. The collaboration between CNL and Western is tackling this problem head-on by creating a technology small enough to fit in the palm of a hand, yet powerful enough to replicate the complexity of human tissue.
Tamie Poepping, a physics and astronomy professor, is at the forefront of this research. Her lab specializes in building platforms that can control fluid at near-cellular scales, allowing researchers to isolate variables and monitor tissue behavior in real-time. Poepping's organ-on-chip and organoid-on-chip systems, which are no larger than a postage stamp, mimic the intricate networks of blood flow and keep living human cells alive. This technology is crucial for understanding how organs respond to extreme environments, such as those experienced by astronauts.
Eugene Wong, another physics and astronomy professor, is collaborating with Poepping to study the effects of radiotherapy on human organs and tissues. By exposing organoids-on-chip to radiation, they can investigate detailed biological effects and individual variations. Wong's long-term goal is to better understand both acute and delayed tissue damage in cancer patients and individuals in extreme environments, such as astronauts in deep space and engineers working with nuclear reactors.
Wong's connection to this research dates back to his post-doctoral fellowship under Jerry Battista, a pioneer in the field of radiation exposure in extreme environments. Battista's work helped shape the modern understanding of radiation exposure, emphasizing that it is a dynamic process with varying effects across time, space, and biological structure. Wong is now extending this research into new environments, including space exploration.
The collaboration also involves Christopher Pin, a professor in the departments of physiology, pharmacology, oncology, and pediatrics. Pin studies the variability in biological responses to radiation and chemotherapy among patients with similar cancers. His lab grows organoids to directly observe these differences, as even within the same cancer type, responses can vary dramatically. This variability is a significant challenge in cancer treatment and highlights the need for more precise models.
At CNL, researchers are adapting these organ-on-chip and organoid-on-chip systems for radiobiology experiments related to emergency response, triage scenarios, and space radiation exposure. By studying intermediate biological responses, such as metabolites, cytokines, and stress markers, they can gain insights into how damage unfolds and how tissue attempts to recover. This research has far-reaching implications, not only for space travel but also for cancer treatment and nuclear safety.
The collaboration is supported by NSERC and Western's Institute for Earth and Space Exploration, and it will engage trainees in research placements funded by collaborative grants at CNL in Chalk River, Ontario. This initiative is a testament to the power of scientific collaboration, bringing together experts from diverse fields to tackle complex challenges and drive innovation in space exploration and beyond.
