The University of Malta has announced the publication of five ground-breaking research articles as part of the largest collection on space bioscience ever, featured in various nature journals. These studies, led by Professors Afshin Beheshti from NASA Ames Research Centre, and Christoper Mason from Weill Cornell Medicine, USA allowed the spearheading of teams of scientists across the globe that included Professor Joseph Borg and his colleagues in Malta. The published works mark a significant contribution to the field of space bioscience and highlight the pivotal role of the University of Malta in this rapidly evolving domain.
Key highlights
- ‘A Second Space Age Spanning Omics, Platforms, and Medicine Across Orbits’ (NATURE) This comprehensive review discusses the rapid advancements in commercial, private, and multinational spaceflight, defining the current era as The Second Space Age. It emphasizes the integration of modern molecular biology and precision medicine into aerospace medicine. The study highlights recent work from NASA, JAXA, ESA, and the commercial sector, detailing new tools and missions that will sustain human presence beyond low Earth orbit. Contributors: Dr Josef Borg and Prof. Joseph Borg.
- Spatiotemporal Expression and Control of Haemoglobin in Space (Nature Communications) Exploring how space environment activates genes regulating blood homeostasis, this study uses multi-omic datasets from NASA GeneLab and other missions to examine haemoglobin biology, a very well established field of research in Malta pioneered by Prof. Alex Felice since the late 1990’s. Findings reveal significant variations in globin gene expression due to the unique spatiotemporal characteristics of spaceflight. Primary Author: Dr Josef Borg; Contributors: Mr Alfred Buhagiar, Prof. Alex Felice and Prof. Joseph Borg.
- Longitudinal Multi-Omics Analysis of Host Microbiome Architecture and Immune Responses During Short-Term Spaceflight (Nature Microbiology) This longitudinal study profiles human microbiome responses to spaceflight, revealing time-dependent changes across multiple body sites. Key findings include transient increases in viruses on the skin and long-term shifts in the oral microbiome, providing insights for future mission planning and astronaut health monitoring. Contributors: Ms Christine Gatt and Prof. Joseph Borg.
- Ethical Considerations for the Age of Non-Governmental Space Exploration (Nature Communications) Addressing the ethical, legal, and medical policy challenges of non-governmental space exploration, this paper lays out key considerations for the selection and research of space travellers in the commercial space sector. Contributors: Prof. Jean Calleja Agius, Dr Anu Iris and Prof. Joseph Borg.
- Spaceflight Induces Changes in Gene Expression Profiles Linked to Insulin and Estrogen (Communications Biology) This research examines how spaceflight affects gene expression related to insulin and estrogen signalling in both mice and humans. Findings highlight significant changes in metabolic and reproductive endocrinologic pathways, underscoring the need for further research on space travel’s biological impacts. Contributors: Dr Anu Iris and Prof. Joseph Borg.
Prof. Joseph Borg’s significant involvement in all five studies underscores the University of Malta’s significant presence and leadership in space bioscience. His collaboration with international agencies and institutions, including NASA, SpaceX, JAXA, and ESA, has been instrumental in advancing our understanding of how spaceflight impacts biological systems. This collection is but a start of what can be achieved together and in bringing humanity closer.
“The University of Malta has made great strides in research and innovation during the past years, with projects and outcomes spanning several fields of study and application. I am therefore very proud to announce our recent contributions and achievements in yet another innovative area – space bioscience. This newfound niche contributes valuable insights that will help ensure the health and safety of astronauts as humanity ventures further into space. This collection of exciting studies, in which our University has participated intensively, not only showcases our research capabilities but also highlights the benefits resulting from collaborative efforts with global space agencies and commercial partners”, commented Prof. Simon G. Fabri, UM’s Pro-Rector for Research and Knowledge Transfer.
Mr Wilfred Kenely, CEO of the Research, Innovation and Development Trust at UM, said: “At the RIDT we are indeed excited by this impressive milestone in space bioscience, a milestone that promises significant inroads in health science. We are also proud to have believed in Prof. Borg’s ambitious projects from the very beginning and to have helped facilitate the missions and the research thanks to the contributions of our loyal donors.”
