Space drives new therapies against cancer and chronic diseases
Physician and researcher Dr. Abba Zubair combines his passion for medicine and space to develop studies that may benefit both astronauts and patients on Earth.
Since 2017, he has sent three projects to the International Space Station (ISS) and is preparing new experiments exploring how microgravity affects human physiology.
Microgravity Research.
Dr. Zubair explains:
“The goal is to leverage the unique environment of space for the benefit of humanity, whether on Earth or beyond. We aimed to utilize the International Space Station’s environment to study how it influences human physiology.”
Among the unique space conditions he studies are the absence of gravity, radiation, and vacuum.
As a specialist in regenerative biotherapy, his work focuses on adult stem cells—specifically mesenchymal stem cells—and their potential for future stroke treatments.
Additionally, he applies these cells in support of Mayo Clinic’s bone marrow transplant program.
Dr. Zubair acknowledges:
“I also understand how challenging it is to culture them in a laboratory. One of the foundational questions is how the lack of gravity affects their cell division and growth rate.”
His first spaceflight revealed that microgravity impacts stem cells, though the effect varies depending on the cell type.
This finding led Dr. Zubair to investigate how these bone precursor cells influence bone formation and osteoporosis, a serious concern for astronauts who lose bone density despite rigorous exercise.
Cancer and Space Radiation.
He also studies leukemia stem cells to understand their behavior in space and the effects of space radiation:
“We are also working to understand the impact of space radiation, specifically how to mitigate its effects and prevent cancer.”
The goal is to protect astronauts on long-duration missions, such as trips to Mars, as well as individuals exposed to radiation on Earth, such as in nuclear accidents.
His work also has implications for oncological therapies like CAR-T cells and bone marrow transplants:
“If we can understand how hematopoietic stem cells expand and differentiate to produce immune cells, we will learn how to manufacture them more efficiently.”
Regarding the possibility that medical treatments may one day be administered in space, Dr. Zubair comments:
“If cancer cells enter the cell cycle and multiply more in microgravity, chemotherapy could become more effective. If that’s the case, administering chemotherapy in space would make cancer cells more vulnerable. It’s definitely an area I’d love to explore.”
Creating a microgravity environment on Earth is complex but feasible, he explains:
“Microgravity on Earth is essentially like entering a swimming pool—a state of buoyancy where you’re suspended; gravity is canceled out by the effect of the water. In the lab, we use a microgravity simulator where cells are suspended. It would be fascinating if you could do the same with a human being.”
Passion and Next Steps.
Dr. Zubair’s interest in space began in his childhood in Kano, Nigeria, where he would gaze at the night sky:
“For as long as I can remember, I’ve been fascinated by what’s out there in space. Looking at the moon and all the stars really sparked my passion for space and exploration.”
Although he dreamed of becoming an astronaut, a school counselor guided him toward medicine, a more practical career path.
Among his upcoming projects for the ISS are studying whether cord blood stem cells can expand in microgravity, and exploring a space-derived compound to alleviate bone loss.
“If it works, then we will definitely explore how to treat patients with osteoporosis, particularly women, cancer patients, or bedridden individuals who cannot bear weight, which adversely affects their bones.”
All his experiments are conducted in parallel with identical cells on Earth to validate the results obtained in space.
“I truly believe there is so much out there just waiting for us to explore and harness. That is why I do what I do.”
NASA has recognized Dr. Zubair with the Exceptional Scientific Achievement Medal for demonstrating that mesenchymal stem cells cultured aboard the ISS could have promising clinical applications.
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