In this project, Prof. Schmidt and her team will investigate how microgravity and hypergravity modulate the proteome and cellular networks of peripheral sensory neurons. Using sensory neurons-on-chip models, the research aims to better understand how gravity influences inflammation and pain signaling in skin and lung tissues—key steps toward improving human health in space.
The project will be carried out in her laboratory in collaboration with the Life & Physical Sciences team at ESA-ESTEC in Noordwijk.
This achievement directly builds on Prof. Schmidt’s recent participation in the NASA Spaceflight Technology, Applications, and Research (STAR) program. As a pharmacologist studying vertebrate nociception and pain, she joined STAR in 2024. Reflecting on the experience, Manuela Schmidt noted that the program provided “an invaluable opportunity to learn from NASA experts and experienced space biology researchers”.
The newly awarded ESA project represents a natural next step—advancing her internationally connected research program toward a deeper understanding of how gravity shapes pain and inflammatory processes. The insights gained are expected to contribute not only to safeguarding human health in space, but also to improving therapeutic strategies for patients on Earth.
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