unitex@rubbs.fidonet.org (unitex) (10/02/89)
NASA ANNOUNCES COLLABORATIVE RESEARCH PROJECT WITH GENENTECH
Posting Date: 09/30/89
UNITEX Network, USA ISSN: 1043-7932
NASA's Ames Research Center, Genentech, Inc., South San
Francisco, Calif., and Penn State's Center for Cell Research,
today announced their long-term collaboration on a major new
commercial space research project in life sciences.
The project involves a series of ground-based and Space Shuttle
experiments to expand previous findings by NASA, Penn State, and
other investigators that microgravity accelerates reduction in
bone calcium, body mass and immune cell function.
The flight program, sponsored by NASA's Office of Commercial
Programs and managed by Ames, is expected to begin in 1990 with a
Space Shuttle experiment coordinated by Penn State's Center for
Cell Research, one of NASA's 16 Centers for the Commercial
Development of Space (CCDS).
NASA-Ames, Genentech and Penn State believe that, along with its
commercial and scientific validity, this experiment program will
increase the fund of medical knowledge to treat human bone
diseases, organ regeneration and transplantation as well as
immune and skeletal muscle cell deficiency here on Earth. The
research also will provide further evaluation of the function of
tissues to gain more specific information about space flight's
effect on the body.
For companies such as Genentech, early identification of
medically important compounds could provide a competitive
advantage in the international marketplace, enhancing the U.S.
position as international leader in biotechnology while
furthering the federal mandate to expand commercial use of space.
Private business participation in this program also helps offset
the cost of space exploration and research as the private and
public sectors gear up for development of the Space Station
Freedom and human planetary exploration.
James T. Rose, NASA Assistant Administrator, Commercial
Programs, said, "The scientific initiative and cooperation of
NASA-Ames, Genentech and Penn State enable us to announce today a
major new, commercially supported scientific study in space.
Through these cooperative efforts with the business and academic
communities, NASA pursues scientific discoveries that can benefit
all the world's people while strengthening America's economic
base and international competitive position."
G. Kirk Raab, Genentech president and chief operating officer,
said, "Genentech is proud and excited to be one of the first
biotechnology companies to carry out space-based research. Our
collaboration with NASA and Penn State grew out of an interest
in cell and tissue changes measured after space flight and our
high regard for the capabilities and technologies of both groups
of scientists. We hope our combined efforts will provide
greater understanding of human disorders."
Genentech expressed strong interest in the potential for faster,
more economical manufacturing of its products in a space
environment.
Penn State's Center for Cell Research, University Park, Pa., is
a co-investigator in this research and is exchanging
information, expertise and flight experience with Genentech in
addition to offering the company an opportunity to fly space
experiments as part of the CCDS mandate.
The center, established in 1987, is one of only three
biologically oriented CCDSs. It is charged with making flight
opportunities available to commercial organizations through the
broad-based research collaboration conducted by the center's 35
scientists.
Dr. Wesley Hymer, CCR center director, said, "Our objective is
not only to define the fundamental mechanisms of mammalian cell
function on earth and in space, which is basic research, but
also to commercialize our findings in cooperation with private
industry. We're pleased to be part of this innovative research
project and expect that it's only the first of many in
cooperation with the private sector."
The CCDSs were established as part of a policy to create
commercial opportunities in space as a means of assuring
continued U.S. space leadership.
Dale Compton, NASA-Ames acting director, said, "This
collaboration with Genentech and Penn State places NASA-Ames in
the forefront of space commercialization. After 20 years of NASA
experimentation on the general effects of microgravity on
mammals, the Genentech-Penn State venture will focus on specific
medical problems in hopes of validating long-held hypotheses."
* Origin: UNITEX --> Toward a United Species (1:107/501)
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Patt Haring | United Nations | FAX: 212-787-1726
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