Research conducted in space to fight Parkinson’s has Louisville connection – WLKY Louisville

Parkinson's patients could be getting benefits from research conducted on the International Space Station that has connections to Louisville. Paula Grisanti, Chief Executive Officer for the National Stem Cell Foundation Headquarters in Louisville, spoke with WLKY about a groundbreaking new study.Organoids will be launched into space and will spend six weeks on the ISS before splashing back down.These organoids, which Grisanti described as "mini-brains," are composed of cells from people suffering from MS and Parkinson's Disease. After they return, the data they produce will be collected, prepared and refined for another mission in 2023. Grisanti said that sending the organoids to space allows them to communicate with each other in a zero-gravity environment. This activates them much like a spinner would on Earth but without "confusing" the organoids and preventing them from communicating at their best with each other. The hope is that the research will help scientists accelerate the discovery of Parkinson's before it onsets.

Parkinson's patients could be getting benefits from research conducted on the International Space Station that has connections to Louisville.

Paula Grisanti, Chief Executive Officer for the National Stem Cell Foundation Headquarters in Louisville, spoke with WLKY about a groundbreaking new study.

Organoids will be launched into space and will spend six weeks on the ISS before splashing back down.

These organoids, which Grisanti described as "mini-brains," are composed of cells from people suffering from MS and Parkinson's Disease.

After they return, the data they produce will be collected, prepared and refined for another mission in 2023.

Grisanti said that sending the organoids to space allows them to communicate with each other in a zero-gravity environment.

This activates them much like a spinner would on Earth but without "confusing" the organoids and preventing them from communicating at their best with each other.

The hope is that the research will help scientists accelerate the discovery of Parkinson's before it onsets.

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Research conducted in space to fight Parkinson's has Louisville connection - WLKY Louisville