National Space Biomedical Research Institute

What National Space Biomedical Research Institute does

The National Space Biomedical Research Institute (NSBRI) was a 501(c)(3) nonprofit research consortium headquartered in Houston, Texas at Baylor College of Medicine, operational from April 1997 to approximately 2017. It was established by NASA through Cooperative Agreement NCC 9-58 as a competitively selected, sole-source entity chartered to develop biomedical countermeasures for the health risks of long-duration human spaceflight—including bone loss, muscle atrophy, cardiovascular alterations, sensorimotor adaptation deficits, neurobehavioral and psychosocial factors, radiation exposure effects, and immune system challenges. NSBRI operated as a federation of approximately 60 U.S. academic and research institutions, distributing NASA funding across a network that included founding consortium members Harvard Medical School, Johns Hopkins, MIT, Morehouse School of Medicine, Rice University, and Texas A&M, with later additions such as Brookhaven National Laboratory, Mount Sinai, the University of Pennsylvania, and the University of Washington.

NSBRI's output consisted primarily of research, prototype medical technologies, and training programs rather than commercial products. Notable technology outputs included the Individualized Real-Time Neurocognitive Assessment Toolkit (NeuroCATS/CATS) for in-flight cognitive monitoring, SCAN ultrasound for bone disorder prediction, the Venus non-invasive tissue monitoring system, a smart sleep mask for circadian adjustment, programmable electronic smart glasses, a spatial disorientation detection system, and an adaptability training treadmill with virtual scene projection. The institute administered funding mechanisms including SMARTCAP small-business seed grants (requiring 100% private matching funds), First Award and Postdoctoral Fellowships, and joint NASA/NSBRI research solicitations issued through NSPIRES. NSBRI also delivered K-12 STEM education resources (e.g., the Butterflies in Space program on BioEd Online).

NSBRI did not generate revenue in a commercial sense; it was funded almost entirely through NASA's cooperative agreement and channeled those funds to consortium investigators, fellows, and small-business grantees. The institute translated spaceflight biomedical research into terrestrial health applications, targeting conditions such as osteoporosis, muscle wasting, balance disorders, sleep disturbances, and cardiovascular disease. NSBRI ceased operations around 2017, as reflected by the '1997-2017' date range on its website and a notice that the site is no longer actively maintained.

Name

National Space Biomedical Research Institute

Legal name

National Space Biomedical Research Institute

Website

https://nsbri.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1997

Operating status

Closed

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

NSBRI was a NASA-funded 501(c)(3) nonprofit research consortium (1997–2017) headquartered at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, developing biomedical countermeasures for long-duration human spaceflight risks across a network of roughly 60 U.S. academic institutions and small commercial partners.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Space Biomedical Research

NAICS

Scientific Research and Development Services (5417), Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology) (541714), Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services (54169)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731), Surgical & Medical Instruments & Apparatus (3841), Services-Health Services (8000)

akta.pro primary industry

Global Health Research, Evidence & Technical Assistance Organizations (HLAJAKAN)

akta.pro secondary industry

Health & Biomedical Research Universities (Academic Medical Center–Affiliated) (EDAHABAC)

Keywords

• Space biomedical research
• Astronaut health monitoring
• Spaceflight medical countermeasures
• Space medicine fellowships
• Biomedical research grants

Headquarters

HQ city

Houston

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Pricing tiers

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

NSBRI is a nonprofit biomedical research consortium that conducts and funds research to mitigate health risks of long-duration human spaceflight, developing countermeasures, smart medical systems, and technologies that are also translated to Earth-based healthcare applications. The institute operates research programs across bone loss, muscle atrophy, cardiovascular changes, sensorimotor adaptation, neurobehavioral factors, radiation effects, and smart medical systems, while administering SMARTCAP small-business grants and fellowship programs for the next generation of space life scientists.

Product overview

NSBRI is a research institute (1997-2017) focused on space biomedical research rather than a commercial product company. Its 'products' consist of research toolkits, technologies, and programs developed through NASA partnerships. Key offerings include the CATS Toolkit for neurocognitive assessment, various smart medical systems (SCAN ultrasound device, Venus prototype for non-invasive monitoring), and funding programs like SMARTCAP and First Award Fellowships. The institute's science, technology and career development projects took place at approximately 60 institutions across the United States.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• SMARTCAP: Space Medical and Related Technologies Commercialization Assistance Program - a grant funding program administered by NSBRI's Industry Forum to accelerate development of products for both space and Earth use.
• Industry Forum
• BioShield 4 Mars
• Vision 4 Mars Challenge

Products and services

• CATS Toolkit (NeuroCATS) Individualized Real-Time Neurocognitive Assessment Toolkit for Space Flight Fatigue. A comprehensive, software-based neurocognitive toolkit that evaluates cognitive functions using brief (1-5 minutes), validated procedures to assess astronaut crew performance in real time and evaluate countermeasures to mitigate fatigue, circadian misalignment, and work-overload.
• SMARTCAP Small Business Grants Seed funding grants requiring 100% matching funds from recipients for development of space-adaptable medical products with both spaceflight and Earth applications; administered through the NSBRI Industry Forum.
• Postdoctoral Fellowship Program Two-year postdoctoral fellowships providing a $40,000 annual stipend plus health insurance allocation to early-career scientists conducting space-related biomedical research.
• First Award Fellowship Program Two-year fellowship program (with optional third-year renewal) for early-career investigators in space biomedical research, including health insurance allocation. Program no longer accepting new applications as of October 2015.
• BioShield 4 Mars Grant program focused on products that can protect healthy tissues from radiation exposure during spaceflight, offered through the NSBRI Industry Forum.
• Vision 4 Mars Challenge Challenge program for ophthalmology companies developing eye healthcare technologies for astronauts, offered through the NSBRI Industry Forum.
• K-12 Educational Resources (including Butterflies in Space) Free classroom materials, curriculum resources, and teacher guides (including the Butterflies in Space program) distributed to K-12 educators to link space exploration to Earth health issues.

Quantifiable outcome

• NSBRI research helps protect astronaut health during missions to the Moon, Mars and beyond
• +3 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature9 records

Partnerships

21 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• BioServe Space TechnologiesminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 30 November 2016University of Colorado Boulder partner for Butterflies in Space education project; operates Commercial Generic Bioprocessing Apparatus on ISS.
• Baylor College of Medicine Center for Educational OutreachminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 30 November 2016Co-sponsor of Butterflies in Space education project; develops teacher guides and educational materials.
• Seattle Photonics AssociatesminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 24 October 2016Grant recipient developing in-flight retinal imaging technology for space using Invention Science Fund technology and NSBRI grant.
• Entrinsic Health Solutions, Inc.minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 May 2016Norwood, MA company developing radiation protection products; selected for NSBRI grant funding.
• LumosTech, Inc.minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 November 2015Stanford University-based startup receiving SMARTCAP grant for programmable sleep mask using light therapy. Awarded funding through Space Medical and Related Technologies Commercialization Assistance Program.
• eVision Smart Optics, Inc.minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 November 2015Sarasota, Florida company receiving SMARTCAP grant for electronic smart glasses with programmable prescriptions for astronauts.
• VittamedminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2014NSBRI partnered with Vittamed for development of non-invasive intracranial pressure measurement technology.
• Loma Linda University Medical CenterminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 June 2010Partner for radiation research using proton treatment facilities; collaborator on Center of Acute Radiation Research.
• Brookhaven National LaboratoryminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1999Joined NSBRI consortium in 1999 as new member; home to NASA Space Radiation Laboratory.
• Mount Sinai School of MedicineminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1999Joined NSBRI consortium in 1999 as new member.
• University of Arkansas for Medical SciencesminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1999Joined NSBRI consortium in 1999 as new member.
• University of Pennsylvania Health SystemminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1999Joined NSBRI consortium in 1999 as new member; hosts Center of Acute Radiation Research with $10M grant.
• University of WashingtonminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1999Joined NSBRI consortium in 1999 as new member.
• NASA Johnson Space CentercoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1997NSBRI established by Cooperative Agreement NCC 9-58 awarded by NASA Johnson Space Center to Baylor College of Medicine. Primary funding source and research partner for human spaceflight health countermeasures.
• Baylor College of MedicinecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1997Headquarters location for NSBRI; founding consortium member leading the partnership with NASA.
• Harvard Medical SchoolcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1997Founding consortium member; contributes biomedical research expertise.
• The Johns Hopkins UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1997Founding consortium member; provides research capabilities in space life sciences.
• Massachusetts Institute of TechnologycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1997Founding consortium member; contributes engineering and technology expertise.
• Morehouse School of MedicinecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1997Founding consortium member; contributes biomedical research capabilities.
• Rice UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1997Founding consortium member; contributes research capabilities.
• Texas A&M UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1997Founding consortium member; contributes engineering and research capabilities.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Regional players

• European Astronaut Centre (EAC) Space Medicine Office: ESA's Space Medicine Office at the European Astronaut Centre conducts biomedical research and operational medicine for European astronauts. The counterpart institute to NSBRI on the other side of the Atlantic, structured around an intergovernmental charter rather than a nonprofit consortium.
• JAXA Human Spaceflight and Astronaut Science Programs: JAXA's human spaceflight life sciences teams research astronaut bone loss, muscle atrophy, cardiovascular adaptation and radiation effects for the Japanese astronaut corps – the Asian counterpart agency with the same biomedical mandate as NSBRI.
• Canadian Space Agency Life Sciences and Space Medicine: CSA funds and operates space life sciences research on Canadian astronauts, focusing on cardiovascular, sensorimotor, and radiation health – sharing NSBRI's Human Research Program-style risk-mitigation portfolio under a non-US NASA arrangement.
• German Aerospace Center (DLR) Institute of Aerospace Medicine: DLR's Institute of Aerospace Medicine conducts cardiovascular, bone, muscle, immunology, sleep, and neurobehavioral research for astronaut health, mirroring NSBRI's research portfolio for ESA and the European astronaut corps.

Emerging players

• Centre for Altitude, Space and Extreme Environment Medicine (CASE), UCL: University College London's CASE conducts research on human physiology in extreme environments including space, addressing bone loss, cardiovascular adaptation and neurobehavioral challenges – an academic research peer to NSBRI's university consortium model.

Direct peers

• Translational Research Institute for Space Health (TRISH): TRISH is a Baylor College of Medicine-led institute funded by NASA in 2016 to conduct human-spaceflight biomedical research – effectively the programmatic successor to NSBRI at the same parent institution, with the same Human Research Program mandate.
• BioServe Space Technologies: BioServe is a University of Colorado Boulder research center that designs and operates biomedical and biological payloads aboard the ISS. NSBRI partnered with BioServe on the Butterflies in Space education project, and both share the same university-based, NASA-affiliated countermeasure research model.

Broad incumbents

• NASA Human Research Program (HRP): NASA's HRP is the federal counterpart that funded NSBRI through Cooperative Agreement NCC 9-58. It addresses the same biomedical risk areas (bone, muscle, sensorimotor, radiation, neurobehavioral, smart medical systems) at agency scale, and its solicitations are the primary funding channel for institutes like NSBRI.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/2explorespace
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/NSBRIForum
• Facebookfacebook.com/42159119191
• Instagraminstagram.com/2explorespace

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments2 records

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about National Space Biomedical Research Institute