A group of researchers, headed by Professor Park Chan-heum from the Department of Otolaryngology at Hallym University Chuncheon Sacred Hear...
A group of researchers, headed by Professor Park Chan-heum from the Department of Otolaryngology at Hallym University Chuncheon Sacred Heart Hospital (also the Director of the Nano-Bio Regenerative Medicine Research Institute at Hallym University), emerged as the grand prize winner in the '2025 Human In Space (HIS) Challenge' organized by Boryeong Co., Ltd., on the 7th.
HIS seeks to identify and back technologies, platforms, and medical systems that allow humans to remain in long-term space, working alongside international space organizations and companies like Axiom Space in the U.S. It began as 'Care in Space' in 2022 and rebranded to 'HIS Challenge' in 2023, marking the fourth iteration this year. It is now regarded as a globally acknowledged competition program within the realm of space medicine.
Professor Park Chan-heum's group took part in the Orbital Launch Funding segment of the HIS program and secured the ultimate victory following a three-stage evaluation, centered on the topic of "Creating a Mini-Satellite-based system for 3D brain tumor spheroid culture and drug response analysis."
This assignment involves growing brain tumor cells in a microgravity setting aboard an 8U small satellite (where 1U equals 10cm×10cm×10cm), and comparing and analyzing how the cells respond to varying drug concentrations when contrasted with experiments conducted on Earth. Practical studies utilizing small satellites are crucial for examining the effectiveness of anticancer drugs on brain tumors in space, surpassing the constraints of traditional ground-based experiments. The research group has been acknowledged for addressing this research demand and its scientific relevance.
Following this win, Professor Park Chan-heum's team will be awarded $300,000 (approximately 450 million won) to support the development of the space biotechnology research platform called 'BioRex, BioReentry Experimental Satellite,' which is being advanced as a national initiative. Moreover, the HIS Accelerator Program will offer comprehensive assistance for subsequent research efforts, including personalized guidance from international experts in space life science and healthcare, global networking opportunities, experimental planning, and evaluation of orbital verification prospects.
It will also get $100,000 in service credits to benefit from AWS' cloud-based data analysis platform, along with tailored infrastructure and expert guidance required for technology demonstration phases like prototyping and environmental testing. Prototype production is an initial phase of prototype development that first confirms the functionality and reliability of research equipment for demonstration in a space environment.
This accomplishment is important because the domestic research team has gained a chance to confirm the real orbit of the space biotechnology research platform, which is challenging to achieve independently. First and foremost, the success of the HIS program is meaningful as it marks the first time in Korea that BioRex has positioned itself as a direct competitor in the quickly expanding areas of space regenerative medicine, bio 3D printing, stem cells, and aging research.
Specifically, the fact that it was selected for the HIS program, which includes global space companies, indicates that BioRex's technology and research are acknowledged on an international level. This has enabled the research team to create a global collaboration network that could result in cooperative projects with international space agencies like NASA and ESA, research conducted on the ISS, and private research funding.
Professor Park Chan-heum stated, "This success within the HIS program marks a significant milestone for Korea in creating its own research framework in space biotechnology and positioning itself alongside top-tier global studies." "The BioRex currently being developed is the first effort worldwide to systematically examine the drug response of glioblastoma in a microgravity setting, which will herald a new era in space biotechnology research."
In the meantime, the space biology research equipment 'BioCabinet' created by Professor Park Chan-heum's team is set to be installed on the next-generation medium-sized satellite No. 3 and will travel to space via the fourth launch of the Nuri rocket on November 27.
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