Something for the weekend: Scientists at the European Space Agency have begun searching for volunteers to take part in a study to recreate some of the effects of space flight on the body.
Its Vivaldi experiment has been split into three campaigns. The third and final campaign will take place at the Medes space clinic in Toulouse, France.
The experiment will see 10 volunteers lie down in containers similar to bathtubs, covered with a waterproof fabric to keep them dry and evenly suspended in water. This is intended to create a similar environment to those astronauts experience on the International Space Station.
For 10 days, these individuals will remain inside the containers and take part in a range of medical experiments and scientific studies to help researchers understand how space affects the human body. They will use a floating board and a neck pillow during meals, and be temporarily transferred onto a trolley while maintaining a laid-back position for bathroom breaks.
Volunteers will be compensated €5,000 (£3,855) for their participation in the study, which lasts for a total of 21 days as well as one day of follow-up.
As astronauts’ bodies can be impacted by a lack of gravity, losing muscle and bone density, and seeing changes in their eye globe shapes and brain fluids, the researchers are looking into hormonal changes, immune responses and connections between the nervous and vision systems.
They aim to mitigate health risks in astronauts and design better measures for space exploration, however the results may also help design new treatments for long-term bedridden patients, the elderly and those with musculoskeletal conditions.
Ann-Kathrin Vlacil, team leader for enabling science in human exploration at ESA, said: “By extending the duration of dry immersion and comparing it to bed rest, we are refining our understanding of how these analogues simulate life in space, the different physiological effects and how they complement each other.”
Marc-Antoine Custaud, group lead of the ESA bed rest and dry immersion campaigns from the University of Angers, France, added: “Bridging the gap between spaceflight and ground-based research is essential for human space exploration. Our findings have significant implications for Earth-based medicine, particularly in ageing-related conditions.”
Sounds like an interesting role to us at Employee Benefits, especially if it has the potential to help with healthcare!
