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Selected Press Release

October 27, 2009

NASA RELEASE: 09-249

NASA AWARDS SPACE RADIOBIOLOGY RESEARCH GRANTS

WASHINGTON -- NASA is funding 12 proposals from nine states to
investigate questions about the effects of space radiation on human
explorers. The selected proposals from researchers in Alabama,
California, Colorado, Massachusetts, New York, Oregon, Texas,
Virginia and Washington have a total value of approximately $13.7
million.

The ground-based studies will address the impact of space radiation on
astronaut health. Research areas will include risk predictions for
cancer and models for potential damage to the central nervous system
and the heart.

"The proposals funded this year using systems biology and
state-of-the-art cell and molecular biology approaches will lead to
improved understanding and identification of approaches to mitigate
the risks to astronauts living in space," said Francis A. Cucinotta,
chief scientist for the Human Research Program Space Radiation
Program Element at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston.

The Human Research Program provides knowledge and technologies to
improve human health during space exploration and identifies possible
countermeasures for known problems. The program quantifies crew
health and performance risks during spaceflight and develops
strategies that mission planners and system developers can use to
monitor and mitigate health risks.

The 12 projects were selected from proposals that were reviewed by
scientific and technical experts from academia and government
laboratories. A complete list of the selected principal
investigators, organizations and proposals is available at:



http://www.nasa.gov/exploration/acd/human.html

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