Q&A: ‘Organs on chips’ get launched into space 

THE LUNG-BONE MARROW CHIP LOOKS TO THE SKIES FOR THE SPACEX LAUNCH. (DR. LUCIE LOW)

‘Organs on chips,’ which contain human cells and are designed to mimic organ function, were launched into space early Saturday morning as part of an experimental NIH program. On Earth, these chips have been used to study a wide range of diseases and to test treatments. The teams behind the weekend launch hope to learn about what microgravity — which can accelerate disease-like symptoms — does to human cells. I chatted with Lucie Low, the program manager of ‘Tissue Chips in Space’ to learn more.

What types of chips are going into space? And why? 

There’s a kidney kit that’s hoping to be looking at osteoporosis and the formation of kidney stones. We also have a knee joint kit that will look at osteoarthritis. Then there’s a blood-brain barrier kit to look at neurodegenerative disease. And finally, a lung kit to look at the impact of pathogens on lungs.

What can microgravity help us learn?

Microgravity can give us some causative information on what might cause a kidney stone, for example, because on Earth, it could take a long time for kidney stones to develop, but they happen quickly in space. Osteoporosis takes decades to develop, but you can model it in space in a very short time.