{"id":140911,"date":"2019-04-17T12:30:00","date_gmt":"2019-04-17T16:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/?migration=converted-node-433404"},"modified":"2023-09-25T15:48:54","modified_gmt":"2023-09-25T19:48:54","slug":"follow-the-blood-nasa-labs-process-astronaut-blood-for-twins-study","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/humans-in-space\/follow-the-blood-nasa-labs-process-astronaut-blood-for-twins-study\/","title":{"rendered":"Follow the Blood: NASA labs process astronaut blood for Twins Study"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"\" class=\"hds-media hds-module wp-block-image\"><div class=\"margin-left-auto margin-right-auto nasa-block-align-inline\"><div class=\"hds-media-wrapper margin-left-auto margin-right-auto\"><figure class=\"hds-media-inner hds-cover-wrapper hds-media-ratio-none \"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/kellymarkscott_05191601.jpg\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2048\" height=\"1408\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/kellymarkscott_05191601.jpg?w=2048\" class=\"attachment-2048x2048 size-2048x2048\" alt=\"kellymarkscott_05191601\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/kellymarkscott_05191601.jpg 4800w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/kellymarkscott_05191601.jpg?resize=300,206 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/kellymarkscott_05191601.jpg?resize=768,528 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/kellymarkscott_05191601.jpg?resize=1024,704 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/kellymarkscott_05191601.jpg?resize=1536,1056 1536w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/kellymarkscott_05191601.jpg?resize=2048,1408 2048w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/kellymarkscott_05191601.jpg?resize=400,275 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/kellymarkscott_05191601.jpg?resize=600,413 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/kellymarkscott_05191601.jpg?resize=900,619 900w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/kellymarkscott_05191601.jpg?resize=1200,825 1200w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/kellymarkscott_05191601.jpg?resize=2000,1375 2000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px\" loading=\"eager\" \/><\/a><\/figure><figcaption class=\"hds-caption padding-y-2\"><div class=\"hds-caption-text p-sm margin-0\">Retired twin astronauts, Scott (right) and Mark Kelly in front of the new sign to their New Jersey elementary school, which was renamed in their honor in May 2016. The brothers were subjects in NASA\u2019s Twins Study.<br><strong><em>Credit: Derek Storm<\/em><\/strong><\/div><\/figcaption><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<p>Blood samples from astronaut Scott Kelly taken during his one year mission in space arrived in the lab of NASA\u2019s Johnson Space Center in the wee hours of the morning when he returned to Houston on March 2, 2016. Francine Garrett-Bakelman, Ph.D., received these samples, as well as fresh blood samples from Scott ten minutes later, and was ready to process them as part of NASA\u2019s Twin Study to compare Scott to his identical twin brother, Mark Kelly. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cFor the next six hours, I isolated the cells and prepared them for shipment to the different Twins Study laboratories,\u201d said Garrett-Bakelman. \u201cThe following day I returned to process blood specimens from Scott\u2019s twin brother, who remained on Earth during Scott\u2019s mission.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Blood collections for NASA\u2019s<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/humans-in-space\/twins-study\/\" data-type=\"URL\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/humans-in-space\/twins-study\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"> Twins Study<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/mission\/twins-study\/\" data-type=\"URL\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/mission\/twins-study\/\"> <\/a>began weeks before astronaut Scott Kelly launched on his <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/extended-stays-in-space-about\/\" data-type=\"URL\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/extended-stays-in-space-about\/\">one-year mission<\/a> aboard the<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/international-space-station\/\" target=\"_blank\" data-type=\"URL\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/international-space-station\/\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"> International Space Station<\/a>. The research compared Scott in space to Mark on Earth before, during and after the historic mission. The study officially moved into the final stages of scientific research in April with the release of an integrated summary paper published in <em>Science<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In total, 183 blood samples were taken from Scott and his twin brother, Mark, over the duration of NASA\u2019s Twins Study. Garrett-Bakelman, a researcher at the University of Virginia School of Medicine, helped to establish protocols for in-space and on-Earth blood sample processing approaches and transportation, as well as assist firsthand in most of the on-Earth blood collections.<\/p>\n\n\n<div id=\"\" class=\"hds-media hds-module wp-block-image\"><div class=\"margin-left-auto margin-right-auto nasa-block-align-inline\"><div class=\"hds-media-wrapper margin-left-auto margin-right-auto\"><figure class=\"hds-media-inner hds-cover-wrapper hds-media-ratio-none \"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/follow_the_blood1.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1536\" height=\"2048\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/follow_the_blood1.jpg?w=1536\" class=\"attachment-2048x2048 size-2048x2048\" alt=\"follow_the_blood\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/follow_the_blood1.jpg 2448w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/follow_the_blood1.jpg?resize=225,300 225w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/follow_the_blood1.jpg?resize=768,1024 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/follow_the_blood1.jpg?resize=1152,1536 1152w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/follow_the_blood1.jpg?resize=1536,2048 1536w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/follow_the_blood1.jpg?resize=300,400 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/follow_the_blood1.jpg?resize=450,600 450w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/follow_the_blood1.jpg?resize=675,900 675w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/follow_the_blood1.jpg?resize=900,1200 900w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/follow_the_blood1.jpg?resize=1500,2000 1500w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1536px) 100vw, 1536px\" \/><\/a><\/figure><figcaption class=\"hds-caption padding-y-2\"><div class=\"hds-caption-text p-sm margin-0\">Researchers process Scott Kelly\u2019s blood soon after it was transported from the ISS during his one-year mission in space. The blood was used by research teams throughout the U.S. to help determine what happens to a human body in space.<br><strong><em>Credits: Chris Mason, Ph.D., Weill Cornell Medicine<\/em><\/strong><\/div><\/figcaption><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<p>The Twin Study used unique methods of investigation. Ten research teams were brought together to examine twin astronauts on the genomic level, the physiological level and the behavioral level in one integrated study. This study may guide NASA\u2019s Human Research Program investigations for years to come.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Chris Mason, Ph.D., received blood samples shipped from Garrett-Bakelman at Weill Cornell Medicine in New York. As team lead for the Gene Expression investigation, Mason explains the importance of the Twins Study this way:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cEven though the Twins Study is a sample size of two, an analogy of its importance is the Human Genome Project,\u201d Mason said. \u201cThey sequenced the first one as well as they could at the time because they knew all subsequent ones will be compared to that. The same is true with the Twins Study.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>NASA is in the planning stages of sending several astronauts into space for additional one-year and varying duration missions. The data from these future missions will be compared to the Twins Study.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWith each set of mission results we will ask, how is this the same or different from the Twin Study results? How can we continue to measure and mitigate risks?\u201d Mason said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Tim Donahoe worked with the blood samples on Mason\u2019s team in New York.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWe handled the material extracted from the blood that came back from the space station, which was really meaningful,\u201d Donahoe said. \u201cBut I\u2019d say my biggest role with the Twins Study was with background research. I summarized the known gene changes in space from data on NASA\u2019s GeneLab database. I did a lot of the consulting on the meaning of the new data we obtained.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Tejas Mishra, Ph.D., received samples for the Integrative Omics team at Stanford University in California. Mishra, from India, is one of about 15 Twins Study researchers born outside of the U.S. \u201cIt has been incredibly enlightening to be part of the Twins group,\u201d she said. \u201cI have a lot more insight into how NASA research works. Through my work with the Twins Study, I was invited to join the NASA GeneLab. It is such a unique research opportunity that you can only get in a few countries in the world.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The blood samples did not have to travel far to get to Scott M. Smith\u2019s lab. Located at Johnson, Smith is a Ph.D. and the manager of the Nutritional Biochemistry Lab and compared nutritional markers in Scott\u2019s and Mark\u2019s blood as part of the Biochemical research study. He believes the dynamics of Scott\u2019s telomeres in space is the most unexpected finding of the Twins Study.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThis is <em>not <\/em>what we expected because you\u2019d think the telomeres would get shorter under stress,\u201d Smith said. \u201cBut his nutritional status improved during flight and his body mass went down, both of which correlate with his telomeres lengthening. That\u2019s exciting but it\u2019s also reality. Nutrition affects virtually every system in the body.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A research team at Colorado State University in Fort Collins, also received blood samples from Garrett-Bakelman. Dr. Susan Bailey, Ph.D., studied Telomeres (the endcaps of chromosomes) and agrees with Smith. \u201cThe Twins Study put a very public face on telomeres. It proved once again that our best ideas are often wrong \u2013 which is the whole point of science. We have to actually do the experiments to test our hypotheses, and that is why human research in space is so important for all of us,\u201d Bailey said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Twins Study inspired another genomics study involving twins. In 2016, two sets of twins participated in a very similar study at Mount Everest. One twin from each set climbed the tallest mountain in the world while the other twin from each set remained at the base. The climbing twins had the difficult task of drawing blood from each other in frigid temperatures and high elevation. Mason and his team also analyzed the blood from this study. \u201cWe know that time spent at high elevation will cause the body to produce more red blood cells to carry more oxygen,\u201d he said. \u201cWhat we don\u2019t know is what\u2019s happening at the detailed molecular level\u2014which genes are activated specifically when you climb the world\u2019s tallest mountain? It is as close to space as you can get here on Earth.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Detailed findings of the ten<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/hrp\/twins-about\/\" target=\"_blank\" data-type=\"URL\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/hrp\/twins-about\/\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"> Twins Study investigation<\/a> are published in a special edition of <em>Science<\/em> which is available in print and online. Companion papers from the individual research teams will be published intermittently over the next year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Marisa Covington, Ph.D., the NASA Twins Study Coordinator, notes there are more up-to-date methods for handling blood samples, but \u201cbecause of constraints presented by spaceflight, we were not able to use these more modern blood collection techniques\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Garrett-Bakelman is eager to see how NASA\u2019s in-depth look at the blood she helped to collect and distribute in the Twins Study may frame future research. \u201cThe Twins Study is unique in that it represents the first comprehensive study of an astronaut on a longer-duration space travel mission that included a genetically matched control,\u201d she said. \u201cA roadmap has now been established, and I hope it will be used to implement even more sophisticated and insightful studies of astronauts in the future.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><code>_____<\/code><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>NASA’s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/hrp\/\" data-type=\"URL\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/hrp\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Human Research Program<\/a>, or HRP, pursues the best methods and technologies to support safe, productive human space travel. Through science conducted in laboratories, ground-based analogs, and the International Space Station, HRP scrutinizes how spaceflight affects human bodies and behaviors. Such research drives HRP\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/humans-in-space\/nasas-human-research-program-three-steps-to-mars\/\" data-type=\"URL\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/humans-in-space\/nasas-human-research-program-three-steps-to-mars\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">quest<\/a> to innovate ways that keep astronauts healthy and mission-ready as space travel expands to the Moon, Mars, and beyond.<\/p>\n\n\n<div id=\"\" class=\"nasa-gb-align-full width-full maxw-full padding-x-3 padding-y-0 hds-module hds-module-full wp-block-nasa-blocks-related-articles\">\t\t<section class=\"hds-related-articles padding-x-0 padding-y-3 desktop:padding-top-7 desktop:padding-bottom-9\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"w-100 grid-row grid-container maxw-widescreen padding-0 text-align-left\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"margin-bottom-4\"><h2 style=\"max-width: 100%;\" class=\"width-full w-full maxw-full\">Explore More<\/h2><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-row grid-container maxw-widescreen padding-0\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-col-12 desktop:grid-col-4 margin-bottom-4 desktop:margin-bottom-0 desktop:padding-right-3\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/centers-and-facilities\/johnson\/lakita-lowe-leading-space-commercialization-innovations-and-fostering-stem-engagement\/\" class=\"color-carbon-black\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"margin-bottom-2\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-cover-wrapper cover-hover-zoom bg-carbon-black minh-mobile\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"hds-media-background  \"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/lakita-issrdc-2022.jpg?w=300\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium\" alt=\"\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/lakita-issrdc-2022.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/lakita-issrdc-2022.jpg?resize=300,200 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/lakita-issrdc-2022.jpg?resize=400,267 400w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/figure>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"padding-right-0 desktop:padding-right-10\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"subheading margin-bottom-1\">5 min read<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"margin-bottom-1\"><h3 class=\"related-article-title\">Lakita Lowe: Leading Space Commercialization Innovations and Fostering STEM Engagement\u00a0<\/h3><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"display-flex flex-align-center label related-article-label margin-bottom-1 color-carbon-60\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"display-flex flex-align-center margin-right-2\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg version=\"1.1\" class=\"square-2 margin-right-1\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" xmlns:xlink=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/1999\/xlink\" x=\"0px\" y=\"0px\" width=\"16px\" height=\"16px\" viewBox=\"0 0 16 16\" style=\"enable-background:new 0 0 16 16;\" xml:space=\"preserve\"><g><g><path d=\"M8,0C3.5,0-0.1,3.7,0,8.2C0.1,12.5,3.6,16,8,16c4.4,0,8-3.6,8-8C16,3.5,12.4,0,8,0z M8,15.2 C4,15.2,0.8,12,0.8,8C0.8,4,4,0.8,8,0.8c3.9,0,7.2,3.2,7.2,7.1C15.2,11.9,12,15.2,8,15.2z\"\/><path d=\"M5.6,12c0.8-0.8,1.6-1.6,2.4-2.4c0.8,0.8,1.6,1.6,2.4,2.4c0-2.7,0-5.3,0-8C8.8,4,7.2,4,5.6,4 C5.6,6.7,5.6,9.3,5.6,12z\"\/><\/g><\/g><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>Article<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t5 days ago\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-col-12 desktop:grid-col-4 margin-bottom-4 desktop:margin-bottom-0 desktop:padding-right-3\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/humans-in-space\/nasas-repository-supports-research-of-commercial-astronaut-health\/\" class=\"color-carbon-black\" rel=\"noopener\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"margin-bottom-2\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-cover-wrapper cover-hover-zoom bg-carbon-black minh-mobile\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"hds-media-background  \"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" src=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/51472315354-c49f4aa62a-k.jpg\" ><\/figure>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"padding-right-0 desktop:padding-right-10\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"subheading margin-bottom-1\">2 min read<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"margin-bottom-1\"><h3 class=\"related-article-title\">NASA\u2019s Repository Supports Research of Commercial Astronaut Health\u00a0\u00a0<\/h3><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"p-md color-carbon-60\">NASA\u2019s Open Science Data Repository provides valuable information to researchers studying the impact of space...<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"display-flex flex-align-center label related-article-label margin-bottom-1 color-carbon-60\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"display-flex flex-align-center margin-right-2\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg version=\"1.1\" class=\"square-2 margin-right-1\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" xmlns:xlink=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/1999\/xlink\" x=\"0px\" y=\"0px\" width=\"16px\" height=\"16px\" viewBox=\"0 0 16 16\" style=\"enable-background:new 0 0 16 16;\" xml:space=\"preserve\"><g><g><path d=\"M8,0C3.5,0-0.1,3.7,0,8.2C0.1,12.5,3.6,16,8,16c4.4,0,8-3.6,8-8C16,3.5,12.4,0,8,0z M8,15.2 C4,15.2,0.8,12,0.8,8C0.8,4,4,0.8,8,0.8c3.9,0,7.2,3.2,7.2,7.1C15.2,11.9,12,15.2,8,15.2z\"\/><path d=\"M5.6,12c0.8-0.8,1.6-1.6,2.4-2.4c0.8,0.8,1.6,1.6,2.4,2.4c0-2.7,0-5.3,0-8C8.8,4,7.2,4,5.6,4 C5.6,6.7,5.6,9.3,5.6,12z\"\/><\/g><\/g><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>Article<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t6 days ago\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-col-12 desktop:grid-col-4 margin-bottom-4 desktop:margin-bottom-0 desktop:padding-right-3\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/centers-and-facilities\/johnson\/people-of-johnson\/from-psychology-to-space-alexandra-whitmires-journey-and-impact-in-nasas-human-research-program\/\" class=\"color-carbon-black\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"margin-bottom-2\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-cover-wrapper cover-hover-zoom bg-carbon-black minh-mobile\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"hds-media-background  \"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"240\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/jsc2018e085216.jpg?w=300\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium\" alt=\"\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/jsc2018e085216.jpg 4498w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/jsc2018e085216.jpg?resize=300,240 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/jsc2018e085216.jpg?resize=768,614 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/jsc2018e085216.jpg?resize=1024,819 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/jsc2018e085216.jpg?resize=1536,1229 1536w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/jsc2018e085216.jpg?resize=2048,1638 2048w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/jsc2018e085216.jpg?resize=400,320 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/jsc2018e085216.jpg?resize=600,480 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/jsc2018e085216.jpg?resize=900,720 900w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/jsc2018e085216.jpg?resize=1200,960 1200w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/jsc2018e085216.jpg?resize=2000,1600 2000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/figure>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"padding-right-0 desktop:padding-right-10\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"subheading margin-bottom-1\">5 min read<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"margin-bottom-1\"><h3 class=\"related-article-title\">From Psychology to Space: Alexandra Whitmire\u2019s Journey and Impact in NASA’s Human Research Program<\/h3><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"display-flex flex-align-center label related-article-label margin-bottom-1 color-carbon-60\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"display-flex flex-align-center margin-right-2\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg version=\"1.1\" class=\"square-2 margin-right-1\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" xmlns:xlink=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/1999\/xlink\" x=\"0px\" y=\"0px\" width=\"16px\" height=\"16px\" viewBox=\"0 0 16 16\" style=\"enable-background:new 0 0 16 16;\" xml:space=\"preserve\"><g><g><path d=\"M8,0C3.5,0-0.1,3.7,0,8.2C0.1,12.5,3.6,16,8,16c4.4,0,8-3.6,8-8C16,3.5,12.4,0,8,0z M8,15.2 C4,15.2,0.8,12,0.8,8C0.8,4,4,0.8,8,0.8c3.9,0,7.2,3.2,7.2,7.1C15.2,11.9,12,15.2,8,15.2z\"\/><path d=\"M5.6,12c0.8-0.8,1.6-1.6,2.4-2.4c0.8,0.8,1.6,1.6,2.4,2.4c0-2.7,0-5.3,0-8C8.8,4,7.2,4,5.6,4 C5.6,6.7,5.6,9.3,5.6,12z\"\/><\/g><\/g><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>Article<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t6 days ago\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n<div id=\"\" class=\"hds-topic-cards nasa-gb-align-full maxw-full width-full padding-y-6 padding-x-3 color-mode-dark hds-module hds-module-full wp-block-nasa-blocks-topic-cards\">\t\t<div class=\"grid-container grid-container-block-lg padding-x-0\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-row flex-align-center margin-bottom-3\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"desktop:grid-col-8 margin-bottom-2 desktop:margin-bottom-0\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"label color-carbon-60 margin-bottom-2\">Keep Exploring<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"heading-36 line-height-sm\">Discover More Topics From NASA<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-row grid-gap-2 hds-topic-cards-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/humans-in-space\/living-in-space\/\" class=\"mobile:grid-col-12 tablet:grid-col-6 desktop:grid-col-3 topic-card margin-bottom-4 desktop:margin-bottom-0\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-topic-card hds-cover-wrapper cover-hover-zoom bg-carbon-black\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"skrim-overlay skrim-overlay-dark skrim-left mobile-skrim-top padding-3 display-flex flex-align-end flex-justify-start z-200\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"hds-topic-card-heading heading-29 color-spacesuit-white line-height-sm margin-top-0 margin-bottom-1\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>Living in Space<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg viewBox=\"0 0 32 32\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><circle class=\"color-nasa-red\" cx=\"16\" cy=\"16\" r=\"16\"><\/circle><path d=\"M8 16.956h12.604l-3.844 4.106 1.252 1.338L24 16l-5.988-6.4-1.252 1.338 3.844 4.106H8v1.912z\" class=\"color-spacesuit-white\"><\/path><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"hds-media-background  \"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"370\" height=\"618\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/meir-2.png?w=370\" class=\"attachment-1536x1536 size-1536x1536\" alt=\"\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/meir-2.png 370w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/meir-2.png?resize=180,300 180w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/meir-2.png?resize=239,400 239w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/meir-2.png?resize=359,600 359w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 370px) 100vw, 370px\" \/><\/figure>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/humans-in-space\/artemis\/\" class=\"mobile:grid-col-12 tablet:grid-col-6 desktop:grid-col-3 topic-card margin-bottom-4 desktop:margin-bottom-0\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-topic-card hds-cover-wrapper cover-hover-zoom bg-carbon-black\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"skrim-overlay skrim-overlay-dark skrim-left mobile-skrim-top padding-3 display-flex flex-align-end flex-justify-start z-200\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"hds-topic-card-heading heading-29 color-spacesuit-white line-height-sm margin-top-0 margin-bottom-1\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>Artemis<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg viewBox=\"0 0 32 32\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><circle class=\"color-nasa-red\" cx=\"16\" cy=\"16\" r=\"16\"><\/circle><path d=\"M8 16.956h12.604l-3.844 4.106 1.252 1.338L24 16l-5.988-6.4-1.252 1.338 3.844 4.106H8v1.912z\" class=\"color-spacesuit-white\"><\/path><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"hds-media-background  \"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"1536\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Artemis-I.jpg?w=1024\" class=\"attachment-1536x1536 size-1536x1536\" alt=\"\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Artemis-I.jpg 5504w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Artemis-I.jpg?resize=200,300 200w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Artemis-I.jpg?resize=768,1152 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Artemis-I.jpg?resize=683,1024 683w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Artemis-I.jpg?resize=1024,1536 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Artemis-I.jpg?resize=1365,2048 1365w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Artemis-I.jpg?resize=267,400 267w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Artemis-I.jpg?resize=400,600 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Artemis-I.jpg?resize=600,900 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Artemis-I.jpg?resize=800,1200 800w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Artemis-I.jpg?resize=1333,2000 1333w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/hrp\/\" class=\"mobile:grid-col-12 tablet:grid-col-6 desktop:grid-col-3 topic-card margin-bottom-4 desktop:margin-bottom-0\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-topic-card hds-cover-wrapper cover-hover-zoom bg-carbon-black\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"skrim-overlay skrim-overlay-dark skrim-left mobile-skrim-top padding-3 display-flex flex-align-end flex-justify-start z-200\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"hds-topic-card-heading heading-29 color-spacesuit-white line-height-sm margin-top-0 margin-bottom-1\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>Human Research Program<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg viewBox=\"0 0 32 32\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><circle class=\"color-nasa-red\" cx=\"16\" cy=\"16\" r=\"16\"><\/circle><path d=\"M8 16.956h12.604l-3.844 4.106 1.252 1.338L24 16l-5.988-6.4-1.252 1.338 3.844 4.106H8v1.912z\" class=\"color-spacesuit-white\"><\/path><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"hds-media-background  \"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"404\" height=\"530\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/jasmin2.png?w=404\" class=\"attachment-1536x1536 size-1536x1536\" alt=\"\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/jasmin2.png 404w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/jasmin2.png?resize=229,300 229w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/jasmin2.png?resize=305,400 305w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 404px) 100vw, 404px\" \/><\/figure>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/international-space-station\/space-station-research-and-technology\/\" class=\"mobile:grid-col-12 tablet:grid-col-6 desktop:grid-col-3 topic-card margin-bottom-4 desktop:margin-bottom-0\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-topic-card hds-cover-wrapper cover-hover-zoom bg-carbon-black\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"skrim-overlay skrim-overlay-dark skrim-left mobile-skrim-top padding-3 display-flex flex-align-end flex-justify-start z-200\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"hds-topic-card-heading heading-29 color-spacesuit-white line-height-sm margin-top-0 margin-bottom-1\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>Space Station Research and Technology<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg viewBox=\"0 0 32 32\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><circle class=\"color-nasa-red\" cx=\"16\" cy=\"16\" r=\"16\"><\/circle><path d=\"M8 16.956h12.604l-3.844 4.106 1.252 1.338L24 16l-5.988-6.4-1.252 1.338 3.844 4.106H8v1.912z\" class=\"color-spacesuit-white\"><\/path><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"hds-media-background  \"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"1536\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/iss064e015250.jpg?w=1024\" class=\"attachment-1536x1536 size-1536x1536\" alt=\"\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/iss064e015250.jpg 1041w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/iss064e015250.jpg?resize=200,300 200w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/iss064e015250.jpg?resize=768,1152 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/iss064e015250.jpg?resize=682,1024 682w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/iss064e015250.jpg?resize=1024,1536 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/iss064e015250.jpg?resize=267,400 267w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/iss064e015250.jpg?resize=400,600 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/iss064e015250.jpg?resize=600,900 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/iss064e015250.jpg?resize=800,1200 800w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Blood samples from astronaut Scott Kelly taken during his one year mission in space arrived in the lab of NASA\u2019s Johnson Space Center in the wee hours of the morning when he returned to Houston on March 2, 2016. Francine Garrett-Bakelman, Ph.D., received these samples, as well as fresh blood samples from Scott ten minutes [...]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":74,"featured_media":152656,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"nasa_hds_core_meta_l10n":"en-US","nasa_hds_core_meta_article_editor":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_article_contacts":[],"nasa_hds_core_meta_article_topic":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_linked_locations":[],"nasa_hds_core_meta_article_related_articles":[],"hds_migrate_meta_pr_release_id":"","hds_migrate_meta_pr_release_type":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_location_x":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_location_y":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_gallery_images":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[2656,3811,11504],"news-tags":[],"internal-terms":[11528],"coauthors":[12649,12658],"parsely":{"version":"1.1.0","meta":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","headline":"Follow the Blood: NASA labs process astronaut blood for Twins Study","url":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/humans-in-space\/follow-the-blood-nasa-labs-process-astronaut-blood-for-twins-study\/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/humans-in-space\/follow-the-blood-nasa-labs-process-astronaut-blood-for-twins-study\/"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/kellymarkscott_05191601.jpg?w=150&h=150&crop=1","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/kellymarkscott_05191601.jpg"},"articleSection":"Humans in Space","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Monica Edwards"},{"@type":"Person","name":"Laurie Abadie"}],"creator":["Monica Edwards","Laurie Abadie"],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"NASA","logo":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/themes\/nasa\/assets\/images\/nasa-logo.svg"},"keywords":["Science & Research","Human Space Travel Research","Twins Study","Humans in Space","Human Research Program"],"dateCreated":"2019-04-17T16:30:00Z","datePublished":"2019-04-17T16:30:00Z","dateModified":"2023-09-25T19:48:54Z"},"rendered":"<meta name=\"parsely-title\" content=\"Follow the Blood: NASA labs process astronaut blood for Twins Study\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-link\" content=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/humans-in-space\/follow-the-blood-nasa-labs-process-astronaut-blood-for-twins-study\/\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-type\" content=\"post\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-image-url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/kellymarkscott_05191601.jpg?w=150&h=150&crop=1\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-pub-date\" content=\"2019-04-17T16:30:00Z\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-section\" content=\"Humans in Space\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-tags\" content=\"Science & Research,Human Space Travel Research,Twins Study,Humans in Space,Human Research Program\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-author\" content=\"Monica Edwards\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-author\" content=\"Laurie Abadie\" \/>","tracker_url":"https:\/\/cdn.parsely.com\/keys\/nasa.gov\/p.js"},"read_time":6,"time_ago":"5 years","featured_image":{"id":152656,"file":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/kellymarkscott_05191601.jpg","title":"kellymarkscott_05191601","alt":"kellymarkscott_05191601","caption":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/140911"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/74"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=140911"}],"version-history":[{"count":9,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/140911\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":474814,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/140911\/revisions\/474814"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/152656"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=140911"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=140911"},{"taxonomy":"news-tags","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/news-tags?post=140911"},{"taxonomy":"internal-terms","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/internal-terms?post=140911"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=140911"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}