The Integrated Human Function Team has received a $1.2 million grant from the National Space Biomedical Research Institute to investigate human adaptations to short- and long-term weightlessness. The first-year budget is $1.2 million and began Feb. 1, 2001. The project is approved for three years pending future budgets.

Preventing the deleterious effects of space travel is the program's main goal, according to Martin Kushmerick, professor of radiology, bioengineering, physiology and biophysics, and the Integrated Human Function team leader. Kushmerick is the team leader of six studies (at UW and other institutions) focused on finding out how the human body adapts to space.

At the UW, Kushmerick's team includes Stephen Carter, clinical associate professor of radiology; Kevin Conley, professor of radiology; and Paolo Vicini, research assistant professor of bioengineering. They will focus on integrating human muscle energetics and mechanics. P. Bryant Chase, research associate professor of radiology, and Michael Regnier, research assistant professor of bioengineering, are working on cell and molecular biomechanics in cardiac and skeletal muscle. A funded project led by Larry Crum, professor of bioengineering and principal physicist in the Applied Physics Lab, will focus on development of non-invasive diagnostic and therapeutic ultrasound devices.

The NSBRI is funded by NASA and consists of 12 universities participating in biomedical research related to outer space exploration. The UW has been a member of the consortium since 1999.