TRISH rapidly funds research to address...

Molly Chiu

713-798-4710

Houston, TX - Nov 5, 2026

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The Translational Research Institute for Space Health (TRISH) at Baylor College of Medicine, with consortium partners MIT and Caltech, has selected two innovative projects through its Catalyst Grants Program to address venous thrombosis (VT), a risk to astronaut health recently marked by NASA as a priority to tackle during spaceflight.

The selections demonstrate TRISH's ability to rapidly respond to emerging NASA needs by identifying promising solutions and quickly advancing research efforts to address critical gaps. Based on the significance of the risk, TRISH prioritized VT as a funding focus in 2026, moved swiftly to engage the research community and launched new studies.

VT is a condition in which blood clots form within the venous system; these clots can lead to serious medical complications because they block normal blood flow. While only a small number of cases have been identified in astronauts to date, VT has emerged as an important concern for long-duration human spaceflight. Its underlying causes and progression in the spaceflight environment remain unknown. Understanding and mitigating this risk is essential for longer crewed missions to the moon, Mars and beyond.

Through the TRISH Catalyst Grants Program, TRISH selected two projects designed to address critical knowledge gaps related to VT:

• Fontan Circulation as a Terrestrial Model for Jugular Venous Flow Reversal
  Principal Investigator: Benjamin Levine, M.D.
  Institution: UT Southwestern Medical Center and Texas Health Presbyterian Dallas
• Noninvasive, Continuous, Calibration-free, Autonomous Venous Monitoring for Spaceflight
  Principal Investigator: Alaina Rajagopal, M.D., Ph.D.
  Institution: Esperto Medical, Inc.

These selections reflect TRISH's unique role as a rapid-response innovation engine to help NASA's Human Research Program. Unlike traditional funding mechanisms that may require extended timelines, TRISH is designed to efficiently identify, evaluate and launch potentially high-impact research efforts targeting spaceflight operational risks. Through its unique proposal and project management systems and flexible funding mechanisms like the Catalyst program, TRISH moves from problem identification to project initiation in a matter of months. The result: helping ensure that critical research begins when it is needed most.

"When NASA identifies an emerging risk, researchers need pathways to quickly develop solutions," said Dr. John Abt, TRISH chief scientific officer and senior faculty at Baylor. "The Catalyst Grants Program allows us to fund innovative ideas which may generate advanced data and technologies to protect crew health on future exploration missions."

In addition to these Catalyst awards, TRISH recently released a dedicated solicitation seeking innovative approaches to better understand VT pathophysiology and develop models that replicate VT-related conditions experienced during spaceflight.

TRISH is propelling the new space economy to accelerate human exploration and health discovery. Funded by NASA's Human Research Program, TRISH helps ensure astronauts and humans on Earth alike benefit from the latest space health advancements, with research in extreme environments on Earth serving as a proving ground for both human performance in space and terrestrial applications.

Acting as a critical link between the space and health industries, TRISH focuses on operational needs, mission-critical tools and the next generation of leaders. With rigor, agility and efficiency, TRISH advances innovations and collaborations that enable all humans to thrive, wherever they explore.