Cedars-Sinai has announced a partnership with Exobiosphere, a company specializing in scientific hardware for automated biomedical research both in space and on Earth. Through this collaboration, Cedars-Sinai researchers will conduct experiments aboard Haven-1, the first commercial space station developed by Vast, an aerospace firm based in Long Beach.
The primary focus of the research is to observe how reduced gravity affects the growth of organoids—cell clusters that mimic human organs. These organoids are used to model diseases and test potential treatments. Researchers hope that organoids may grow more rapidly in microgravity than they do on Earth.
“Our ultimate goal is to accelerate the progress of biological research and discovery,” said Arun Sharma, PhD, director of the Center for Space Medicine Research and research scientist at Cedars-Sinai’s Board of Governors Regenerative Medicine Institute. “Our partnership with Exobiosphere furthers Cedars-Sinai’s mission to be at the forefront of space biomedicine while deepening our understanding of how organoids develop in microgravity.”
Sharma and his team aim to find therapies for health issues experienced by astronauts, such as bone and muscle loss or deterioration of heart and immune system function. The results could also help patients on Earth who have similar conditions like sarcopenia (muscle loss), osteoporosis (bone weakening), or cardiomyopathy (heart muscle disease).
“Drugs that are used to treat astronauts can also benefit people on Earth, making a potential broader impact for millions of patients,” Sharma said.
Research in microgravity presents unique challenges. For example, opening petri dishes in space causes their contents to float away. A study led by Maedeh Mozneb, PhD, from Sharma’s lab found that 96-well plates can keep samples contained due to surface tension even in microgravity.
“It was the first time that anybody has ever showed that you can take this piece of affordable hardware that’s commonly used in labs on ground and bring it to space to do cell biology research,” said Sharma. “In a way, it’s democratizing life sciences.”
Building upon these findings, Exobiosphere created a platform automating organoid experiments in microgravity environments. The equipment features liquid handling technology, environmental controls, robotic manipulation tools, and live imaging capabilities—tasks previously requiring significant astronaut involvement.
“This system is designed to remove barriers for scientists,” said Kyle Acierno, CEO of Exobiosphere. “By streamlining the complexity of space-based research, we’re enabling our partners to focus on the science itself—delivering data faster, with greater consistency, and at a scale that’s never been possible in orbit.”
The unit accommodates six 96-well plates within a carry-on-sized device equipped with an incubator, liquid dispenser using microfluidics technology, plate reader, and robotic arm. While intended for use in microgravity settings like Haven-1 station, it can also increase efficiency for laboratory work on Earth.
Exobiosphere joined the Cedars-Sinai Accelerator+ program—a startup investment initiative supporting healthcare innovation—and received $1.4 million from Cedars-Sinai Technology Ventures along with mentorship from researchers.
“As an academic medical center committed to innovation, we are thrilled to invest in a company conducting important biosciences research in space while collaborating with our colleagues at the Center for Space Medicine Research,” said Nirdesh K. Gupta, PhD, managing partner of Cedars-Sinai Intellectual Property Company. “Our work together exemplifies our dedication to advancing breakthrough technologies that transform healthcare in space and on Earth.”
Cedars-Sinai Medical Center is located in Los Angeles and was founded in 1902. The hospital’s president is Thomas M. Priselac. It operates as both a pediatric care provider and training hospital; its 2022 annual report stated over 50,000 patient admissions during that year.
