Introduction
The quest to push human exploration beyond low Earth orbit demands innovative solutions to the unique health challenges of spaceflight. Now, two early-career scientists are joining the effort through a prestigious fellowship program. The Translational Research Institute for Space Health (TRISH), funded by NASA, has selected Dr. Baiyang Liu of Columbia University and Dr. Dylan Pham of Texas A&M University as the newest postdoctoral fellows. Starting in May, their independent projects will target two critical areas: space food systems and astronaut eye health.
A New Generation of Space Health Researchers
The TRISH Postdoctoral Fellowship Program nurtures early-career scientists who bring fresh ideas and technical expertise to the most pressing biomedical, behavioral, and technological hurdles of human space exploration. Each fellow designs an independent research project that aims to reduce spaceflight-related health risks while also yielding benefits for human health on Earth. The program is a cornerstone of TRISH’s mission to build the scientific and technological capability needed for a sustained human presence on the Moon and, eventually, Mars.
From Algae to Astronaut Eyes: The Two New Projects
Grow Your Own Spirulina in Space
One of the major unsolved problems for long-duration missions is producing a reliable, nutritious food supply that doesn’t require resupply from Earth. Dr. Baiyang Liu, working under mentor Dr. Harris Wang at Columbia University, is tackling this by developing a diazotrophic and nutritionally optimized strain of Spirulina. Spirulina, a blue-green algae, is already known for its high protein content and ability to grow in minimal conditions. Liu’s project aims to engineer a strain that can fix its own nitrogen—using natural nitrogen from the air—thereby eliminating the need for costly fertilizers. The optimized algae would serve as a compact, renewable food source that could be cultivated inside spacecraft or habitats, providing essential nutrients for astronauts on extended missions.
Protecting Vision in Microgravity
Spaceflight-associated neuro-ocular syndrome (SANS) is a well-documented risk for astronauts, causing vision changes due to fluid shifts and other factors. Dr. Dylan Pham, guided by mentor Dr. Travis Hein at Texas A&M University, is investigating how simulated microgravity and aging affect the ocular artery and neural retina. Using ground-based models, Pham will examine the combined impact of microgravity and age-related changes on blood flow to the eye and the health of retinal neurons. Understanding these mechanisms could lead to countermeasures—such as specific exercise regimens or pharmacological treatments—that protect astronauts’ vision during long stays in space.
Why This Research Matters for Deep Space Exploration
“Our postdoctoral fellows bring new ideas, technical expertise, and energy to some of the most complex challenges in human spaceflight,” said Dr. Dorit Donoviel, executive director of TRISH and associate professor at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston. “By investing in the next generation, we are building the capability required to achieve a sustained presence on the Moon and extend human exploration deeper into space.”
Both projects address fundamental requirements for self-sufficiency and crew health on distant missions. Without reliable food production, a Mars trip would require enormous resupply mass. Without protecting vision, astronauts could face performance decrements or safety risks. The results of these studies could translate into practical tools not only for space but also for remote regions on Earth where food security and eye care are limited.
TRISH and NASA's Human Research Program
TRISH is a virtual institute funded by NASA’s Human Research Program (HRP). HRP conducts rigorous science to understand how spaceflight affects the human body and behavior, using laboratories, ground-based analogs, commercial missions, the International Space Station, and Artemis missions. The ultimate goal is to develop technologies and methods that keep astronauts healthy and mission-ready as human exploration expands to the Moon, Mars, and beyond. TRISH serves as a key arm of HRP, pursuing and funding innovative research to solve the health challenges of deep space.
With the addition of Drs. Liu and Pham, the TRISH fellowship program continues to cultivate a pipeline of researchers who will shape the future of space medicine. Their work exemplifies the interdisciplinary thinking needed to ensure that humans can thrive wherever they explore—whether in orbit around Earth, on the lunar surface, or on the red plains of Mars.