Duration: 36 months
The RadioBiome project will bridge oncology and space life sciences research by investigating the functional resilience and susceptibility of gut microbiome species to ionising radiation. This interdisciplinary study, integrating microbiome science, radiobiology, and aerospace medicine, addresses the need for a better understanding of microbiome responses to radiation, and the potential influence on radiotherapy patient recovery outcomes and astronaut health. Bacterial exposure to space radiation and radiotherapy environments will be modelled at different scales, from pure cultures to complex microbial communities within tissue systems. In vitro radiosensitivity trials will focus on spaceflight-responsive bacteria with functions essential for human health, such as those involved in bile acid metabolism and immune regulation.
The RadioBiome project will:
1. Develop a trackable culture and irradiation system to study the impact of radiation on specific gut bacterial strains.
2. Establish functional assays to assess niche-specific bacterial responses to various radiation types and doses.
3. Determine the radiosensitivity of gut microbiome functions critical to human health, bridging laboratory research with clinical and spaceflight applications.
4. Create an evidence base to enable future EU, ESA and cross-agency multiomics collaborations in microbiome research.
The research aims to build on leading-edge microbiome research in colorectal cancer, chronic pain and aerospace medicine to enhance understanding of the roles of specific microbiota in guiding future microbiome-informed radiotherapy innovations and strategies for safeguarding astronaut health. The RadioBiome project will therefore address a significant challenge of long-duration space exploration and cancer treatment resilience, with potentially broad translational impacts on human health and future spaceflight missions.
