Ottawa Hospital Research Institute

Published purpose

This project is a STEM internship opportunity for post-secondary Canadian students of underrepresented groups to advance their knowledge of space health research. Trainees will be investigating space anemia using MRI and ultrasound measures, gas chromatograph carbon monoxide measures, and clinical and laboratory markers of hemolysis. Trainees will measure the vertebral fat fraction of the lumbar spine and calcaneus, and anthropomorphic measures, iron concentration, shear-wave elastography, and perfusion/diffusion ratios of the spleen and liver, using ITK-snap and in-house developed MATLAB software. Trainees will also measure ambient and alveolar air samples using gas chromatography and will analyze the data under the supervision of the team’s statistician to measure the effect of space and various countermeasures on space anemia, and to identify sex-differences. Through these proposed activities, trainees will have the opportunity to acquire hands-on knowledge and experience related to space health research. They will form partnerships and be directly mentored by prominent scientists in the space sector.