- Microgravity Center
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The Microgravity Centre (Centro de Microgravidade)[1] at PUCRS university, Porto Alegre, Brazil was first created as a laboratory in 1999[2] by Professor Thais Russomano MD MSc PhD, as the first academic and research establishment dedicated to Space Life Sciences in Latin America. It evolved into a centre in 2006 and is internationally recognised as a unique research centre in this area, producing numerous relevant studies.
Contents
Structure
The centre is a multi-disciplinary unit that brings together researchers, professors and students from many different faculties within PUCRS, including Medicine, Engineering, Aeronautical Sciences, Pharmacy, Biosciences, Physics, Informatics, Sports Science, Odontology, Physiotherapy, Nursing and Nutrition.
The centre comprises seven research laboratories:
John Ernsting Aerospace Physiology[3]
Joan Vernikos Aerospace Pharmacy
Aerospace Biomedical Engineering
Aerospace Biomechanics
Aerospace Physiotherapy
Aviation Research
Telemedicine & eHealthProjects
Each laboratory conceives and develops research projects, software and tools relevant to its field of interest. These include studies to develop the following equipment: device for collecting earlobe arterialized blood (EABC) for use in space; 3D Clinostat for the study of cells in simulated micrograviy; lower body negative pressure (LBNP) box; Bárány chair; body suspension device for microgravity and hypogravity simulation; tilt-table for microgravity simulation; small centrifuge for the study of the effects of hypergravity on plants; small hypobaric chamber; portable dark chambers; pressure measurement system for use during Valsalva Manoeuvre.
Studies have been conducted in space life sciences, including researches related to:
- The effects of microgravity, hypogravity and hypergravity simulations on human physiology
- The analysis of plant germination and growth during hypergravity exposures
- The evaluation of new cardiopulmonary resuscitation techniques in aerospace environments (Evetts-Russomano method)[4]
- The study of spatial disorientation and space motion sickness
- The physiological responses to exposures to lower body negative pressure protocols
- The effects of pressure changes on medication (in-flight medicines)
- The evaluation of medication, enzymes and plants during microgravity simulation inside a 3D clinostat
- Human factors in aviation
- Psychological performance during microgravity simulation
- Effects of medication on physical and mental performance during physiological studies using ground-based simulations
- Evaluation of the human walk pattern in reduced gravitational force simulations - Establishment of Telemedicine and eHealth projects in telesurgery, teledermatology, telecardiology,
teleeducation, teleodontology, teleradiology and telepathology
- Amazon mission 2007 & 2008 - telemedicine and assistance to remote Indian communitiesPublications
Professors, researchers, and students of the Microgravity Centre have produced over 200 academic papers[5], published in many leading journals relevant to the field. Chapters have been contributed to encyclopedias[6][7] and two books published[8][9].
National & International Partnerships
Co-operations and collaborations exist with many national and international partners around the world, covering the areas of research, teaching, and professor and student exchanges. Partners include:
Brazilian Space Agency
Brazilian Society of Aerospace Medicine
King's College London, UK
Kingston University, London, UK
Johnson Space Center, NASA, USA
New York University, USA
Institute of Aerospace Medicine, German Aerospace Centre, Cologne Germany
Greek Aerospace Medical Association, Thessalonik Greece
Medical University of Warsaw, Poland
Kaunas University of Medicine, LithuaniaReferences
- ^ http://www.pucrs.br/feng/microg/en/index.htm
- ^ "The Brazilian Research and Teaching Center in Biomedicine and Aerospace Biomedical Engineering, Abstract". Hippokratia. http://www.hippokratia.gr/index.php/hippo/article/view/640. Retrieved 2009-11-21.
- ^ http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2009-09/kcl-kcl091609.php
- ^ http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/asma/asem/2005/00000076/00000005/art00016
- ^ http://www.pucrs.br/feng/microg/en/index.htm
- ^ http://books.google.com/books?id=kBVluhsHhOsC&pg=PT597&lpg=PT597&dq=encyclopedia+of+healthcare+information+systems+microgravity+centre&source=bl&ots=sbP-8X1WI9&sig=mWCPbj1if2Q9mHF8caU49AFfW8Y&hl=en&ei=YqgJS8rCM9S8lAenwpSFBA&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CAgQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=&f=false
- ^ http://books.google.com/books?id=kBVluhsHhOsC&pg=PT482&lpg=PT482&dq=encyclopedia+of+healthcare+information+systems+walking+pattern&source=bl&ots=sbP-8X1ZFh&sig=kVC_GKxSwA2mEG2sg0z9R4UYhQ0&hl=en&ei=eakJS4PSGNThlAfd2pmFBA&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=2&ved=0CAsQ6AEwAQ#v=onepage&q=&f=false
- ^ http://www.morganclaypool.com/doi/abs/10.2200/S00105ED1V01Y200801BME018?cookieSet=1&journalCode=bme
- ^ http://www.thaisrussomano.com/books.html
External links
Categories:- Higher education in Brazil
- Scientific research foundations
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