COHORT 2024

We're excited to welcome 20 teams at four university hubs, all working to accelerate biomedical innovations into the space economy.

ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY

Axon Logic
Axon Logic aims to accelerate the development of its energy-efficient in-memory computing technology for space environments. This technology optimizes power consumption during data processing, making it ideal for space wearables and sensors. By participating in Space-Edge, they seek to refine their product-market fit, secure funding, and establish strategic partnerships while gaining mentorship from industry experts.
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Blackstar Orbital
BlackStar Orbital aims to leverage its reusable satellite platform for life science research in space. This platform provides a stable environment for experiments in microgravity, enhancing research in areas like stem cell growth and protein crystallization. BlackStar seeks to drive biomedical innovation, optimize drug formulations, and facilitate scientific breakthroughs. Through Space-Edge, they aim to gain expert insights, form strategic partnerships, and access academic research ecosystems to refine their technology readiness levels and accelerate market entry for life science customers.
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MedAire
MedAire seeks to develop medical solutions for space travelers, addressing amplified challenges similar to those in aviation. By understanding the unique conditions of micro- and zero-gravity environments, the company seeks to ensure the safety and well-being of space travelers who may not have immediate access to traditional medical services during long-duration missions.
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NeoMatter
The NeoMatter team will advance their 3D-printed biomaterials for space applications by integrating non-canonical amino acids into proteins like collagen and spider silk. Their goal is to create materials with enhanced wound-healing and antimicrobial properties for astronaut care. Through Space-Edge, they seek to tackle 3D printing challenges in microgravity, collaborate with industry experts, and explore space-specific regulations while testing various biomaterial printing techniques to develop multifunctional fibers.
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(PSA) Problemssolvedaerospace: AdAstra
 Participating in Space-Edge will equip AdAstra, a solution in development by Problemssolvedaerospace (PSA), with the expertise and mentorship needed to move from concept to implementation. The PSA team will help refine AI algorithms for optimal telemedicine in space and facilitate partnerships in the space health industry. PSA aims to tackle unique biomedical challenges in microgravity, specifically addressing residual engagement and anticipatory engagement during task transitions. By providing real-time health diagnostics and interventions essential for long-duration missions, AdAstra is being developed to ensure seamless task management and enhance astronaut performance during critical phases.
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UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL FLORIDA

UCF Biomaterials and Nanomedicine
The Biomaterials and Nanomedicine team is developing a business strategy to enter the space ecosystem by leveraging their advancements in nanomedicine. While experienced in Earth-based applications, they aim to adapt their technologies for space use. Their innovations, including rotor-stator shear mixers for nanomaterials, can enhance drug delivery, improve medical imaging, and create durable, radiation-resistant materials for space construction. Through Space-Edge, they seek insights, mentorship, and a strategic plan to translate their regenerative nanomedicine discoveries for space, as well as networking opportunities for funding and guidance.
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Confident Good
The Confident Good team is focused on using bioinformatics to develop a virtual doctor that addresses biomedical challenges in space, including immune system dysregulation, cardiovascular changes, radiation-induced health issues, and space-related epigenetic changes. They are eager to explore the intersection of space and biomedical sciences. They aim to collaborate with experts to identify opportunities, gain insights into space-specific health problems, and access resources for developing solutions that benefit both space and Earth environments.
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PMA - Personal Mental Health Assistant
The PMA team is focused on advancing human space exploration by addressing the psychological challenges of long-duration space travel. They aim to develop the Personal Mental Health Assistant (PMA) technology to support astronauts' mental well-being in space. Microgravity and isolation provide a unique environment to test and enhance PMA's capabilities, offering insights that could also benefit other high-stress settings on Earth, such as submarines or remote expeditions. Through Space-Edge, they hope to collaborate with experts, gain business insights, and translate R&D into practical products.
LinkedIn

QLEDCures
QLEDCures aims to utilize its wearable platform to tackle health challenges in deep space missions, where traditional medical treatments fall short. Their technology enhances wound healing and fights infections from multidrug-resistant microbes, vital for astronaut health in microgravity. They seek to validate their solution in space conditions and collaborate with the space community to refine their technology for space missions. Through the accelerator, they hope to gain insights into space applications, develop market entry strategies, and connect with key stakeholders and investors.
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SILFOAM
SILFOAM will investigate the performance of its hemostatic dressing system, designed to control severe bleeding, in microgravity and space environments. Hemorrhage is a leading cause of preventable death, making effective treatment crucial in space with limited medical facilities. SILFOAM’s silicone-based, self-expanding sponge rapidly stops heavy bleeding by applying pressure to the wound. While effective on Earth, they aim to understand its behavior in space regarding polymer rheology, reactivity, and tissue adhesion to ensure its effectiveness in extraterrestrial environments.
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UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA

GatorSpace
The GatorSpace team aims to explore microgravity's potential for advancing regenerative medicine and tissue regeneration. They seek solutions that could benefit patients and humanity by leveraging space's unique environment to overcome limitations in traditional cell growth methods. Through Space-Edge, they hope to gain insights that could lead to breakthroughs in healthcare, especially in regenerative medicine.
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Laminomics
Laminomics is focused on refining its business strategy to enter the space industry. The unique conditions of space and microgravity are crucial for validating their mission to protect against space-related biohazards by monitoring astronauts' health and optimizing treatments. They aim to collaborate with biopharmaceutical companies and build a robust network of investors and advisors. Through Space-Edge, Laminomics seeks to connect with key players, secure research partnerships for their STTR project, and establish a solid roadmap for investment and growth.
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Lectra Tech
The Lectra Tech team is developing advanced muscle stimulation technology for space missions, especially for Mars exploration. Their system addresses muscle atrophy and reduced physical performance in microgravity by providing continuous, personalized stimulation that mimics exercise. Combining kinesiology tape, dry electrodes, and a Bluetooth-enabled pod, this lightweight, wireless solution is well-suited for space. By participating in Space-Edge, Lectra Tech aims to establish partnerships, gain technical validation, and gather insights to make their innovation essential for maintaining astronaut health during long-duration missions.
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Melts
Melts is working to revolutionize active ingredient delivery in space with its electrolyte-infused dissolving strips. These strips enable rapid nutrient replenishment, addressing electrolyte imbalances and fluid shifts experienced by astronauts in microgravity. Unlike traditional methods, Melts' strips offer mess-free, quick absorption through the oral mucosa, eliminating the need for water and reducing storage challenges. Through Space-Edge, Melts aims to collaborate with innovators, gain insights for space missions, and refine its product for both space and challenging environments on Earth.
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VANDERBILT

AstroFlexion
Astroflexion aims to develop muscle recruitment diagnostic systems for the optimization of astronaut training regimens to better long-term muscle maintenance endeavors during space travel. This is crucial for imminent ventures of deep space travel as muscular maintenance plans can both be developed and personalized for astronauts during the voyage. Through Space-Edge, Astroflexion hopes to gain valuable mentorship both in the product development space and connections within the space medical device industry.
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Baregamian Endocrine Neoplasia Laboratory (VUMC)
The Baregamian Endocrine Neoplasia Laboratory (VUMC) aims to engage with the space economy through innovative biomedical research. As commercial and deep space travel approaches, understanding potential health risks, like aggressive thyroid cancer resistant to conventional treatments, becomes essential. They plan to leverage patient-derived endocrine cancer organoids in microfluidic chips to test new drug formulations, integrating their findings into the space market to address critical health challenges for future missions.
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Melagen
Melagen focuses on advancing radiation shielding technology, leveraging microgravity to optimize and refine materials through effective testing in space. This is crucial for long-duration missions and positions the company for growth. Their goals align with Space-Edge’s emphasis on space commercialization and biomedical innovations, as they plan to use platforms like the ISS and expert partnerships to enhance their product’s market readiness.
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Microbial Insights
The Microbial Insights team aims to refine its fluid encapsulation product for the space industry while navigating market challenges. Space-Edge is essential for addressing unique testing conditions in microgravity, focusing on push-pull mechanics and binding efficiencies. The accelerator also provides opportunities to connect with industry experts, validate their ideas, and introduce their nucleic acid isolation product for space use.
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Radical Shoots
Radical Shoots aims to adapt its precision agriculture technology for space to enhance astronaut well-being and mission sustainability. Their mechatronic engineering focuses on modifying the technology for zero gravity, addressing long-term space mission challenges. Microgravity offers a unique opportunity to study nutrient cycling and plant metabolism, enabling the growth of nutrient-dense microgreens and mushrooms that support astronaut health while reducing reliance on Earth resources. They also seek to contribute to research on how food can enhance health and performance in space.
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Surgical Technologies for Low-Resource Microgravity Environments and Beyond
The Surgical Technologies team is focused on developing surgical technologies for low-resource microgravity environments, addressing the need for healthcare services in space with significant weight and space constraints. By creating these technologies for space, they can also be effectively adapted for use in terrestrial low-resource settings.
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