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Current and On-going Solicitations
The Translational Research Institute for Space Health offers multiple funding mechanisms with variable solicitation methods, funding amounts, durations and review cycles. TRISH's research priorities include commercial space health research (EXPAND), medical system architecture (HERMES), tissues-chips (SENTINEL), and biology-engineered for space exploration (BEES). View our current solicitations below.
Space Health Ingress Program
Increasing new-to-TRISH/NASA investigators
TRISH is seeking innovative proposals for projects that recruit and engage researchers new to space biomedical research. Selected proposals will receive a partnership grant as part of the Space Health Ingress Program.
The TRISH SHIP will fund partner projects foster collaboration and mentorship by connecting seasoned and new space biomedical investigators. The goal for these awards is to increase the number of new investigators applying to and receiving awards from NASA and TRISH funding opportunities. Projects are expected to begin by summer 2024.
Deadline: Feb. 22, 2024, at 5 p.m. EST
Figures of Merit Analysis: How to get Biology Engineered for Exploration of Space
The NASA Artemis program is taking humans back to the Moon, with Mars missions on the horizon. Given the limited resources available for these expeditionary missions, it is crucial to evaluate the potential integration of new innovative solutions developed in recent decades into human spaceflight. The inclusion of a capability in human spaceflight is a multifaceted decision, considering both the performance of the capability and its associated resource requirements or "cost." The term "cost" (also known as figures of merit [FOM]) refers to mass, volume, time, and power resources that are required from the spacecraft or mission personnel to operate the capability effectively.
The provision of food and medications are crucial aspects of any long-duration, deep space human missions, and these systems need to be integrated with other critical vehicle systems and may even be a part of complex systems such as a regenerative life support approach that uses plants and microbes as part of the solution. As such, various technological approaches have been proposed in the recent past to fulfill the food system's requirements by including engineering biology innovations such as edible plants, supplemental nutrients, and pharmaceuticals. Many of these technology approaches have had significant investment by NASA and other funding agencies for development; however, there has been limited analysis of the FOM ‘costs’ associated with implementing these capabilities in space. Without such analysis there is little chance that solutions and associated technologies will be considered for future space travel.
In this solicitation, TRISH is seeking proposers with proof-of-concept engineering and synthetic biology solutions that can be used in long-duration, deep space missions that are ready to prepare the FOM. The work of awarded projects themselves will be to prepare the FOM.
Watch the pre-proposal webinar recording.
Interested in volunteering to be a reviewer? Sign up online.
Deadline: Feb. 12, 2024, at 11:59 p.m. EST
The Catalyst Grants Program
TRISH is now accepting Catalyst proposals. The Catalyst Program on the TRISH GRID submission site has transitioned from a single step, full proposal submission process to a two-step procedure with submission of a Step-1 proposal and if invited, a subsequent Step-2 proposal. This change enables proposers to submit a more simplified initial application due to fewer proposal requirements at the Step-1 stage and reduce the barrier toward proposing an idea.
The Catalyst Grants Program offers a streamlined method for carrying out proof-of-concept projects, directed technology development(s) for space health that address a critical need(s), maturation of promising concepts with strong preliminary findings, and innovative projects that present opportunities outside of regularly scheduled solicitation cycles. Proposers can apply for Catalyst Tier 1 or Tier 2 projects. Please note that TRISH is currently prioritizing Tier 1 and one-year projects.
The Catalyst Grants Program is a continuous open call for proposals.
International Collaborations
As a federally funded institute, TRISH supports research projects led by investigators currently at U.S.-based institutions. However, to foster an environment for collaboration, TRISH encourages international investigators and organizations to connect by adding themselves to our Researchers Open to Collaboration document. There, you can find potential collaborators as well as add your name, institution and contact information for other potential collaborations with the wider space biomedical community.
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