Translational Research Program

TRISH is innovative not only in the science and technology that it finds and funds, but also in its grant procurement approaches and the diversity of partners engaged. Inspired by NASA's 2018 Strategic Plan, TRISH identifies focus areas that best augment NASA's Human Research Program’s research activity. The Institute focuses on technologies and countermeasures at the two ends of the readiness level scale while HRP concentrates on more traditional, incremental research. (See the Related Links for more information about technology and countermeasure readiness levels.) We fund late-stage high maturity projects that can quickly transition a solution to spaceflight use. The Institute also seeds early-stage low maturity research efforts that have the potential to transform the way health and performance risks could be mitigated in space - and likely on Earth. Early-stage research typically carries a higher risk for failure and takes longer to deliver operationally feasible products. Hence, the Institute has adopted a higher risk threshold by investing in early-stage projects to both short-term and long-term space health research outcomes. Successfully completing a TRISH-funded project could position the investigator for the continuation of funding by the NASA Human Research Program.

TRISH is focused on engaging a wide variety of partners in solving some of the challenges of keeping humans healthy in deep space. In addition to academic researchers, TRISH welcomes partnership with medium and large companies, additional startup companies, and investors.

Given the variety of needs and partners, TRISH's grants are designed to appeal to a wide variety of researchers and their funding needs. We offer different types of funding mechanisms with varying term lengths. Some grant opportunities are announced via a traditional solicitation, at least annually, while other opportunities may be submitted anytime with quarterly reviews or even reviewed as received.

TRISH recognizes that it’s not always one size fits all. And, our funding portfolio reflects that. By far the largest of TRISH programs, TRP offers multiple funding mechanisms with variable solicitation methods, funding amounts, durations, and review cycles.