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Session 151: RBM in Space

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Session 151: Reproductive BioMedicine in Space III



Tuesday 13 May, 3pm EST / 8pm UK / 9pm CET

Moderators: 

Prof. Virginia Wotring
Dr. Fathi Karouia
Dr. Christopher E Mason
Giles Palmer

Panelist: Dr. Blair T Stocks

Presenters:
Dr. Begum Mathyk: Female reproductive health in space

Dr. Jeffrey Jones: male reproductive system impacted by
space.

Dr. Paul Root Wolpe on Ethical considerations
associated with spaceflight.

 



Session 151: Reproductive BioMedicine in Space III offered a deep and wide-ranging exploration of how human reproduction may be affected by life beyond Earth. As our ambitions turn toward Mars and commercial spaceflight becomes a reality, understanding how space environments influence reproductive health is becoming increasingly urgent. This session gathered leading voices in reproductive science, space medicine, urology, genomics, and ethics to examine both the opportunities and challenges of conceiving, maintaining fertility, and safeguarding reproductive health in space.
Moderated by leading experts in an international panel—Prof. Virginia Wotring, Dr. Fathi Karouia, Dr. Christopher Mason, and Giles Palmer—the session set the stage for a nuanced and interdisciplinary discussion. The moderators brought a wealth of experience, ranging from NASA-led translational research and global academic leadership to cutting-edge genomics and decades of clinical embryology. Together, they guided the conversation through scientific, ethical, and practical dimensions of this rapidly evolving field.
A key voice in the session was Dr. Begum Mathyk, a NASA-trained physician and ObGyn specializing in reproductive endocrinology and space medicine. Currently completing a fellowship at the University of South Florida, Dr. Mathyk has held academic positions in both Türkiye and the U.S. and serves as Associate Co-Chair of SREI. She made history by performing the first gynecologic ultrasound in weightlessness and plays an active role in international space health initiatives. Her talk provided valuable insights into how space environments could impact female reproductive health, highlighting both the gaps in knowledge and the need for innovation in women’s health research, both on Earth and in orbit.
Dr. Jeffrey A. Jones, Professor at Baylor College of Medicine and former NASA Flight Surgeon, together with Dr. Blair T. Stocks, Assistant Professor in Male Reproductive Medicine at Baylor, presented findings on the male reproductive system in space. They explored the effects of microgravity and radiation on male fertility, offering a blend of laboratory research and clinical implications relevant to future space missions.
Dr. Fathi Karouia, a senior research scientist with over two decades of experience in microgravity-based research, shared his perspective on biomedical innovation in space, including the logistics and technical challenges of studying reproduction in extraterrestrial environments.
Dr. Christopher Mason, one of the world’s leading experts in genomics and aerospace medicine, discussed how omics data, predictive modeling, and longitudinal astronaut health studies are revealing the long-term effects of space travel on human biology—insights that are vital for developing safe reproductive strategies for future interplanetary missions.
Ethical considerations were brought into focus by Dr. Paul Root Wolpe, former NASA Senior Bioethicist and a globally recognized figure in bioethics. Dr. Wolpe addressed the moral and philosophical implications of human reproduction beyond Earth—from questions of consent and autonomy to the potential societal consequences of assisted reproduction and human enhancement in space environments.
The session concluded with an interactive Q&A, allowing attendees to engage directly with the panel. It became clear that reproductive biomedicine in space is no longer a fringe topic, but a vital area of inquiry with real-world consequences for both future space travel and the advancement of reproductive health on Earth.
By bridging clinical expertise, aerospace science, and ethical foresight, this session underscored the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration in preparing humanity for its next great journey—into the cosmos.

Prof. Virginia Wotring


Virginia Wotring has been using her training in biochemistry and  PhD in physiology & pharmacology (Saint Louis University, USA) to study the actions of medications used during spaceflight missions. 
She is Chief Academic Officer and Professor at the International Space University in Strasbourg France. She had held management positions such as Deputy Director and Chief Scientist of the NASA-funded Translational Research Institute for Space Health, however she prefers doing science to managing it. So Virginia Wotring studies effects of the spaceflight environment on physiology, especially those that may change how medications work.

 


Dr. Fathi Karouia

Dr. Fathi Karouia is a seasoned leader in space life sciences with over 20 years of experience advancing biomedical research in space. He has led more than 35 successful experiments aboard the International Space Station (ISS), exploring how microgravity and spaceflight affect biological systems. His research focuses on human health, systems biology, and the development of innovative countermeasures for long-duration missions. As the In-Space Commercialization Lead at BioServe Space Technologies, Dr. Karouia pioneers strategies to leverage microgravity for biomanufacturing applications, including the expansion of hematopoietic stem cells to treat blood cancer patients on Earth. He actively supports startup ventures, drives commercialization pathways, and contributes to the new Low Earth Orbit (LEO) economy. With a multidisciplinary academic background and deep involvement in international space initiatives, he is dedicated to translating space-based science into tangible solutions that benefit humanity. Dr. Karouia also serves as a mentor, speaker, and advocate for diversity in space research.

Dr. Fathi Karouia is a seasoned leader in space life sciences with over 20 years of experience advancing biomedical research in space. He has led more than 35 successful experiments aboard the International Space Station (ISS), exploring how microgravity and spaceflight affect biological systems. His research focuses on human health, systems biology, and the development of innovative countermeasures for long-duration missions. As the In-Space Commercialization Lead at BioServe Space Technologies, Dr. Karouia pioneers strategies to leverage microgravity for biomanufacturing applications, including the expansion of hematopoietic stem cells to treat blood cancer patients on Earth. He actively supports startup ventures, drives commercialization pathways, and contributes to the new Low Earth Orbit (LEO) economy. With a multidisciplinary academic background and deep involvement in international space initiatives, he is dedicated to translating space-based science into tangible solutions that benefit humanity. Dr. Karouia also serves as a mentor, speaker, and advocate for diversity in space research.

.

Dr. Christopher E Mason

Dr. Mason is the WorldQuant Professor of Genomics and Computational Biomedicine at Weill Cornell Medicine, where he also directs the Initiative for Quantitative Prediction and the Cornell Aerospace Medicine Biobank. With a background that spans a dual B.S. in Genetics and Biochemistry, a Ph.D. in Genetics from Yale, and a Clinical Genetics Fellowship at Yale Medical School, his career reflects a deep commitment to both scientific innovation and ethical inquiry—he was also Visiting Fellow of Genomics, Ethics, and Law at Yale Law School. Dr. Mason’s, work that has led to over 350 peer-reviewed papers, five patents, diagnostics innovations, and the founding of multiple biotech companies and non-profits. He also holds affiliate positions at the New York Genome Center, Yale Law School, and the Consortium for Space Genetics at Harvard Medical School. Dr. Mason is the founder of the MetaSUB Consortium and the author of The Next 500 Years and The Age of Prediction. 


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