Israeli Hospital Joins NASA and SpaceX Mission to Study Disease in Space

An Israeli hospital is reaching for the stars literally. Sheba Medical Center’s ARC Digital Innovation Center is joining forces with NASA and SpaceX in a groundbreaking mission to the International Space Station (ISS), launching Thursday, to explore how the microgravity of space affects disease and bacterial behavior.

This latest endeavor, dubbed the ARC Space Lab, represents Sheba’s second experiment in space and continues its pioneering legacy as the only hospital in Israel conducting space-based medical research. Partnering with US biotech firm SpaceTango, the hospital is pushing the boundaries of modern medicine far beyond Earth.

But why study bacteria in space? The answer lies in the profound medical implications of space travel. Long-term space missions pose numerous risks to the human body, including increased vulnerability to infections. Scientists believe this may be linked to factors like microgravity, radiation exposure, stress, and disruptions to the microbiome.

For this study, scientists will grow multiple bacterial species aboard the ISS in a specialized, Earth-monitored system. These space-grown samples will then be frozen at -80°C and brought back to Earth for comparison with identical cultures grown simultaneously in a terrestrial lab.

Previous findings from Sheba's initial ARC Space Lab experiment revealed a surprising truth: bacteria in microgravity environments are less likely to develop antibiotic resistance. This discovery defied earlier scientific assumptions and was published in the prestigious journal Microbiology Spectrum.

“This experiment will allow us, for the first time, to systematically and molecularly map how the genetic expression profile of several pathogenic bacteria changes in space,” said Prof. Ohad Gal-Mor, head of Sheba’s Infectious Diseases Unit. “What we learn will help manage infection risks in space and deepen our understanding of gene regulation and bacterial behavior overall.”

Prof. Eyal Zimlichman, director of Sheba ARC, emphasized the broader significance: “To understand the limits of medicine, we sometimes need to go beyond the limits of Earth. This mission isn’t just about astronauts it’s about advancing healthcare for everyone, everywhere.”

Sheba’s collaboration with NASA and SpaceX showcases the innovation and determination driving Israeli science and medicine into the future. It’s a shining example of how Israeli ingenuity continues to make a global impact whether on Earth or in orbit.

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