Description: Techshot has completed a SBIR Phase I and II for Life Science Research Sample Transfer Technology for On Orbit Analysis Contract # NNX12CA57C. The Phase I and II work produced successful flight hardware that transferred biological samples (cells and media) in a microgravity environment between analytical and research facilities via innovative fluidics technology. Through award via the CCRPP, Techshot proposes to develop and test an ISS Cell Reprogramming Facility (CRF) that harnesses the innovative fluidics technology developed in the Phase I and II contracts and will create a TRL 8 commercial CRF facility. With this new facility on ISS, Techshot endeavors to utilize the microgravity environment to build an automated system to create induced Pluripotent Stem Cells (iPSCs) in microgravity. When installed on the ISS, the Techshot CRF will be capable of reprogramming adult cells to iPSC phenotypes. Once iPSCs have been developed, new innovative commercial research and bioprinting manufacturing will be feasible in microgravity. Techshot’s innovative project meets NASA’s goals to both expand the discoveries of science and enable a commercial economy in low-Earth orbit. This technology needs to be available no later than the end of 2020.

Benefits: Among customers for the CRF, the ISS-NL is expected to be the initial user of this technology. CASIS along with other governmental sponsored research programs will also be early adopters of this technology. Techshot’s efforts to utilize the microgravity environment to transform cells into iPSCs will aid in new innovative commercial research and biomanufacturing. This technology will expand the discoveries of science, enable commercialization of low-Earth orbit, and provide critical cell replacement capabilities for deep space missions.

Commercial customers in the field of regenerative medicine and pharmaceutical research will use this technology. Pharmaceutical companies like Cook Regentec, Eli Lilly, Takeda, Ncardia, and Novartis are all using iPSCs in commercial research applications. Companies like Fujifilm Healthcare and Takeda are currently using iPSCs for commercial regenerative medicine applications.