Research and Technology | NASA Glenn Research Center

Dr. Rafat Ansari (Bio Sciences & Technology Branch) was recognized at the Vision Research Scientific Forum for his voluntary service on the selection committee of “Young Investigator Student Fellowship Awards for Female Scholars in Vision Research” held in Columbus, Ohio, on November 18, 2009.

The event was hosted by Prevent Blindness Ohio (PBO). The Fellowship Program is designed to provide support for outstanding female scientists (MD, OD, and PhD students) committed to pursuing biomedical, behavioral, and clinical research careers to prevent blindness and preserve sight.

Dr. Bilal Mark McDowell Bomani (Bio Sciences & Technology Branch) was recognized on August 12, 2009, by the Honorable Marcia L. Fudge, U.S. House of Representatives, and 11th Congressional District of Ohio. The letter from Congresswoman Fudge read as follows:

“Dear Dr. Bilal Bomani, On behalf of myself and the entire 11th Congressional District, I would like to recognize you for your outstanding achievements, including your scientific and engineering research. Dr. Bomani, you are not only improving Cleveland, but the entire world. You will be recognized at my first State of the District Address, in which I will give an update on positive changes to the Greater Cleveland Area, including information on upcoming legislative initiatives.”

“A Non-Invasive Miniaturized-Wireless Laser-Doppler Fiber-Optic Sensor for Understanding Distal Fingertip Injuries in Astronauts”; authored by Rafat R. Ansari, PhD, Jeffrey A. Jones, MD, Luca Pollonin, PhD, Mikael Rodríguez, Roedolph Opperman, and Jason Hochstein; was published in Optical Diagnostics and Sensing IX, edited by Gerard L. Coté, Proc. of SPIE Vol. 7186, March 2009.

During extra-vehicular activities (EVAs), or space walks astronauts overuse their fingertips under pressure inside the confined spaces of gloves/space-suite. The repetitive hand motion is a probable cause for discomfort and injuries to the fingertips. The paper describes a new miniaturized wireless fiber-optic sensor that can be integrated inside the astronaut glove for non-invasive blood perfusion measurements in distal fingertips.

In this seven subject pilot study, blood perfusion measurements were performed during handgrip exercises in a hypobaric chamber simulating the use of space tools. This work is now translating into a larger astronaut population study in collaboration with JSC’s EVA Physiology, Systems, and Performance Project, and Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory.

The National Eye Institute(NEI) of National Institute of Health (NIH) and NASA GRC clinicians/researchers (Bio Sciences & Technology Branch) published a paper, “Clinical Detection of Precataractous Lens Protein Changes Using Dynamic Light Scattering,” Datiles MB III; Ansari, RR; Suh, KI; Vitale S; Reed GF; Zigler JS Jr; Ferris FL III, Arch. Ophthalmol. 126(12):1687-1693. 2008.

A new non-invasive eye test clinically and non-invasively detects the damage caused by oxidative stress to a patient’s eye (and perhaps the body) by measuring the amount of alpha crystallin lost over time. One can now measure the amount of alpha crystalline “reserve” of the eye, similar to creatinine clearance allowing clinicians to track kidney functional reserve. This is an early alarm system which if unchecked will lead to cataract formation and blindness.

ASA astronauts will benefit from this new, safe, and non- invasive eye test to assess their exposure to unhealthy environmental conditions or practices (e.g., radiation, nutrition, hyperbaric conditions) leading to increased oxidative stress and cataract formation. This study was conducted under a NASA – NEI Interagency Agreement.