Lungs in space

(Houston Methodist) Houston Methodist and University of Texas Medical Branch researchers are collaborating on a study to grow lungs in space with possible implications for both astronauts and people on Earth that could lead to future therapeutics. The scientists prepared bioreactor pouches that include lung progenitor and stem cells and pieces of lung scaffolding on which the cells are expected to grow on the ISS. The experiment successfully launched aboard Space X's CRS-12 mission Aug. 14.