Exceptional Research. Groundbreaking Discoveries.
AMAZONIA PROJECT
This groundbreaking research extends beyond Earth—from the depths of the Amazon rainforest to the vast expanse of space—where they seek to uncover the genetic and neurological secrets that shape the human brain. In the Amazon, researchers collaborate with indigenous communities, environmental organizations, and global scientific institutions to study the genetic diversity of native populations and the presence of rare diseases. This work provides invaluable insights into human evolution, brain function, and vulnerability to neurological conditions. This pioneering research explores how brain organoids—miniature, lab-grown models of the human brain—respond to microgravity aboard the International Space Station. By comparing these findings with data from Amazonian genetic and environmental studies, we aim to understand how different stressors—whether ecological or extraterrestrial—impact brain development and degeneration. This integrated approach allows us to create detailed genomic profiles and advance personalized therapies for neurodevelopmental disorders. By merging environmental, cultural, and space-based biomedical research, we bridge traditional knowledge with cutting-edge science, opening new therapeutic pathways and contributing both to human health and the preservation of the Amazon’s extraordinary biodiversity
BRAIN ORGANOIDS IN SPACE
Pioneering research on brain organoids in space is transforming our understanding of brain development, aging, and disease. By sending human brain organoids—miniature, lab-grown models of the brain—aboard the International Space Station (ISS), we are investigating how microgravity and cosmic radiation influence brain cells and accelerate aging. Remarkably, findings suggest that just one month in space may mimic the effects of up to ten years of brain aging on Earth. This accelerated model allows us to study the early onset and progression of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s in ways not possible on Earth. Space-based neuroscience also intersects with terrestrial research in places like the Amazon, where genetic diversity and unique environmental stressors provide parallel insights into brain resilience and degeneration. Together, these efforts not only advance the development of targeted treatments for age-related neurological disorders but also offer vital knowledge about the effects of long-duration space travel—essential for future human missions to Mars and beyond. Through this cutting-edge research, we are pushing the boundaries of neuroscience, quantum biology and space exploration.
The Quantum Biologist
​Dr. Aline Martins, leads pioneering work in “Space Omics,” the study of human brain organoids under microgravity conditions to investigate how spaceflight influences brain development and neurodegenerative disease processes. In collaboration with NASA and SpaceX, her team has launched three-dimensional, stem-cell-derived brain models aboard the SpX33 Fire Dragon resupply mission to the International Space Station, where they will remain for approximately four to six months. Reflecting on this milestone, Dr. Martins describes SpX33 as “a dreamer’s endurance,” symbolizing both the resilience of scientific inquiry and the human spirit that drives it. She writes that “our hope and faith in our science could bring so much knowledge for Earthling diseases, shedding light into the cosmic darkness of our limitations.” This mission, she notes, represents not only a significant advancement in space-based biomedical research but also an enduring testament to the pursuit of knowledge that extends beyond Earth, seeking to illuminate the biological and existential frontiers of humanity. https://scienceme.gr/brain-organoids-spaceomics/