NASA and the Sloan Foundation agreed through a Space Act Agreement to work in parallel for a common purpose: to better understand how microbial communities colonize, adapt, and evolve on the ISS. Both entities have a shared interest in promoting microbiology research that will enhance scientific understanding of the microbiome of built environments.

“The proposed studies offer a powerful approach to advance our understanding of microbial population dynamics, biofilm formation and susceptibility to chemical disinfectants that may be occurring in the ISS drinking water system over time,” Yang said.  “In addition, understanding the microbiome of the ISS also provides a foundation to understand the impact of environmental factors on Earth as they influence complex microbial ecosystems of human built and occupied environments, like office buildings and hospitals.”

For a complete list of the selected proposals, principal investigators and organizations, visit:

The Space Biology Program is managed by the Space Life and Physical Sciences Research and Applications Division in NASA's Human Exploration and Operations Mission Directorate at the agency's headquarters in Washington, DC.

The Microbiology of the Built Environment (MoBE) Program is managed by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, a charitable foundation based in New York City that supports research in science, technology, and economics.

Joe Caspermeyer

Manager (natural sciences), Media Relations & Strategic Communications