Many of us dreamed of becoming astronauts, inspired by the promise of space exploration. Yet beyond its allure, space travel has complex effects on the human body and mind that require careful study. Understanding these impacts is vital to keep astronauts safe and support missions to Mars and beyond. Space is an extreme environment for humans. Microgravity, intense G-forces during launch and re-entry, and prolonged confinement or isolation all place strain on body and mind. These conditions can affect physical and mental health, but modern scientific methods allow us to measure and analyze stress responses in the lab.
Dr. Judith-Irina Buchheim, Clinician Scientist and Lecturer at Ludwig-Maximilians-University (LMU) in Munich, Germany, reflects on the facility’s journey: “We began 25 years ago. Under Alexander Choukér, our Department of Anesthesiology was awarded a study investigating the benefits of bedrest for astronauts post-mission. Over time, our focus grew and shifted to understanding how stress modulates the human immune response.”
Today, the Laboratory of Translational Research Stress & Immunity at LMU comprises a core team of around 20 members, with medical students and doctors regularly rotating through the department. The laboratory’s research is shaped by projects commissioned by global platforms that replicate space conditions on Earth. This is known as Space Analog Research. “We collaborate with partners such as NASA, as well as platforms in Europe and Japan,” explains Dr. Buchheim.
Each project is unique, but a central theme is measuring stress-related biomarkers, including hormones like cortisol and DHEA, enzymes such as alpha-amylase and various immunological markers and cytokines. Sample collection is a critical aspect, especially when testing astronauts during space missions. “In space, infrastructure such as freezer spacer is limited. And sometimes it is not available at all, for example within the Orion capsule. Saliva samples are ideal: they are easy to collect, highly stable and require minimal handling. Sometimes, astronauts provide samples just before returning to Earth, ensuring maximum freshness.”
Recently, the laboratory has adopted Tecan’s Saliva ELISA kits for key assays, including cortisol and alpha-amylase. Laboratory Manager Katharina Biere shares the rationale: “Previously, we relied on our in-house clinical testing laboratory, which delivered standardized results. However, our projects often require specialized protocols and sample volume is always a challenge. For these reasons we started running the tests ourselves. After evaluating suppliers, we chose Tecan primarily for their flexibility and reliability.”
Katharina adds, “We are very satisfied with the Tecan kits. Consistency is crucial for us and our comparison studies have demonstrated good lot-tolot and plate-to-plate reproducibility.”
Saliva’s role as a sample type is increasingly important in situations where remoteness, transport time or sample stability are critical. For Tecan, it is an important commitment to support researchers with high-quality kits tailored for saliva analysis.
The impact of the research at LMU over the last two decades plus the research conducted at other centers worldwide is becoming evident in improved stress profiles and faster recovery times for astronauts. Yet, challenges remain. Dr. Buchheim highlights, “One of the challenges of space research is the low “n” and, historically, most astronauts have been male. We know that women respond differently to stress and going forward we want to address this imbalance”.
The Munich team is actively working to promote diversity. For example, Katharina Biere, the lab manager, spent two months at the Concordia research station in Antarctica, an environment that mirrors many of the challenges of space travel. “Antarctica is isolated, with extreme weather, 24- hour sunlight and the challenge of high altitude. The crew is mostly male technicians and engineers, while women are primarily scientists or medics. My time there involved setting up equipment, conducting experiments and collecting samples. This experience reinforced the connection between our research and its clinical applications, which will ultimately benefit future astronauts.”
Looking ahead, Buchheim anticipates exciting developments: “Our research is guided by project proposals from global platforms. With commercial space travel on the rise, we expect faster timelines and potentially more projects. Saliva samples will remain central and as our data grows, we may explore other sample types, such as teardrop and nasal fluids.”
The work at LMU’s Translational Research laboratory expands knowledge of stress and immunity in spaceflight, supporting astronaut health and future missions. Tecan is proud to support this important research and looks forward to continued collaboration in the years ahead.