Propelling Space Health Forward: TrialX’s Contributions to Groundbreaking Research

In the ever-evolving world of clinical research, technology plays a crucial role in enhancing the accuracy, efficiency, and accessibility of studies. We’re proud to announce that TrialX’s solutions have been cited in over 50 peer-reviewed publications on PubMed Central, a testament to our ongoing contribution to the field and commitment to innovation in clinical trials on Earth and in space.
Space exploration offers limitless opportunities for scientific discovery while presenting unique challenges, particularly in managing vast amounts of complex data. With every new insight into human health and biology from missions like Inspiration4, the demand for robust, secure, and accessible data storage solutions becomes increasingly critical. Here, we highlight the peer-reviewed publications showcasing our integral role in remote data collection, storage, and sharing among research centers to enable access to mission-critical data.
1. Molecular and Physiological Changes in the SpaceX Inspiration4 Civilian Crew
Published in Nature (2024), this study highlighted the various molecular and physiological changes observed in the civilian crew of the Inspiration4 mission. TrialX was recognized as one of the most important data platforms alongside NASA’s Open Science Data Repositories, GeneLab, ALSDA, and SOMA. The data derived from this historic spaceflight was stored in the platform, managed with controlled access, and ensured preservation for long-term research. TrialX supported the mission as the standardized database provider funded by the Translational Research Institute for Space Health (TRISH), which ensured easy digestion, sharing, and harmonization of data among different research centers.


Citations: Christopher W. Jones et al., Molecular and Physiological Changes in the SpaceX Inspiration4 Civilian Crew, Nature, 2024, 632(8027): 1155–1164.
2. Telomeric RNA (TERRA) Increases with Spaceflight and High-Altitude Climbing
A study published in Communications Biology (2024) investigates the elevation of telomeric RNA (TERRA) with spaceflight and high-altitude climbing. This research enhances the possibility of doing a critical analysis of the biological impacts that space travel imposes on human health. TrialX is listed as one of the important depositories alongside NASA’s Open Science Data Repositories (OSDR). These datasets are part of a larger set of research data, which can also be visualized online through the SOMA Data Explorer: https://epigenetics.weill.cornell.edu/apps/I4_Multiome/

Citation: Taghreed M. Al-Turki et al., Telomeric RNA (TERRA) Increases in Response to Spaceflight and High-Altitude Climbing, Communications Biology, 2024, 7:698.
3. Transcriptomic Analysis Reveals Molecular Alterations Underpinning Spaceflight Dermatology
The study published in Communications Medicine (2024) explores the molecular alterations in skin biology induced by spaceflight. TrialX is cited as a critical data repository, storing datasets from the Inspiration4 study. These datasets are made available alongside resources like the NASA GeneLab and ALSDA, ensuring a comprehensive approach to spaceflight dermatology. The study highlights TrialX’s role in providing seamless access to data, which complements visualization tools like the SOMA Browser, enabling researchers to draw insights from complex biological data.

Citation: Henry Cope et al., Transcriptomic Analysis Reveals Molecular Alterations Underpinning Spaceflight Dermatology, Communications Medicine, 2024, 4:106
4. Spatiotemporal Expression and Control of Hemoglobin in Space
The study published in Nature Communications (2024) utilized the TrialX repository to store data from the Inspiration4 mission. The paper revolves around the regulation of hemoglobin expression in space and its implications for the health of astronauts. TrialX’s involvement in this study ensures that valuable datasets are securely stored and made accessible to researchers worldwide, facilitating a deeper understanding of the effects otrf spaceflight on human physiology.

Citation: Josef Borg et al., Spatiotemporal Expression and Regulation of Hemoglobin in Space, Nature Communications, 2024, 15:4927.
5. Effects of Spaceflight on the Aging and Putative Biomarkers of Frailty
A study published in Scientific Reports (2024) investigates the impact of spaceflight on aging and frailty biomarkers. TrialX is one of the repositories for Inspiration4 mission data. It was used to enable access over long stretches of time and sharing with other parties. The study underscores the importance of platforms like TrialX in advancing space health research by enabling seamless data sharing among researchers.

Citation: Andrea Camera et al., Spaceflight alters aging and putative frailty biomarkers, Scientific Reports, 2024, 14:13098.
6. Space Radiation Damage Rescued by Inhibition of Key Spaceflight-Associated miRNAs
Another very important study published in Nature Communications in 2024 mentions TrialX as a repository for storing datasets for space radiation damage and mitigation. This study explores the ability of miRNAs to rescue space radiation-induced damage. It uses TrialX as a data-sharing and accessible hub for these data. This collaboration further highlights TrialX’s critical role in supporting space health research through its robust data-sharing infrastructure.

Citation: J. Tyson McDonald et al., Space Radiation Damage Rescued by Inhibition of Key Spaceflight-Associated miRNAs, Nature Communications, 2024, 15:4825.
7. The Space Omics and Medical Atlas (SOMA) and International Astronaut Biobank
In this publication, our team is mentioned in the author section, underscoring our contributions to this groundbreaking initiative. The study highlights the collaborative efforts behind SOMA and the International Astronaut Biobank, emphasizing the importance of accessible and well-organized data in advancing space health research.

Citation: C. Ryon et al., The Space Omics and Medical Atlas (SOMA) and International Astronaut Biobank, 2024, Nature Communications.
TrialX’s role in high-impact space health studies underscores its importance as a trusted platform for managing, sharing, and visualizing critical research data. These contributions have supported groundbreaking discoveries in understanding the physiological and molecular changes induced by spaceflight. Building on this foundation, we are excited to present our work on the EXPAND Database and HERMES, developed in collaboration with Translational Research Institute for Space Health (TRISH), at the IWS NASA 2025 conference this month. Learn more.

In addition to aiding space missions, TrialX’s remote data collection platform also plays a pivotal role in advancing decentralized clinical research on Earth and is being used by several academic medical centers such as the University of IOWA, Baylor College of Medicine, Northwestern University, Columbia University and more. By enabling investigators to collect study data remotely, our platform simplifies collaboration across research sites, enhances data accuracy, and accelerates study timelines.
As we look ahead to 2025, we are committed to further enhancing our platform with new features designed to meet the evolving needs of researchers. These improvements will not only bolster space health research but also expand the possibilities for decentralized and hybrid clinical trials, driving innovation and discovery in diverse scientific domains.