Health in Space Series: Genes in Space

Dr. Francine Garrett-Bakelman

Dr. Francine Garrett-Bakelman is an Assistant Professor in Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics at the University of Virginia (Charlottesville, USA). Francine completed her undergraduate studies in Biochemistry and Cell Biology at the California State University (Fullerton, USA) and then continued on to study medicine at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine (Yeshiva University, New York, USA), where she attained her MD/PhD. Afterwards, Francine completed a postdoctoral training and then a clinical fellowship at the Weill Cornel Medical College specialising in epigenetics, hematology and oncology. Besides growing her expertise in Medicine and Life Sciences field, Francine worked closely with NASA on the famous “twin study”, where one of the twin astronauts spent a year-long mission on the International Space Station. Therefore, Dr Garrett-Bakelman and her colleagues were able to examine molecular and physiological traits of astronauts that may be affected by prolonged time in space.

Dr. Tricia Larose

Dr. Tricia Larose is the Principal Investigator for “Tumors in Space” with the University of Oslo, Norway. Her cancer research project has been selected by the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs and the China Manned Space Agency for a 31-day space mission on board the China Space Station to be launched in 2025. Beyond her academic work, Tricia works as a Medical Advisor at the Institute of Aviation Medicine (Norwegian Armed Forces Medical Services) and as an adjunct lecturer at the International Space University. She is also a Scientist-Astronaut Candidate with Project PoSSUM, a children’s book author, and a motivational speaker.