Sharmila Bhattacharya

Recognized under Tier 9 — Extraterrestrial Healthcare, Sharmila Bhattacharya has made significant contributions to space biology and the investigation of how spaceflight affects living systems. Bhattacharya's research at NASA Ames examines the biological responses of model organisms to the spaceflight environment, including studies of nervous system function, immune function, and aging under spaceflight conditions, advancing understanding of how life is altered by the conditions unique to space travel. These findings contribute to the foundational biological knowledge base that will inform how to protect the health of colonists during transit to Mars and throughout the years of a Mars surface mission.