Human Performance Collaborative

From Orbit to Pharmacy: Drug Development in the Space Environment

This virtual workshop will bring together academic and industry experts to explore how the unique conditions of microgravity are reshaping pharmaceutical research, from drug discovery and disease modeling to the manufacturing of therapeutics in orbit.
Laboratory researcher handling a test tube with molecular graphics and a starry space background.

Workshop Details

Date: Friday, November 20, 2026
Time: 1–3 p.m. ET
Location: Zoom

Registration is required. A confirmation email with the Zoom link and an option to add the workshop to your calendar will be sent after registration.

Exploring Drug Development in Space

This workshop is part of the 2026–2027 Exploring Bioastronautics Research in Space series, presented by The Ohio State University Human Performance Collaborative and Starlab Space. Join us Friday, November 20, from 1 to 3 p.m. virtually on Zoom to explore how microgravity is creating new opportunities across pharmaceutical research and development.

The workshop will examine the use of human tissue chips to accelerate drug screening, the crystallization and production of pharmaceuticals in space and their return to Earth, and the practical steps required to design and fly life science experiments. The discussion will also consider financial projections for the emerging in-space pharmaceutical market as commercial space stations come online.

Agenda

  • 1:00–1:10 p.m.: Welcome and Starlab/Human Performance Collaborative Overview
  • 1:10–1:30 p.m.: Alessandro Paravano, PhD, assistant professor, Politechnico de Milano
  • 1:30–1:50 p.m.: Sarah Herschede, PhD, pharmaceutical portfolio manager, Varda Space Industries
  • 1:50–2:10 p.m.: Daniel Feldkamp-Lynch, president, Yuri USA
  • 2:10–3:00 p.m.: Panel Discussion

Panel Discussion: Come Prepared!

A significant portion of the workshop will be dedicated to an interactive panel discussion. We encourage participants to bring questions and topics of interest related to drug discovery, pharmaceutical research and life science experimentation in space. This is your opportunity to engage directly with experts and explore the opportunities and challenges shaping the future of space-based pharmaceutical research.

Speakers