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Space and environmental physiology – Rodrigo Fernandez Gonzalo group

Our work focuses on understanding how spaceflight affects the mass and function of skeletal muscle and how this tissue interacts with other physiological systems of the human body in space. We are also very interested in developing countermeasures to offset the deleterious effect of spaceflight on the human body.

Man in space suit working on equipment on a spacewalk.

Our research

We investigate how the space exposome (i.e. microgravity, radiation, and confinement and stress) affects skeletal muscle mass and function. We are very interested in investigating how spaceflight-induced changes in skeletal muscle affect other organ systems, particularly the skeletal, nervous and immune systems. Given the negative consequences of the space exposome on the human body, and in particular on skeletal muscle, we are involved in projects to develop, test and refine exercise countermeasures to offset these detrimental effects.

Our research combines molecular analysis, imaging information (both at the cellular and tissue/body level) and physical performance o