SPOKE for Space Health: Connecting Biomedical Information on Earth and in Space Via the SPOKE Knowledge Graph
Project Overview
Through this project, development of SPOKE is directed towards space biology and medicine to facilitate bi-directional translation of knowledge and identification of meaningful analogues to maximize ongoing efforts to make humans a multi-planetary species.

AIM 1: The first aim is to integrate SPOKE with primary data from NASA’s Open Data Science Repository (OSDR), starting with the GeneLab platform - a massive repository of more than 100,000 experiments of relevance to space flight.
AIM 2: The second aim is integration of environmental and social factors into SPOKE. Studying such factors on Earth can provide valuable insights and analogues for understanding and addressing health issues during spaceflight. This aim will involve use of de-identified electronic health records and integration of data from multiple population-based databases from the Centers for Disease Control and prevention, Environmental Protection Agency, and the World Health Organization.
OSDR-SPOKE Data Fabric
The SPOKE integration with a select number of OSDR studies is now available!
This early GeneLab-SPOKE Demo provides an overview and explanation of the possible analyses.
You may access the OSDR-SPOKE Data Fabric via graphical user interface available at NASA GeneLab visualization portal.
OSDR-SPOKE Data Fabric Visualization Example Video
OSDR-SPOKE Data Fabric Integration Schema

GeneLab Study Statistics

GeneLab Visualization

Spaceflight Health Analogues on Earth
The project team is utilizing data from electronic health records to model certain conditions that may present analagous health challenges for space flight. These conditions include social drivers of health such as isolation and lack of social connection, limited mobility, and nutritional challenges; as well as environmental factors such as exposure to radiation and chemical compounds.
Further Information & Engagement
- SPOKE for Space Health is one of several projects supporting the UC Space Health Program
- Learn more about NASA Open Science Data Repository (OSDR)
- SPOKE for Space Health is a featured subgroup of NASA Open Science Analysis Working Groups (AWGs)
- Learn more information about NASA AWGs
- Check out the NASA AWG Forum
NEWS & EVENTS
- UCSF Innovation Showcase at JPM25 - MATE bioservices selected to be in the “HIGHLIGHT” Showcase which is comprised of tabletop exhibits in the main reception at JPM25
- The SPOKE for Space Health team presented a poster at NASA Human Research Program Investigators’ Workshop in Austin, TX (Jan '25)
- The SPOKE for Space Health team presented a poster at UCSF Research AI Day in San Francisco, CA (Mar '25)
FUNDING
Spoke for Space Health project is proud to be funded through the NSF Proto-OKN Program