Project: ASCRIPTS

Philosophy: The founders of Fauna Bio maintain a broad view regarding what will be helpful for the future of humanity. In addition to developing therapeutics for human terrestrial diseases, Fauna foresees a role for hibernation-inspired drug countermeasures – and eventually for hibernation itself – to positively impact nearly every health hazard related to space travel. Fauna Bio is currently conducting project ASCRIPTS, a year-long study at the NASA-funded neutron irradiation facility at Colorado State University.

Study purpose: ASCRIPTS is a pilot study exploring whether hibernation protects 13-lined ground squirrels (13LGS) from high Linear Energy Transfer (LET) radiation intended to simulate the GCR (Galactic Cosmic Radiation) exposure experienced by crewmembers during a mission to Mars. Chronic exposure to low-dose, high-LET radiation can damage the heart, brain, intestines, immune system, bones, reproductive system, and hematological system, as well as DNA and mitochondria.

The study: During the study, hibernating 13LGS will be exposed to six months of neutron radiation during September through March. Active 13LGS will be similarly irradiated during March through September. Non-irradiated control squirrels will be provided for each group.
‍ASCRIPTS has begun, with eighteen 13LGS successfully in hibernation and undergoing irradiation!

‍Study objectives: The overall objectives of ASCRIPTS are:
-To assess the pathological effects of chronic neutron radiation on multiple organ systems and tissues.
-To identify any radioprotection offered by hibernation.

If radioprotection is demonstrated in the hibernation arm of ASCRIPTS, Fauna will work to identify the underlying genetic mechanisms and use that information to develop novel therapeutic countermeasures.