British researchers are hoping the country’s first space station resident will be helping with medical research.
A project developed by Southampton University has been short-listed as one to be undertaken by Briton Tim Peake when he travels to the International Space Station later this year.
He is due to spend six months on the station.
Professor Donna Davies, from Southampton, wants to study the impact of weightlessness on human cells, in particular those that line the human airways.
Professor Davies said: “Cells can respond to mechanical signals such as gravity, pressure or touch. Although zero gravity conditions alter several aspects of lung structure and function, how this works at the cellular level is unknown. Our experiment aims to explore how weightlessness affects several aspects of airway cell behaviour including production of the protective mucous layer, formation of cilia (motile hair-like structures that move the mucous along the airways) and deposition of extracellular matrix (scar tissue).
"Since these processes are altered in several common, chronic lung diseases, we hope that our experiment will provide new insight into lung health and disease.”
Dr David Parker, chief executive of the UK Space Agency, said: “Our new national strategy is all about making the most of space: exploiting the unique opportunities for growth which human spaceflight and associated research programmes can offer.
"I’m immensely proud of British scientists, who really are among the world’s best, as demonstrated by the strong showing in the recent international space life sciences competition."
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