Biomedical Research Lab

The Biomedical Research Laboratory (BRL) at Kennedy Space Center is fully equipped to conduct research and field testing on a wide variety of manned and unmanned systems and equipment.  It is the only lab at KSC that provides “human testing”, including physiological response testing and check out of life support equipment.   The team provides support for human rescue operations on the ground, including: the design, fabrication, test and operation of emergency medical equipment and communication devices; and training of search and rescue personnel.  This support includes communications and triage site electronic data exchange systems for astronaut and ground support personnel rescue at KSC.  Search and rescue platforms include NASA and Department of Defense helicopters, ambulances and armored personnel carriers.

The BRL also provides highly skilled and experienced engineering and technical support such as the validation and checkout of systems used for biomedical monitoring of crews during space missions, and pre-flight and post-flight experiments conducted on flight crews.

The BRL has an established history of successful partnerships with government and private entities in research and technology development.

Capabilities/Services

• Design, fabricate, test, maintain and provide crew rescue equipment:
  • Communications devices
  • Life Support Equipment
• Provide training for medical staff in use of crew rescue equipment and communications protocols with local medical facilities
• Support rescue readiness on launch day – Interface with Airforce/KSC Medical, Fire & Rescue
• Develop Life Support Technology, i.e., personal protective equipment and cryogenically based long-duration breathing apparatus and protective suits
• Conduct human physiological testing, data collection and analysis in the lab, environmental chambers and field environments
• Test and validate medical devices
• Maintain, calibrate and repair biomedical instrumentation

Accomplishments

• Under a grant from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, the BRL worked with a contractor (BCS Life Support, LLC) to develop safer and more efficient cryogenic breathing systems for the Office of Mine Safety and Health Research, for use by mine workers in emergency situations.
• The BRL successfully incorporated noise-canceling technology into SCAPE suit radios, greatly improving intelligibility and safety during hazardous operations
• The BRL was inducted into the Spaceflight Technology Hall of Fame in 2008 for work on the ResQPOD (also called the Inspiratory Threshold Device), which helps prevent drops in blood pressure of astronauts returning from prolonged space flights and increases the survivability of patients who receive cardiopulmonary resuscitation.