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SearchCenter aims to broaden research, education and clinical care addressing cardiovascular health conditions related to space travel
Cleveland Clinic has established the Space Health Center in the Heart, Vascular & Thoracic Institute at Cleveland Clinic, which will incorporate research, education and clinical care for cardiovascular health conditions related to space travel.
The new center is led by a multidisciplinary team of medical experts who will research the effects of space travel on cardiovascular function and health, provide cardiovascular medical care for those traveling to space, and educate healthcare professionals, medical students and the public on the cardiovascular effects of space travel.
“As space travel continues to grow rapidly, there are new health challenges and risks associated with exposure to this extreme environment,” said Kenneth A. Mayuga, M.D., cardiac electrophysiologist and director of the Cleveland Clinic Space Health Center. “Our hope is to better understand these challenges, find ways of addressing them, and guide and support those who travel to space. We can then use the knowledge we gain from space-based research to better serve our patients here on Earth.”
As part of the center, Dr. Mayuga was recently awarded a competitive grant from the Center for the Advancement of Science in Space®, manager of the International Space Station (ISS) National Laboratory, to collaborate with the International Space University in France on a novel educational space program. The grant will be used to provide a one-week educational course at Cleveland Clinic Research and the Lerner College of Medicine this summer.
“We are excited to collaborate with Cleveland Clinic in their efforts to engage and prepare the space workforce of tomorrow,” said Laurie Provin, director of strategic engagement and STEM programs for the ISS National Lab. “Space-based research can profoundly benefit patient health on Earth, and we commend Cleveland Clinic for its efforts in pushing the boundaries of education and innovation in space medicine.”
The Space Medicine Education for STEM Inspiration (Space MedEd) project will introduce doctoral students, medical students and postdoctoral scholars to space medicine and space-related careers. Students will study the anatomy and physiology of the cardiovascular system, the changes that occur with exposure to space and microgravity, and the challenges that astronauts face when returning to gravity.
The NASA Glenn Research Center in Cleveland is providing guest lectureship and also hosting a unique on-site visit to further inspire these students.
“At Cleveland Clinic, we are always looking for ways to redefine the future of medicine through research and leading-edge innovations,” said Lars Svensson, M.D., Ph.D., chief of Cleveland Clinic’s Sydell and Arnold Miller Heart, Vascular & Thoracic Institute. “This collaborative center will shed light on an area that continues to be of interest to scientists, physicians and the public and will provide us insights that could help us move care forward for even the most complex cardiovascular patients.”
Dr. Mayuga also has ongoing collaborations with NASA Glenn Research Center and the International Space University.
Cleveland Clinic is a nonprofit multispecialty academic medical center that integrates clinical and hospital care with research and education. Founded in 1921 by four renowned physicians with a vision of providing outstanding patient care based upon the principles of cooperation, compassion and innovation, Cleveland Clinic has pioneered many medical breakthroughs, including coronary artery bypass surgery and the first face transplant in the United States. Cleveland Clinic is consistently recognized in the U.S. and throughout the world for its expertise and care. Among Cleveland Clinic’s 83,000 employees worldwide are more than 6,600 salaried physicians and researchers, and 21,900 registered nurses and advanced practice providers, representing 140 medical specialties and subspecialties. Cleveland Clinic is a 6,725-bed health system that includes a 173-acre main campus near downtown Cleveland, 23 hospitals, 300 outpatient facilities, including locations in northeast Ohio; Florida; Las Vegas, Nevada; Toronto, Canada; Abu Dhabi, UAE; and London, England. In 2025, there were 15.9 million outpatient encounters, 343,000 hospital admissions and observations, and 336,000 surgeries and procedures throughout Cleveland Clinic’s health system. Visit us at clevelandclinic.org. Follow us at x.com/CleClinicNews. News and resources are available at newsroom.clevelandclinic.org.
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