Canadian Space Agency

Curiosity and a passion for research is taking four University of Toronto students to the final frontiers of health and space. The student research team recently presented a paper at an international conference of space experts – the first step in a process that could inform future research into the dental woes of space travellers

Rachel Stubits, a third-year molecular biology student at U of T Mississauga, is lead author on the project, which seeks to understand why astronauts suffer more dental problems than their earthbound peers.

She got the idea for the project in 2018 when she stumbled upon a fact that piqued her curiosity.

“Dental caries – also known as tooth decay or cavities – are the single-most non-communicable disease in the world,” says Stubits. “More than 97 per cent of people on Earth will experience it at some point in their lifetimes.”

While prevention and treatment protocols on Earth are well-documented, Stubits wanted to know more about those who didn’t have ready access to treatment.

“I wondered about people who are really far removed from our health-care system,” she says. “You can’t get much farther away than space.”

Rachel Stubits and her co-researchers – two current U of T students and one alumna – presented their work at the 70th International Astronautical Congress in Washington, D.C. (photo by Saumya Mathur)

Tooth decay occurs when sugar-loving bacteria produce acidic by-products that can erode tooth enamel and, if untreated, lead to painful infections. The issue is particularly problematic for astronauts, with some studies suggesting that prolonged exposure to microgravity may increase the prevalence of dental caries.

Space agencies currently manage dental health with pre-flight assessment and prevention measures and post-flight treatments, but dental abscesses are the main medical reason behind medical evacuation from spacecraft because it’s difficult to treat in space.

The statistics behind current research warrant further investigation. “There are so many differences between humans on Earth and humans in space that could be contributing to the incidence rate of dental caries,” she says, noting that variables such as air quality, diet, hygiene or even gravity itself may contribute to the development of dental caries.

“It’s difficult to pinpoint because of the small sample size and the number of variables.”

In October 2018, Stubits joined U of T’s Aerospace Team to develop a protocol for a review of literature about the issue. Her co-authors include fellow U of T Mississauga molecular biology student Anisha Hundal, chemical engineering undergraduate student Claire Velikonja and alumna Wendy Yao, whose expertise includes global health and immunology. Their project lays the groundwork for a more detailed literature review that could inform future research into dental health in space.

The team completed the protocol project in the summer of 2019 and, with funding from the Canadian Space Agency, Yao travelled to Washington, D.C. in October to present the team’s work at the 70th International Astronautical Congress. The event draws an international and multidisciplinary group of agencies, companies, associations and institutes to advance knowledge and foster global cooperation in the development of space assets.

“It’s so exciting to have the Canadian Space Agency take a chance on students,” Stubits says.

The group’s work is an important first step in the process of solving the problem of cavities in space.

“Dental caries will become a bigger problem as the duration of space missions become longer and people are travelling in space for months or even years,” Stubits says. “We hope to solidify our understanding of the incidence rate, what is potentially causing it and the possibility of microgravity being the culprit.”

In early 2020, the team will begin work on a scoping review to discover potential patterns within the existing research. “There may be a difference in the ability of Streptococcus bacteria to succeed in causing dental caries in space without gravity,” Stubits says. “We would love to see this review help researchers in this field – especially those who study simulated microgravity on Earth – to decide what to focus their efforts on.”

“I think working on a literature review is one of the most successful research formats for undergraduate students with a bit of extra time on their hands.This is all about collaboration, and it’s something that I love about research.”

U of T alumni make shortlist to become Canada’s next astronauts

ullahnor — Thu, 02 Feb 2017 18:18:53 +0000

U of T alumni make shortlist to become Canada’s next astronauts

ullahnor Thu, 02/02/2017 - 13:18

Cutline

Aaron Persad shows off a small sample of water he took on a microgravity simulation test flight in November 2016. Persad is one of 70 candidates the Canadian Space Agency is considering to become Canada’s next astronaut (photo courtesy Aaron Persad)

Tyler Irving

Author legacy

Tyler Irving

Topic

Global Lens

Space

Astronaut

Canadian Space Agency

Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering

Subheadline

Five on the list are U of T engineering alumni; others include a marine geophysicist, a Canadian Armed Forces official and severe weather researcher with Environment and Climate Change Canada

Aaron Persad is one of 11 U of T alumni named to the Canadian Space Agency’s shortlist of candidates to become Canada’s next two astronauts.

“I felt excited, honoured and a bit surprised since I knew I was competing with very highly qualified colleagues,” said Persad. “While space is big, the space community is small, and I am delighted to see that several colleagues are also in the CSA shortlist.”

A postdoctoral researcher currently working in the lab of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering Professor David Sinton, Persad is one of 72 people from across Canada under consideration for two upcoming astronaut roles with the Canadian Space Agency (CSA).

He's one of five U of T Engineering alumni to make the shortlist. Other Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering alumni on the list are:

Other U of T alumni on the shortlist include:

Any alumnus or alumna picked for the program would be following in the footsteps of such U of T astronauts as alumna Julie Payette and U of T Misissauga alumna Roberta Bondar, who took the crest of Erindale College, as U of T MIssissauga used to be known, into space with her as the first Canadian woman astronaut.

Persad’s dream of going to space began at the age of seven and his pursuit of it accelerated at U of T Engineering. During his undergraduate studies, he completed his Professional Experience Year internship at the CSA, including a flight in a Falcon-20 jet where he got experience the sensation of free-fall for the first time.

“It felt fantastic. I remember my legs had the tendency to float up toward my chest. I had to consciously keep them down,” said Persad.

Persad’s PhD research, supervised by Professor Emeritus Charles Ward, focused on solving a decades-old mystery about the behaviour of water in microgravity, specifically the shape it takes within a closed container. The seemingly simple question has important implications for life-support systems in space.

The project suffered a major setback when a SpaceX rocket meant to carry his experimental apparatus into orbit exploded in the summer of 2015. Undeterred, Persad created a new apparatus in time for the next launch in the summer of 2016. Last week, NASA astronaut Robert S. Kimbrough performed the experiment aboard the International Space Station.

Canadian Space Agency

Why do astronauts get cavities? U of T students drill into the data

U of T alumni make shortlist to become Canada’s next astronauts

Read more about Persad