Human Adaptation and Countermeasures Division

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The Human Adaptation and Countermeasures Division (HACD) is responsible for the performance of biomedical research focused on: 1) understanding the normal human response to space flight, and 2) developing, testing, and delivering countermeasures to those untoward responses that may affect crew health, safety, and/or performance during or after space flight missions. The HACD is comprised of two branches.

Biomedical Research and Operations Laboratories Branch

The HACD Laboratories Branch includes a variety of intramural life science discipline laboratories that conduct peer-reviewed applied research and provide clinical testing and expertise to the Space Medicine Division. The Branch scientists and physicians conduct biomedical research in flight on ISS and Shuttle, as well as in spaceflight analog environments to better characterize the effects of microgravity on human physiology and to evaluate the candidate countermeasures. Laboratory personnel also provide specific clinical/operational expertise in support of flight surgeons responsible for the health and safety of astronauts. Similarly, laboratory personnel support the research of NASA-approved extramural investigator experiments. The Human Test Subject Facility personnel provide test subjects for research studies (www.bedreststudy.com) and coordinate the C-9 Reduced Gravity Flight Program. In addition to their scientific and operational responsibilities, select Branch scientists also act in the capacity of HACD project scientists supporting the projects managed by the Biomedical Research and Countermeasures Projects Branch.

Biomedical Research and Countermeasures Projects Branch

The HACD Projects Branch coordinates all directed strategic research projects that support Human Health and Performance within the Exploration Systems Mission Directorate. Project personnel implement an integrated, structured approach to understanding, projecting, and mitigating health risks for exploration, through various means including the correlation of test results with both flight data and ground studies. This correlation is used to determine the effectiveness of countermeasures by comparing operational use data to research activities data.