Formulated at the founding of the Rocky Mountain NASA Space Grant Consortium in 1989 was a vision of the mutual benefits that would accrue from a synergism of the excellent medical research programs at the University of Utah and the space sensors and systems expertise at Utah State University, Thiokol Propulsion, and the University of Denver.

The creation of low power, small, robust medical diagnostic systems based upon self-organizing system concepts is applicable not only to extended planetary missions, such as to the Moon and to Mars, but also to remote medicine needed to serve isolated people on Earth. Such exciting and relevant research is appropriate for research for NASA Consortium Fellowship students at both the masters and doctoral levels. Graduates help meet the rapidly expanding need for educated and experienced staff in industry, government, schools and medical institutions. The focus by mentors and Fellowship students of the Consortium in space medicine is two-fold. Both thrusts have met with great success. The first is using a neural network approach to critical medical care for remote applications. The second is "Hearts in Space."

A computer neural net is trained to help take care of an astronaut who may have been injured in an accident. An automated ventilator will assist the astronaut until the lungs heal. A computer algorithm determines and automatically sets the optimum ventilator settings, a task usually performed by a physician or respiratory therapist. A neural network watches for potential problems and provides simple diagnostic messages that make repair straightforward. The approach makes it possible for another crew member, even without much clinical experience, to care for the patient. This research thrust is under the direction of Dr. Dwayne Westenskow. [References: Brunner J.S., Westenskow D.R., Zelenkov P., "Prototype ventilator and alarm algorithm for the NASA space station," J Clin Monit 5(2): 90-99. Orr J.A., Westenskow D.R., "A breathing circuit alarm system based on neural networks," J Clin Monit 1994 Mar 10: 101-109.]

The second Consortial space medicine success is under the leadership of Dr. George Pantalos. The graduate fellowship research is directed to cardiovascular response to weightlessness. Environmental and surveillance data were collected on artificial heart systems flown on aircraft and space shuttle missions. Experiments on board the NASA JSC KC 135 and numerous ground tests provided valuable information on microgravity cardiovascular performance. In addition, experiments were carried out during the sustained flights of STS-85 and STS-95. The latter was the same flight that carried and monitored astronaut John Glenn. The Hearts in Space hardware are on display at the Hansen Planetarium in Salt Lake City. [Reference: Pantalos]