Issue link: https://tmcpulse.uberflip.com/i/662005
t m c » p u l s e | a p r i l 2 0 1 6 2 TMC | PULSE Vol. 3 No. 3 April 2016 Robert C. Robbins, M.D. President and Chief Executive Officer Christen David Vice President of Communications Amanda D. Stein Editor Alexandra Becker Acting Editor abecker@tmc.edu Shea Connelly Digital News Editor sconnelly@tmc.edu Staff Writers Alex Orlando Britni Riley Shanley Chien Meagan McCullough Advertising Coordinator Cody Duty Photojournalist Contributing Photographers Scott Dalton Nick de la Torre Kenzie delaTorre NEWSROOM 713-791-8812 news@tmc.edu ADVERTISING 713-791-8894 newsads@tmc.edu DISTRIBUTION 713-791-6130 distribution@tmc.edu TMC Pulse is a monthly publication of the Texas Medical Center in Houston, Texas. Permission from the editor is required to reprint any material. Editorial/advertising information available on request. Texas Medical Center News is a member of: Houston Press Club, American Medical Writers Association, Association of Healthcare Journalists, and American Advertising Federation PRESIDENT'S PERSPECTIVE ROBERT C. ROBBINS, M.D. President and Chief Executive Officer, Texas Medical Center L ast month, many of us watched history unfold as astronaut Scott Kelly landed safely on Earth after having spent nearly a year aboard the International Space Station. It was an exciting feat, not just for Commander Kelly and NASA, but for our country as well. Through his robust social media presence—from posting breathtak- ing photos of sunsets in space to the occasional selfie while cheering on the Texans or testing a new tech device—Commander Kelly reinvigorated our nation's interest in space exploration and aeronautical science. Even more, the research being done on Kelly himself will provide invaluable insight into the ways in which space affects the human body. The results will no doubt propel us toward a future mission to Mars, but they could also translate into medical breakthroughs here on Earth. In fact, NASA has a rich history of lending its discoveries to the advancement of society, especially in the field of medicine. Cochlear implants, cardiac pumps, advanced water filtration systems, enriched baby formula and less-invasive breast cancer screening tools were all adapted from technologies originally developed for the space program. In this issue of Pulse, you'll read about how Scott's one-year mission will be NASA's latest contribution to our field, and how some of the Texas Medical Center's own institutions are contributing to this groundbreaking research. Information collected from the Twins Study, in which Scott's unique biometric data will be com- pared to that of his twin brother, should provide insight into the effects of radiation exposure, bone and muscle loss, aging, cardiovascular function, personalized medi- cine approaches, and more. The Texas Medical Center is proud to have a longstanding relationship with NASA and our neighbors at Johnson Space Center, and we value our ongoing partnership with Dr. Ellen Ochoa, the director of the Johnson Space Center, and her team there. Collectively, the city of Houston holds vast potential for our future, and I know we are all excited to see the results of these latest studies and how the road to Mars will help us improve our health as a society overall. Whether it's through new therapeutics for heart disease, a more comprehensive understanding of certain can- cers, or even improvements in agricultural engineering—together we'll be making giant leaps for mankind.