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Cancer Research in Space for Life on Earth: Five Projects Selected Through ISS National Lab Solicitation in Partnership With NASA

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Inaugural Igniting Innovation research announcement is providing more than $7 million in funding to advance cancer research through space-based R&D

BOSTON, July 30, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — The International Space Station (ISS) National Laboratory, in partnership with NASA’s Biological and Physical Sciences (BPS) division, jointly announced the selection of five projects through the inaugural Igniting Innovation solicitation for cancer and other disease-related research and technology development on the ISS. The projects, which were announced at the annual ISS Research and Development Conference (ISSRDC) in Boston, will harness the unique microgravity environment to advance cancer research to benefit patients on Earth. 

The National Cancer Institute estimates that more than 2 million cases of cancer will be diagnosed in 2024, and more than 600,000 people will die from the disease. Cancer and other disease-related research on the space station is critical not only to the ISS National Lab and NASA but also to the Biden-Harris administration and its Cancer Moonshot initiative. Through the inaugural Igniting Innovating solicitation, more than $7 million in total funding is being awarded to the selected research teams. Each team intends to fly multiple projects to the orbiting laboratory through this research announcement.

“Over the years, the space station has been a catalyst for biomedical research that has profound impacts on patient care on Earth,” said Ray Lugo, chief executive officer for the Center for the Advancement of Science in Space™, manager of the ISS National Lab. “Through this inaugural Igniting Innovation research announcement, the ISS National Lab and NASA focused funding efforts to specifically target cancer through space-based research, and we look forward to working with the selected projects as they push the boundaries of research and innovation to develop more effective therapeutics for those impacted by this devastating disease.”

The selected projects are listed below:

Mari Anne Snow, Eascra Biotech: This project seeks to produce cancer therapeutics in space using Janus base nanomaterials (JBNs) designed to target drug delivery to solid tumors, improving cancer treatment and reducing side effects. JBNs are formed by DNA-inspired building blocks that self-assemble. Producing JBNs in microgravity could make them more uniform, increasing both safety and efficacy. This would allow JBNs to carry larger amounts of drugs for more effective treatment. This project builds on prior space station research that Eascra and the University of Connecticut conducted with support from Axiom Space to examine the use of JBNs to treat arthritis.Arun Sharma, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center: This project aims to grow cardiac spheroids with blood vessels from induced pluripotent stem cells in space for cardiovascular disease modeling and to test how cancer drugs affect the heart. In space, cells grow into 3D structures that are more like cell growth in the body. Blood vessels may also grow better within the spheroids in microgravity. Space-grown cardiac spheroids could provide a better disease model to study cardiovascular disease and test cancer drug toxicity. Additionally, on Northrop Grumman’s 21st Commercial Resupply Services mission (NG-21) to the ISS, slated for early August, the Cedars-Sinai team intends to launch a regenerative medicine investigation supporting the in-space manufacturing of stem cells, building on prior space studies. Catriona Jamieson, University of California, San Diego: This project seeks to use patient-derived tumor organoids to study accelerated cancer development in microgravity and identify new cancer therapeutic targets. After cancer treatment, cancer stem cells can remain in the body. These cancer cells self-renew, evade the immune system, and develop resistance, resulting in their ability to spread throughout the body. The research team will observe the rate of cancer stem cell growth in space, where cancer cells can grow more quickly, to test whether blocking a specific enzyme prevents cancer stem cell growth. Results could lead to new treatments that target evasive cancer stem cells to prevent cancer recurrence. The UCSD team has launched multiple investigations to the ISS through private astronaut missions and NASA-sponsored missions.Cassian Yee, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center: This project aims to use microgravity to better understand how T cells work in order to develop new immunotherapy treatments for patients with cancer and autoimmune diseases. T cells are a type of white blood cell that play a key role in the immune system. Previous research has shown that microgravity induces changes in the structure and function of these cells. The team will study T cells in space to better understand what controls them, and results could lead to improved immunotherapy drugs that use the immune system to fight cancer.Shay Soker, Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine (WFIRM): This project seeks to use organoids created from cells recovered from colorectal cancer patients to see if chemotherapy works better in space, offering insight into improved chemotherapies. Microgravity causes changes in cancer cells that may make them more sensitive to chemotherapy. The team will study how spaceflight changes gene expression in the organoids to identify targets for new, more effective chemotherapy drugs. Results from this project could also lead to personalized cancer treatment. WFIRM is actively involved in research on the space station and will launch an investigation on NG-21 analyzing the behavior of engineered liver constructs, which could lead to in-space production of tissues for organ transplants on Earth.

All five research teams intend to work with ISS National Lab Commercial Service Provider Axiom Space, together with BioServe Space Technologies, who will provide engineering and logistical support to prepare the projects for spaceflight and successful operations on station.

“We are thrilled to support this critical in-space cancer research,” said Lisa Carnell, director of NASA’s Biological and Physical Sciences (BPS) division. “The unique microgravity environment of space offers incredible opportunities for researchers to study the effects of spaceflight stressors on human tissue. This research could be used not only to help protect crew health on long-duration missions but also to contribute to initiatives like the Cancer Moonshot and improved treatment options for patients here on Earth.”

The final award of funding is contingent upon acceptance of legal terms and conditions between the recipients, the Center for the Advancement of Science in Space™, which manages the ISS National Lab, and NASA’s BPS division.

The ISS National Lab and NASA plan to announce the 2024 Igniting Innovation solicitation in August. This research announcement is focused on leveraging the space environment to address challenges that hinder progress in preventing, diagnosing, and treating the most challenging diseases of our time, such as cancer, cardiovascular disease, and neurodegenerative disease.

To download a high-resolution image for this release, click here.

About the International Space Station (ISS) National Laboratory:
The International Space Station (ISS) is a one-of-a-kind laboratory that enables research and technology development not possible on Earth. As a public service enterprise, the ISS National Laboratory® allows researchers to leverage this multiuser facility to improve quality of life on Earth, mature space-based business models, advance science literacy in the future workforce, and expand a sustainable and scalable market in low Earth orbit. Through this orbiting national laboratory, research resources on the ISS are available to support non-NASA science, technology, and education initiatives from U.S. government agencies, academic institutions, and the private sector. The Center for the Advancement of Science in Space™ (CASIS™) manages the ISS National Lab, under Cooperative Agreement with NASA, facilitating access to its permanent microgravity research environment, a powerful vantage point in low Earth orbit, and the extreme and varied conditions of space. To learn more about the ISS National Lab, visit our website.

As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, CASIS accepts corporate and individual donations to help advance science in space for the benefit of humanity. For more information, visit our donations page. 

Media Contact:

Patrick O’Neill 

904-806-0035 

PONeill@ISSNationalLab.org

 

International Space Station (ISS) National Laboratory

Managed by the Center for the Advancement of Science in Space, Inc. (CASIS)

6905 N. Wickham Rd., Suite 500, Melbourne, FL 32940 • 321.253.5101 • www.ISSNationalLab.org

 

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SOURCE International Space Station National Lab

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IIFL Capital’s Maiden Late-Stage Private Equity Fund Announces First Close at ~ ₹500 Crore

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October 22, 2026

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IIFL Capital’s Late-Stage Private Equity Fund targets a final close in excess of ₹1,000 crore within nine months from First CloseTwo transactions have already been committed with a pipeline of seven to eight deals under evaluation

MUMBAI, India, Oct. 22, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — IIFL Capital Asset Management Limited, the Asset Management arm of IIFL Capital, today announced that the IIFL Late-Stage Private Equity Fund, the maiden fund of its private equity platform, achieved its first close on 15 September 2026 with aggregate capital commitments of ~ ₹500 crore. The Fund invests in scaled-up, profitable Indian enterprises that are preparing to list on the public markets in the near term.

The Fund is targeting a total corpus of ₹1,000 crore, with a greenshoe option of additional ₹1,000 crore. It will remain open for subscription after the first close and aims to reach its final close within the next nine months. A larger corpus allows the Fund to back high-quality companies operating on a scale, in line with its late-stage, pre-IPO strategy.

The Fund is also evaluating a robust pipeline of opportunities, ranging from term sheet negotiations to transactions under diligence. The pipeline is diversified across integrated security-as-a-service, railway and wind energy components, specialty chemicals, defence equipment, IT-enabled services, pre-engineered buildings and consumer technology.

The Fund follows a clear mandate focused on scaled businesses nearing a public listing. The fund looks at sectors that envisage growth rate of 15%-18% per annum. The investee company should be amongst the top three-five players in its category, should have an EBITDA of at least ₹75-100 crore at investment with the intention to pursue IPO within three years. The average deal size is expected to be ₹50-100 crore per transaction.

Commenting on the milestone, Mr. Deepak Mittal, Chief Investment Officer and Head – Private Equity, IIFL Capital Asset Management Limited, said: “The first close marks the point at which this Fund moves from being a proposition to being a portfolio. We are grateful to our investors for their confidence in a volatile global environment. With two high-quality transactions already committed and a live pipeline of seven to eight opportunities, we believe IIFL’s capabilities give us a distinct advantage in backing scaled enterprises on their journey to the public markets.”

The first close comes in the backdrop of India’s primary market revival. After a subdued April-June quarter, July and August 2026 together saw 35 mainboard IPOs, and foreign portfolio investors returned as net buyers, including through IPOs. Real GDP grew 7.8% in Q1 FY27, with gross fixed capital formation up 11.9%, supporting the sectors the Fund is targeting.

About IIFL Capital Asset Management Limited

IIFL Capital Asset Management Limited (formerly IIFL Securities Alternate Asset Management Limited) is the Investment Manager for Alternative Investment Funds sponsored by IIFL Capital Services Limited. It is registered with SEBI as an Alternative Investment Fund manager (IN/AIF3/19-20/0770, IN/AIF2/21-22/088), Investment Adviser (INA000019956) and Portfolio Manager (INP000009445). Registered office: Ground Floor 01, Hubtown Solaris, Saiwadi, N S Phadke Road, Andheri East, Mumbai 400069. Website: assetmanagement.iiflcapital.com

About IIFL Capital Services Ltd

IIFL Capital Services Ltd (formerly known as IIFL Securities Limited) (NSE: IIFLCAPS) (BSE: 542773) is one of the key capital market players in the Indian financial services space. IIFL Capital offers broking services, wealth management, financial products distribution, institutional broking, research and investment banking services.

Disclaimer: This press release is for information purposes only and does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any units of the IIFL Late-Stage Private Equity Fund or any securities. Investments in alternative investment funds are subject to market and other risks, including loss of capital. Investors should read the Private Placement Memorandum, including the risk factors, before investing. Registration granted by SEBI, enlistment with BSE, and certification from NISM in no way guarantee performance of the intermediary or provide any assurance of returns to investors. Past performance of securities/instruments is not indicative of their future performance.

 

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Snapmaker Introduces New Filament Bundle, Expanding Its Full Spectrum Printing Ecosystem

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21 minutes ago

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October 22, 2026

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The Snapmaker PLA Full Spectrum Filament Bundle (White Edition) combines pure-white capability, more saturated cyan, magenta, and yellow filaments, and finely tuned light-transmission properties for vibrant, natural-looking color mixes. It expands Snapmaker’s integrated ecosystem of dedicated materials, Snapmaker Orca software, and U1 hardware.

SHENZHEN, China, Oct. 22, 2026 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — Snapmaker has introduced the Snapmaker PLA Full Spectrum Filament Bundle (White Edition), expanding the creative possibilities of layered color mixing on Snapmaker U1. The four-spool set combines semi-translucent cyan, magenta, yellow, and white PLA filaments to produce a broader palette, from vivid color mixes and soft pastels to directly printed pure-white details.

“Together with the reformulated color filaments, the addition of white opens up a broader range of visual styles.” — Blayne Sapelli, Creative Marketing Manager at Snapmaker.

Four Filaments, Beyond Four Colors

Full Spectrum color mixing creates additional perceived colors by alternating thin layers of semi-translucent filaments along the Z-axis. As light interacts with these layers, their colors blend visually, allowing a single print to go beyond the four loaded filament colors.

Snapmaker Orca, Snapmaker’s official slicing software, supports this layered color mixing workflow. Together with U1’s multi-toolhead architecture, it provides a practical foundation for exploring more colors with a small set of materials.

Radu “Ratdoux,” creator of Full Spectrum and now part of the Snapmaker team, said: “Full Spectrum changes the way we think about color in consumer FDM printing. Instead of adding more and more individual filament colors, we can use a small set of calibrated materials together with software and multi-toolhead hardware to generate a much broader spectrum. Our goal is to make that process simple enough that users can focus on what they want to create rather than how to engineer the color.”

Filaments Engineered for Brighter Color

White filament brings two distinct benefits: it enables pure-white areas that layered color mixing alone cannot produce, and it brightens mixed colors while reducing saturation for lighter, softer tones. Reformulated cyan, magenta, and yellow filaments offer stronger saturation, helping deliver more vibrant mixes.

The filaments’ color and Transmission Distance properties are tuned to promote natural blending and help reduce visible horizontal stripes. On Snapmaker U1, RFID recognition automatically loads preset filament information, simplifying setup.

These properties give creators more flexibility to combine vivid accents, gentle shades, and white details in character models, collectibles, home décor, and sculptural artwork. The four-spool approach also reduces the need to store separate filament colors for occasional use.

“Adding white is a meaningful step for creators who want lighter palettes and pure-white details within the same four-spool setup,” said Blayne Sapelli, Creative Marketing Manager at Snapmaker, “Together with the reformulated color filaments, it opens up a different range of visual styles. It also reflects how we are building our ecosystem: developing dedicated materials around real creative needs and connecting them with the tools people use to print.”

An Integrated Ecosystem for Color Creation

The Snapmaker PLA Full Spectrum Filament Bundle (White Edition) joins the Snapmaker PLA Full Spectrum Filament Bundle (Gray Edition) and the SnapSpeed PLA CMYK Lithophane Filament Bundle, expanding Snapmaker’s official lineup to three purpose-designed bundles.

The two PLA Full Spectrum bundles are designed for three-dimensional color mixing. The new bundle enables brighter mixes, softer pastels, and pure-white details, while the Gray Edition offers darker, more muted tones. The CMYK Lithophane bundle is optimized for flat, layered-color printing, including colorful backlit lithophanes made from photographs and illustrations.

Built around U1 and Snapmaker Orca, the lineup connects specialized materials with hardware and software support.

Pricing and Product Information

The bundle is priced at US$89 and contains four 1 kg spools, totaling 4 kg. For product details and regional purchasing information, visit the official product page.

About Snapmaker

Snapmaker makes products that empower everyone to change the world — literally. From 3-in-1 desktop fabrication machines to the Snapmaker U1 multicolor, multimaterial, toolchanger 3D printer, to the software that powers it all, Snapmaker is building an ecosystem that democratizes creation. Snapmaker: Make Something Wonderful.

For more information, visit Snapmaker.com.

Media Contact

Hao Jiang, Snapmaker, 86 13588745216, jianghao@snapmaker.com, www.snapmaker.com

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SOURCE Snapmaker

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Today, Intelligent Legal Solutions (ILS) and Anduin announced a partnership to provide a more streamlined service for both fund managers and law firms

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22 minutes ago

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October 22, 2026

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PALO ALTO, Calif., Oct. 22, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Intelligent Legal Solutions (ILS) and Anduin have announced a partnership to create a more connected fundraising experience for private markets fund managers and law firms.

ILS is the legal technology company behind ProVision, a platform for private investment funds lawyers and their clients, while Anduin provides technology for private markets fundraising and investor operations. Through the partnership, the companies will build an integration connecting their platforms to support a more streamlined, end-to-end fundraising process.

Launched in 2024, ILS works with 89% of law firms ranked in the top three bands by Chambers USA for Private Equity: Fund Formation nationwide. Its technology has supported fundraises totaling more than $825 billion across North America, the UK, EMEA and APAC.

Anduin’s platform has supported more than 1,300 private investment funds, onboarded over 76,000 investors and powered more than $265 billion in capital raised. Its customers represent more than $7 trillion in aggregate assets under management.

Fergus Plant, Co-Founder of ILS, said: “We are hugely excited to announce our partnership with Anduin. They are a mainstay of the private markets tech space, and we are proud to collaborate to bring a more complete solution to our customers. Our recent launch of the Fund Manager Portal for ProVision more closely aligns our customers, deepening the benefits of this relationship.”

Eliot Hodges, CEO of Anduin, said: “Fundraising still involves too many handoffs between systems, teams and advisers. By connecting Anduin’s subscription and investor onboarding workflows with ProVision’s side letter, comment memo, MFN and obligation management capabilities, we can help firms carry data more seamlessly through the fundraising process and reduce the operational burden around close.”

Read more at https://anduintransact.com/blog/anduin-partners-with-ils 

Fund managers and law firms interested in learning more can contact:

About Anduin
Anduin is the leading digital platform for managing fund lifecycles and LP relationships. The company has facilitated $118 billion in global capital and supports 48,000+ investors across 890+ funds. Learn more at anduintransact.com.

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SOURCE Anduin Transactions

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