Advancing Humanity: Diverse Minds Limitless Discoveries Boundless Frontiers
The Orbital Foundation is committed to advancing space-based biomedical research that transforms our understanding of human brain health, aging, quantum biology and disease. Over the next decade, we will scale innovation, infrastructure, and partnerships to deliver real-world impact across science, medicine, and industry.
Who We Are
At the Orbital Foundation, we are pioneering the future of human health by exploring the intersection of space, brain science and quantum biology. Our mission is to unlock the mysteries of the brain, advance treatments for neurological diseases, and improve human health on Earth and beyond—using the most innovative tools and techniques available. Our research focuses on studying the brain’s development, aging, and neurodegenerative diseases, all within the unique environment of space. By sending human brain organoids—lab-grown brain models—into orbit, we are able to fast-track the study of brain aging and neurological conditions such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and autism. Through collaboration with NASA, commercial space partners, and global research institutions, we are making strides in understanding how the space environment accelerates biological processes and how this knowledge can be applied to human health.
Purpose
We believe that space-based research holds the key to unlocking new frontiers in medicine. Microgravity has proven to be a unique and promising environment for understanding the complex cellular mechanisms of the brain, enabling discoveries that would take decades to achieve on Earth. Some studies suggest that conducting neuroscience experiments in microgravity can provide insights equivalent to more than 50 years of traditional research, offering unprecedented opportunities to understand, treat, and potentially cure conditions that have long challenged science.
Our Mission
The Orbital Foundation serves as a catalyst for innovation, supporting research teams, laboratories, and scientific institutions around the world. Through direct funding, strategic partnerships, and the creation of specialized programs, we help turn visionary ideas into actionable science. We envision a world where the frontiers of neuroscience and space exploration intersect, enabling us to solve some of humanity's most pressing health challenges. By leveraging cutting-edge technologies and partnering with global experts from diverse backgrounds, we aim to drive breakthroughs that will improve lives for generations to come.
Programs
Each year, the Foundation will also award the Orbital Inclusion Prize, a monetary prize granted to outstanding researchers from underrepresented communities, reaffirming our commitment to equity, diversity, and global scientific inclusion. We envision the orbital research environment as the next great leap for humanity—a space where science transcends limits and unlocks the potential for lasting change in the lives of millions.
Equity & Inclusion
​At the Orbital Foundation, we are committed to advancing scientific research that prioritizes equity, diversity, and inclusion at every level. Our work in rare disease research ensures that the needs of diverse populations are represented, with a focus on global collaboration with international partners, including researchers from Brazil and other underrepresented regions. We actively promote diversity in space research, striving for greater representation of women and non-Western scientists in shaping the future of interplanetary health. In our interdisciplinary studies on the brain, we embrace a holistic approach that integrates diverse perspectives, ensuring that research on the nano-micro level—spanning from neural cells to consciousness—remains inclusive and equitable. By fostering collaboration across disciplines and cultures, we aim to produce groundbreaking insights that are accessible and beneficial to all communities, both on Earth and in space.
Scientific advisory board
Our Scientific Advisory Board is composed of highly respected researchers, professors, and professionals who bring international expertise and deep commitment to the advancement of science and innovation. Each member plays a strategic role in guiding our scientific agenda, ensuring the highest standards of ethics, excellence, and impact.
VISIONARY ADVISORY BOARD
The Visionary Advisory Board is guided by forward-thinking leaders across neuroscience, aerospace, life sciences, and philanthropy. The Board drives strategic initiatives that leverage space-based research to accelerate breakthroughs in brain health, aging, quantum biology and neurodegenerative disease. With a focus on high-impact partnerships and long-term vision, the Board ensures the Foundation remains a catalyst for innovation, education, and global scientific advancement.
Orbital Foundation 10-Year Strategic Vision
Year 1
First Scientist-Astronaut Research Launch
- We initiate our mission with the successful deployment of the first scientist space-bound astronaut conducting neurobiological experiments. This launch marks the beginning of in-orbit human-centered neuroscience, validating critical systems and protocols for long-term space-based studies.
Year 3
Discovery Breakthroughs in Aging & Disease
- Through space-flown brain organoid studies, we achieve major breakthroughs in understanding how microgravity accelerates pathological brain aging. These findings establish a new paradigm for modeling neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s, years ahead of Earth-based methods.
Year 5
Orbital Stem Cell Research Facility
- We establish a dedicated stem cell research facility in low-Earth orbit. This state-of-the-art platform enables continuous, remote-controlled studies of brain development, cell aging, and disease progression in space—positioning the Foundation at the forefront of next-generation biomedical research.
Year 7
Microgravity Influence Unlocked
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We decode the underlying biological mechanisms by which microgravity and cosmic radiation influence neural development, degeneration, and regeneration. These insights create unprecedented opportunities for developing space-adapted therapies and resilient human health systems for long-duration missions.
Year 10
Clinical Impact & Commercialization
- Following years of translational research, we complete successful clinical trials based on discoveries made in orbit. We initiate commercialization of novel diagnostics and therapeutics for age-related neurological diseases, marking a transformative milestone in space-enabled medicine
Join the
Orbital Foundation
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Be part of a global movement that is redefining the future of neuroscience and quantum biology—from Earth to orbit
The Orbital Foundation invites scientists, institutions, and advocates to join our mission to unlock the mysteries of the brain through pioneering research in microgravity environments. By supporting studies with brain organoids in space, we aim to accelerate discoveries that could transform our understanding and treatment of neurodevelopment, cellular biology and neurodegenerative conditions, including autism, Alzheimer’s, and Parkinson’s disease