Hi Rodrigo - new research group leader at Labmed
We are happy to introduce: Rodrigo Fernandez Gonzalo new research group leader at Labmed and the Division of Clinical Physiology.
You are not a new employee at the Labmed but have been given the title "research group leader". Congratulations! Your exciting research has to do with space travel. Tell us more
Space is the ultimate frontier for us humans, and we are currently experiencing one of the most exciting periods of space exploration, with realistic plans to return to the moon in the next 2 years, preparations for a permanent human presence on the moon, and plans for the first crewed trip to Mars within the next 15 years. Considering that space travel is one of my childhood passions, I feel privileged to be able to do research in space physiology. Of course, not everything my group does is direct “space research”, we also use spaceflight analogues (models that mimic the space environment, i.e. microgravity, radiation, and confinement and stress) to predict how the human body, and skeletal muscle in particular, will respond to long-term space missions.
We also use the space physiology data for clinical purposes, e.g. to separate the effects of certain diseases on skeletal muscle from other confounding factors, especially inactivity.
What is the goal with your research?
My group's research focuses on understanding how spaceflight affects the mass and function of skeletal muscle and how this tissue interacts with other physiological systems of the human body in space. We are also very interested in developing countermeasures to offset the deleterious effect of spaceflight on the human body. To this end, we participate in national and international projects, most of them under the umbrella of the European Space Agency and the Swedish National Space Agency. We use a wide range of methods, including muscle function measurements and advanced imaging routines with MRI to assess muscle mass and fat infiltration. In addition, we investigate the molecular basis underlying space-induced changes in skeletal muscle. For this, we use human muscle biopsies, mouse models and a recently developed 3D cellular model originating from human muscle cells.
If you got an offer to go to space, would you?
I think that boat has already sailed for me! If you had asked me this question 15 years ago, I would not have hesitated to say yes! Today, however, with my knowledge of the medical consequences of space travel and my role as a husband and father, I would turn down an offer to go to Mars. But I would probably accept an offer to go to the ISS or the moon!
What has been the most exciting and/or challenging?
There are many exciting moments when you are involved in space physiology research. But a very special experience was taking part in parabolic flights and experiencing real microgravity. The feeling of floating is simply incredible.
Another big blast – in the truest sense of the word! – was when we sent our 3D human muscle model into space (for a short time) on a sounding rocket. The countdown, the sound of the rocket… simply incredible! However, this endeavor was a big challenge. Sergio, post-doc in the group, did an excellent job in collaboration with the Swedish Space Corporation, which is responsible for the sounding rockets.
What do you like to do when you are not working at KI?
I enjoy spending time with my wife Evelyne and my three children, Sofia, Alex and Mateo. I enjoy doing outdoor activities with them (hiking, kayaking, swimming…). I also like to do sports whenever I can, especially running and swimming. At home, I like to read historical novels. Traveling to my home country, Spain, is also one of my favorite things to do!