Weekdays 9:00–17:30 | ~50% hands-on

Week 1 — Foundations of Space Pharmacology & Experimental Methods

The first week introduces the fundamentals of pharmacology in the context of human spaceflight. Participants explore how medications are selected, stored, prescribed, and used during space missions, and how the space environment can alter physiological responses to drugs.

Key topics include:

• Overview of medications used in historical and current space missions

• Core principles of pharmacokinetics (PK) and pharmacodynamics (PD) in space

• Drug mechanisms of action and spaceflight-specific considerations

• Legal, regulatory, and operational aspects of medication use beyond Earth

• Introduction to research methods and proposal design in space pharmacology

Hands-on activities begin during Week 1, with the introduction and early execution of dose–response laboratory workshops, allowing participants to apply pharmacological concepts in a space analog environment.

Week 2 — Astropharmacy, Research Application & Proposal Development

The second week focuses on advanced topics, applied analysis, and synthesis of knowledge through team-based research work. Participants deepen their understanding of astropharmacy and emerging pharmacological challenges associated with long-duration missions.

Key themes include:

• Medication stability, formulation, and production for space missions

• Astropharmacy and interdisciplinary approaches to space medicine

• Pharmacogenetics and personalized medicine considerations for astronauts

• Data analysis and interpretation from laboratory experiments

• Development, writing, and refinement of a research proposal addressing an identified pharmacological challenge

The week culminates in proposal writing, rehearsals, and final presentations, where teams present their research concepts in a grant-style format, integrating scientific, operational, and strategic considerations.