USRA's Division of Space Life Sciences (DSLS) supports NASA's requirement to understand and counteract the physiological changes that accompany space flight. Based in Houston, Texas, the DSLS manages extramural research programs, administers educational programs, coordinates a visiting/staff scientist program, and enhances collaboration between NASA and academic institutions through an extensive series of conferences, workshops, and seminars.
This USRA division was established in 1983 as the Division of Space Biomedicine, and facilitates participation of the university community in biomedical research programs at the NASA Johnson Space Center (JSC).
Dr. Adrian LeBlanc, DSLS Director
Dr. Adrian LeBlanc, DSLS Director, has considerable experience with both ground-based and on-board space flight experiments. His primary research interest is investigating the loss and recovery of bone and muscle tissue in weightlessness. Dr. LeBlanc is currently involved in two experiments on the International Space Station and was a principal investigator for space shuttle experiments on STS-47, STS-78, STS-95, and the seven flights of Russian and American crews aboard the Russian Space Station Mir. Dr. LeBlanc began his career at the Baylor College of Medicine where he continues to serve as a Professor in the Departments of Medicine and Orthopedic Surgery. He holds board certifications from the American Board of Health Physics, American Board of Radiology (Nuclear Medicine Physics), and the American Board of Medical Physics.
