ALBANY, N.Y. -- Inside a laboratory at SUNY Polytechnic Institute's Albany complex, there's an experiment going on you will likely never fully understand. However, a pink liquid in one of the lab's tubes could soon lead to a cure for cancer.
"The study of cancer cell migration and movement in the presence of microgravity," said SUNY Poly Nanobioscience Constellation Professor & Head Jim Castracane.
For the last two years, Castracane and his students have been working on groundbreaking research which is now ready for its next phase, being tested in outer space.
"Part of cell processes, part of cancer that maybe we can see are affected within microgravity and use that to discover new therapeutic targets," said Timothy Masiello, a SUNY Polytechnic Institute student.
SUNY Poly partnered with Israel's SpacePharma to embark on what it calls the "next frontier of space research." After lab testing, the samples will launch on one of SpacePharma’s micro-satellites. It will be the first time in SUNY Poly's history it's taken its research 'out of this world.'
"This is a trial run, and hopefully it will be a model for follow-up experiments in a variety of bio-related areas," Castracane said.
Students said cancer cells are expected to act differently in space, which will lead to new cancer treatments and therapies.
"We'll study a bunch of different aspects of cancer and how different drugs or treatments could be affected," said Project Intern Andee Ott.
Ott said not only has she received hands-on experience, but also that working on the project holds greater meaning.
"My grandma is actually a two-time survivor of breast cancer, so it really is personal to me on that note," Ott said.
SUNY Poly said $1.75 million was invested into the project, and it will support more than 150 jobs. The young researchers said they know all to well how big of an impact it could have.
"It affects a large number of people and gaining any knowledge that we can on it will be ideal," said Ott.
Space testing is expected to begin in as little as two years, and the samples could even make their way onto the International Space Station.
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