A UAE-led medical study heading to space could help astronauts with insulin-dependent diabetes join future missions and lead to new technologies that make treating the condition easier and more effective on Earth.
The research by Abu Dhabi's Burjeel Hospital and Houston-based Axiom Space will be carried out as part of the Axiom Mission 4, also known as Ax-4. It will be launched on a SpaceX rocket from a Florida spaceport, with a target launch date currently set for May 29.
Ax-4 will include veteran Nasa astronaut Peggy Whitson, Shubhanshu Shukla, India’s first astronaut since 1984, Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski of Poland and Tibor Kapu of Hungary.
Dr Mohammad Fityan, chief medical officer at Burjeel Medical City and clinical lead of the research, told The National that it is difficult to isolate the effects of gravity, muscle use and posture on glucose regulation, but Earth’s orbit offers a unique advantage.
“In microgravity, changes in muscle mass, fluid distribution and circadian rhythm provide a new lens, through which we can study how glucose metabolism and insulin sensitivity are regulated,” he said. “This can lead to insights that are not apparent under Earth conditions such as how quickly insulin resistance may develop without regular mechanical loading of muscles, or how hormonal and cellular responses adapt in the absence of gravity.”
What are the tests?
The astronauts will wear continuous glucose monitors, commonly used by people on Earth, during their 14-day mission to track their blood sugar levels in real time while in microgravity.
They will follow a detailed schedule of tests before, during and after the mission to help researchers understand how well these monitors perform in orbit.
It will also test to see how insulin behaves in space by studying the drug’s exposure to microgravity and checking its strength and stability once it returns to Earth.
“These findings may help us uncover novel regulatory pathways or early biomarkers for insulin resistance, potentially leading to preventive interventions long before diabetes manifests,” said Dr Fityan.
The research aims to make space more accessible for people suffering from the disease.
Nasa currently does not consider patients with Type-1 diabetes eligible for spaceflight because of unpredictable blood sugar fluctuations and the challenges of administering insulin without immediate medical support.
The study also builds on a breakthrough from Virgin’s Galactic 07 mission in June, which proved that insulin pens can work properly in microgravity.
What can be achieved?
Dr Fityan said the research could also lead to new technologies such as advanced glucose monitors designed for extreme environments, as well as artificial intelligence tools that can predict insulin needs with greater accuracy.
It may also help develop medications that improve insulin sensitivity or mimic the effects of exercise, offering better treatment options for people with limited mobility.
Figures from the International Diabetes Federation show that about 783 million people, or one in eight adults, will be living with diabetes by 2045, marking a 46 per cent increase.
In the North America and Caribbean region, the number is expected to rise by 24 per cent, while in the Middle East and North African region, it is projected to increase by 87 per cent.
“The technologies and advances that could result from this project could also improve our ability to provide remote care for patients with diabetes and other health conditions on Earth,” said Dr Mike Harrison, chief medical officer at Axiom Space.
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What sanctions would be reimposed?
Under ‘snapback’, measures imposed on Iran by the UN Security Council in six resolutions would be restored, including:
- An arms embargo
- A ban on uranium enrichment and reprocessing
- A ban on launches and other activities with ballistic missiles capable of delivering nuclear weapons, as well as ballistic missile technology transfer and technical assistance
- A targeted global asset freeze and travel ban on Iranian individuals and entities
- Authorisation for countries to inspect Iran Air Cargo and Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines cargoes for banned goods
Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.
Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.
“Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.
“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.
Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.
From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.
Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.
BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.
Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.
Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.
“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.
“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.
“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”
The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”
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