Cleveland Clinic establishes Space Health Center

• The centre aims to expand research, education and clinical care on cardiovascular conditions related to space travel.

May 2026, Cleveland. Cleveland Clinic has established the Space Health Center within Cleveland Clinic’s Heart, Vascular & Thoracic Institute, which will integrate research, education and clinical care focused on the cardiovascular conditions associated with space travel. 

The new centre is led by a multidisciplinary team of medical experts who will research the effects of space travel on cardiovascular function and health, provide cardiovascular care to those who travel to space, and educate healthcare professionals, medical students and the public about the cardiovascular effects of such travel. 

“As space travel continues to grow rapidly, new challenges and health risks associated with exposure to this extreme environment are emerging,” said Dr. Kenneth A. Mayuga, cardiac electrophysiologist and director of Cleveland Clinic’s Space Health Center. “Our hope is to better understand these challenges, find ways to address them, and guide and support those who travel to space. We can then use the knowledge gained from space research to better serve our patients here on Earth.” 

As part of the centre, Dr. Mayuga recently received a competitive grant from the Center for the Advancement of Science in Space®, which manages the International Space Station (ISS) National Laboratory, to collaborate with the International Space University in France on a novel space education programme. The grant will be used to offer a one-week educational course this summer at Cleveland Clinic Research and the Lerner College of Medicine. 

“We are excited to collaborate with Cleveland Clinic in its efforts to engage and prepare the space workforce of the future,” said Laurie Provin, director of strategic engagement and STEM programmes at the ISS National Lab. “Space-based research can profoundly benefit the health of patients on Earth, and we commend Cleveland Clinic for its efforts to push the boundaries of education and innovation in space medicine.” 

The Space Medicine Education for STEM Inspiration (Space MedEd) project will introduce doctoral students, medical students and postdoctoral researchers to space medicine and space-related careers. Participants will study the anatomy and physiology of the cardiovascular system, the changes that occur with exposure to space and microgravity, and the challenges astronauts face when returning to Earth’s gravity. 

The NASA Glenn Research Center in Cleveland will provide keynote lectures and will also host a unique in-person visit to further inspire these students. 

“At Cleveland Clinic, we are always looking for ways to redefine the future of medicine through cutting-edge research and innovation,” said Dr. Lars Svensson, chair of Cleveland Clinic’s Sydell and Arnold Miller Heart, Vascular & Thoracic Institute. “This collaborative centre will highlight an area that continues to interest scientists, physicians and the public, and will give us insights that could help us advance care for even the most complex cardiovascular patients.” 

Dr. Mayuga also has ongoing collaborations with the NASA Glenn Research Center and the International Space University. 

About Cleveland Clinic 
Cleveland Clinic is a nonprofit multispecialty academic medical centre that integrates clinical and hospital care with research and education. Founded in 1921 by four renowned physicians with a vision of providing outstanding patient care based on the principles of cooperation, compassion and innovation, Cleveland Clinic has pioneered many medical breakthroughs, including coronary artery bypass surgery and the first face transplant in the United States. Cleveland Clinic is consistently recognised in the U.S. and worldwide for its expertise and quality of care. 

Among its 83,000 employees worldwide are more than 6,600 salaried physicians and researchers, and 21,900 registered nurses and advanced practice providers, representing 140 medical specialties and subspecialties. Cleveland Clinic is a 6,725-bed health system that includes a 173-acre main campus near downtown Cleveland, 23 hospitals and 300 outpatient facilities, with locations in northeast Ohio; Florida; Las Vegas, Nevada; Toronto, Canada; Abu Dhabi, UAE; and London, England. 

In 2025, there were 15.9 million outpatient visits, 343,000 hospital admissions and observations, and 336,000 surgeries and procedures throughout Cleveland Clinic’s health system. Visit us at clevelandclinic.org. Follow us at x.com/CleClinicNews. News and resources available at newsroom.clevelandclinic.org.