The Program
The frontier of human biology starts here
HERO is a longitudinal multi-omics study combined with an open biomedical data platform, designed together to accelerate discovery at every stage.
On the research side, HERO collects biological samples from participants before, during, and after exposure to extreme environments, including spaceflight missions, polar expeditions, deep-sea operations, high-altitude research, and radiation-exposed fieldwork. The protocol is standardized and mission-adaptable, supporting thousands of participants globally.
On the data side, HERO is building a secure data coordination center where extreme-environment biomedical and biological data can be stored, queried, and responsibly distributed to qualified researchers worldwide.
Each new study generates data that flows into the platform. The platform makes that data accessible to accelerate discovery worldwide.
A foundation built from space:
HERO is founded by the scientific team who led the Space Omics and Medical Atlas (SOMA) that produced the most extensive omics profiling of astronauts to date.
SOMA generated 2,686 samples from the SpaceX Inspiration4 mission across 12 data types, and was published in Nature in 2024. It remains the scientific and infrastructural foundation on which HERO is built.
HERO expands that foundation: broader populations, broader environments, and a data platform designed for independent, long-term operation.
A Longitudinal Multi-Omics cohort
Thousands of participants
Global rolling enrollment across spaceflight, terrestrial expeditions, and high-intensity operational populations.
A Lifetime study
This longitudinal lifetime study follows participants from baseline to mission, through recovery, annually, and again on any future mission.
Deep Omics modalities
Genomic, transcriptomic, epigenomic, proteomic, metabolomic, and microbiome make up the scientific backbone.
What We Measure
Every Layer of Human Biology, Tracked Over Time
Genomics: Whole-genome sequencing establishing individual baseline genetic architecture and variation.
Transcriptomics: Gene expression changes in response to environmental stressors, physical demand, and recovery.
Epigenomics: Methylation and chromatin remodeling, how sustained extreme exposure writes itself onto the genome.
Proteomics: Circulating protein profiles reflecting immune activation, tissue stress, and metabolic state in real time.
Metabolomics: Real-time metabolic fingerprinting of performance load, fatigue trajectories, and recovery windows.
Microbiome: Gut, oral, and skin microbial dynamics under physical stress, travel, and environmental exposure.
Biosensors: Continuous HRV, sleep architecture, temperature, and circadian rhythm monitoring integrated with molecular data.
Support HERO
HERO is actively seeking partners and funders…
…who believe that understanding human biology at its limits will transform medicine for everyone.
Funders: Philanthropic and institutional investment supports HERO’s data coordination center, IRB compliance infrastructure, and biospecimen collection across missions and environments.
Operational Partners: Organizations whose personnel operate in extreme environments, including spaceflight providers, expedition organizations, military and defense programs, and research institutes. Partner with us to enable participant enrollment and mission-specific sample collection.
Technology Partners: We welcome technology partners with solutions that could advance HERO’s data platform and infrastructure at scale. If you think what you’re building could benefit the program, we want to hear from you.
Scientific Partners: Research institutions and investigators interested in accessing HERO datasets, contributing to analysis pipelines, or collaborating on publications are welcome to reach out.
