Summary 



engineering/technology activities, its management involves complex relationships 

 that extend beyond disciplinary and organizational lines. Increased collaboration 

 within NASA and stronger ties with universities are needed. 



Although the Agency is committed to life sciences goals and objectives, the chal- 

 lenge of realizing these goals requires a major increase in Division resources. The 

 provision of these needed resources at the proper time to permit required 

 program growth is a critical issue. Increased budgets both in annual funding and 

 for civil service personnel will enable the achievement of program objectives. 



Recommendations: To strengthen the administration and organization of the life 

 sciences, senior NASA management should: 



• Support the continuation of Division efforts to establish a strong program by: 



— Strengthening the Division's role in Agency-wide planning 



— Facilitating access to flight opportunities 



— Indicating to the rest of the Agency that biomedical research relevant to the 

 safe conduct of human space flight is essential to ongoing and future NASA 

 initiatives. 



• Include senior personnel from the Life Sciences Division as participants in all 

 top-level planning of Agency flight programs. 



• Increase substantially the resources for Life Sciences programs to assure 

 implementation of the recommendations given in this report. 



• Increase Agency efforts to expand the numbers of scientists at the Centers and 

 Headquarters and institute new efforts to provide career development 

 opportunities for existing staff. 



• Support the Life Sciences Division in its efforts to establish formalized 

 agreements and working groups with other agencies and organizations. 



• Provide funds to expand and implement plans to establish Specialized Center of 

 Research (SCOR) units within selected universities. 



• Support the Life Sciences Division in generating and maintaining a data base 

 through collaborative arrangements with NASA's Scientific and Technical 

 Information Facility and the National Library of Medicine. 



Abstracts of Topical Studies 



Of the 13 LSSPSC Study Groups, 6 conducted indepth evaluations of NASA 

 programs: Biomedical Research, Operational Medicine, Gravitational Biology, 

 Biospherics Research, Exobiology, and Controlled Ecological Life Support Systems. 

 The remaining seven groups investigated issues relevant to a number of programs 

 and scientific disciplines: Radiation, Crew Factors, Systems Engineering, Flight 

 Programs, Infrastructure, External Relations, and Applications. The Study Groups 

 summarized their findings and recommendations in the papers given in section 3 

 of this report. 



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