{"id":3599621,"date":"2022-06-29T14:27:09","date_gmt":"2022-06-29T18:27:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/vip2-msd.com\/merckcom-migrated\/?post_type=story&p=3599621"},"modified":"2022-06-29T14:46:27","modified_gmt":"2022-06-29T18:46:27","slug":"proteins-in-space-taking-our-research-to-the-final-frontier","status":"publish","type":"story","link":"https:\/\/vip2-msd.com\/merckcom-migrated\/stories\/proteins-in-space-taking-our-research-to-the-final-frontier\/","title":{"rendered":"Proteins in space: taking our research to the final frontier"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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\n \n \n Innovation<\/small>\n <\/a>\n \n \n

\n Proteins in space: taking our research to the final frontier\n <\/h1>\n

Merck Research Laboratories scientist Paul Reichert works with the International Space Station to drive innovation<\/p>\n <\/div>\n\n

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June 29, 2022<\/p>\n

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Merck Research Laboratories (MRL) is known for pushing the frontiers of science with its cutting-edge research. And MRL scientist Paul Reichert has taken that concept even further — to space!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Reichert was one of the first scientists in the pharmaceutical industry to propose studying protein crystallization under microgravity conditions, and his work continues today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe regularly use crystallization processes for our small molecule and small protein therapeutics. Our goal with these experiments is to identify crystallization processes for biologics for enhanced and simpler drug delivery,\u201d explained Reichert.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Experimental conditions in microgravity are unique because without the force of Earth\u2019s gravity, solutions have reduced convection currents, reduced sedimentation and reduced molecular motion, leading to higher-order crystals with higher purity and more uniform suspensions. Researchers have been able to apply this knowledge \u2018on the ground\u2019 by manipulating key variables to mimic those in microgravity, such as using rotational mixers to reduce sedimentation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Paul Reichert (L) joins April Spinale and Raymond Polniak of the ISS National Laboratory, managed by the Center for the Advancement of Science in Space, Inc. (CASIS), to inspect the experiment<\/p>\n <\/small>\n <\/section>\n<\/div>\n