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Massachusetts General Hospital — NINscan Cerebral Hemodynamics Monitor

FO Project: 93962
Title: Testing Near-Infrared Neuromonitoring Devices for Detecting Cerebral Hemodynamic Changes in Parabolic Flight
TRL: 4→7
Period: 2014-01-01 – 2017-01-31
Lead Org: Massachusetts General Hospital — Charlestown, Massachusetts
PI: Gary E. Strangman (MGH / Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Harvard)
Co-Is: Vladimir Ivkovic, Mark Shelhamer
Primary TX: TX08.1.1 Detectors and Focal Planes
Investigated: 2026-04-06 (Session 4) Last updated: 2026-04-07 (Session 84) — MODERATE UPDATE: HRP grant ended Mar 2026 (no renewal found), data collection 97.6% complete, ~6 BRAIN-SANS manuscripts in preparation, expanded multi-modal ICP suite (8 simultaneous modalities); related JSC/KBR IJV papers published 2024–2026 (NOT Strangman-authored but in same field)

What Was Tested

NINscan 4a is a wearable near-infrared neuroimaging device that non-invasively measures cerebral hemodynamics — blood oxygenation and flow in brain tissue. NASA's concern: VIIP (Visual Impairment due to Intracranial Pressure), which affects astronauts on long-duration ISS missions, is linked to elevated intracranial pressure (ICP). Monitoring cerebral hemodynamics non-invasively in microgravity could provide an early warning system for dangerous ICP changes.

Parabolic flight tests (2014–2017): The primary challenge was whether NINscan would function reliably through the acceleration/deceleration cycles of parabolic flight, and whether the physiological signal in microgravity matched ground-based baselines. Result: TRL advanced 4→7 — the device performed reliably and detected meaningful hemodynamic changes.

NINscan 4a capabilities: Records simultaneously: - Cerebral hemodynamics via near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) - Systemic hemodynamics - Electrocardiography (ECG) - Actigraphy (motion) - Up to 24-hour continuous ambulatory recording at 250 Hz

Published Science

Primary publication (TechPort DOI):
Strangman et al., "Wearable brain imaging with multimodal physiological monitoring," Journal of Applied Physiology (2017). DOI: 10.1152/japplphysiol.00297.2017

This paper establishes the NINscan 4 system capabilities for ambulatory, multimodal physiological monitoring. The FO parabolic flight data informed the validation. [Available publicly in J Applied Physiology]

Additional peer-reviewed work:
- "Twenty-four-hour ambulatory recording of cerebral hemodynamics, systemic hemodynamics, ECG, and actigraphy during daily activities" — Journal of Biomedical Optics (2014)
- "Ambulatory diffuse optical tomography and multimodality physiological monitoring for muscle and exercise applications" — JBO (2016)
- Multiple publications on VIIP/ICP monitoring context and wearable neuroscience applications

Related work (NOT Strangman-authored — JSC/KBR Cardiovascular & Vision Lab): - Marshall-Goebel, Lee, Lytle, Martin, Miller, Young, Laurie, Macias, "Jugular venous flow dynamics during acute weightlessness," J Appl Physiol (2024). DOI: 10.1152/japplphysiol.00384.2023. n=13. IJV stagnation in 0G. - Lytle, Miller, Martin, Miller, Young, Laurie, Macias, Lee, "Jugular venous flow dynamics during acute weightlessness and partial gravity in parabolic flight," J Appl Physiol (2025). DOI: 10.1152/japplphysiol.00032.2025. n=9, graded gravity (0.25G–0.75G). - "Case Study: Dose-Dependent IJV Response to LBNP in Microgravity Quantified by the Flow Directionality Index," J Appl Physiol (2026). DOI: 10.1152/japplphysiol.00018.2026. Novel FDI metric, LBNP countermeasure in parabolic flight.

These papers are in the same research domain as Strangman's work and validate the broader importance of the IJV/ICP monitoring problem that NINscan addresses, but they are from a different NASA group (JSC cardiovascular lab, not MGH).

BRAIN-SANS manuscripts in preparation (~6): - DPOAE / relative ICP (Dr. Voss) — manuscript in preparation - IJV/ICA ultrasound imaging and flow (Dr. Bershad) — statistical analysis partially complete - NIRS fluid shift (Dr. Strangman) — presented IWS2024, manuscript in preparation - Cerebrovascular pulsatility (Dr. McCaffrey) — presented IWS2025, manuscript in preparation - Sagittal sinus congestion (Dr. Joshi) — imaging analysis underway - Cerebral oxygenation/water/CSF (Dr. Forselius) — preprocessing underway - Cognition data (Dr. Basner) — analysis nearing completion

Publication count: 4+ peer-reviewed papers published (FO-era: J Applied Physiology 2017, J Biomedical Optics 2014, 2016, plus others). ~6 BRAIN-SANS manuscripts in preparation as of early 2026 — expect a publication cluster in late 2026 as the grant closes out.

Clinical Adoption

NINscan-SE (a follow-on iteration) appears in the Epilepsy Foundation's Device Wiki — a catalog of devices used or studied for epilepsy monitoring. This is the strongest evidence of clinical adoption outside the NASA context: near-infrared monitoring of cerebral hemodynamics is relevant to detecting seizure-related vascular changes.

No commercial product launch found. The technology remains at the research/clinical prototype stage.

Active NASA Work (2024–2026)

NASA HRP grant (Task Book ID 17315, Grant 80NSSC20K0841) ran April 2020 – March 31, 2026 (extended twice: to Mar 2025, then to Mar 2026). Data collection at DLR :envihab facility reached 97.6% complete (6,615 of 6,780 expected data files). No renewal found as of April 2026 — grant appears to be in closeout.

BRAIN-SANS project expanded dramatically from pure NINscan/NIRS validation to an 8-modality simultaneous ICP measurement suite: 1. DPOAE / relative ICP (Dr. Voss) 2. IJV + carotid artery ultrasound (Dr. Bershad, Baylor) 3. NIRS fluid shift (Dr. Strangman) 4. Cerebrovascular pulsatility (Dr. McCaffrey) 5. Sagittal sinus congestion imaging (Dr. Joshi) 6. Cerebral water/CSF concentration (Dr. Forselius) 7. Cuffless superficial temporal artery tonometry 8. EEG + cognitive performance (Dr. Basner)

Four study arms: reference HDT alone, seated countermeasure, LBNP countermeasure, exercise + VTC. Each targeted n=12.

Preliminary finding (IWS2024): LBNP significantly reduced chest blood volume and increased thigh/calf volume. Exercise+VTC effect size was larger than seated (unexpected). DPOAE, IJV/CSA, and cerebrovascular pulsatility all show distinct countermeasure-related changes, but relative effect size rankings differ across measures.

NINscan is now one tool in a broader non-invasive ICP monitoring platform rather than the sole focus. ~6 manuscripts in preparation — expect publication cluster late 2026.

Comparison to Henry Ford Health (94139)

Both are FO health projects with similar profiles — FO microgravity validation, no commercial spinoff, real medical impact. Key differences:

Factor MGH NINscan Henry Ford Ultrasound
FO project 93962 94139
TRL gain 4→7 (+3) 4→8 (+4)
Publications 4+ peer-reviewed 1 peer-reviewed
Clinical adoption NINscan-SE in Epilepsy Foundation wiki ISS ultrasound protocols adopted + global telemedicine
Commercial product None found None (ultrasound itself predates FO)
FO impact Device validated; research continues Protocols adopted globally
Market breadth Niche (intracranial monitoring) Broad (ultrasound = global health)

Henry Ford had broader clinical impact because ultrasound protocols can be deployed globally at low cost. NINscan is a higher-complexity specialized device. Both demonstrate that medical FO projects produce real impact without commercial products.

Key Insight

The +3 TRL gain (4→7) is among the highest for FO health/biology projects. Yet no commercial product exists. This illustrates a recurring FO pattern for medical devices:

FO validates → research matures → academic/clinical publications → institutional adoption (ISS protocols, clinical study device) → no commercial spinoff

Commercial medical devices require FDA clearance, insurance reimbursement pathways, and mass manufacturing — none of which FO funding addresses. The FO contribution is the scientific validation, not the commercialization engine.

Long-term value: The VIIP/ICP monitoring problem remains unsolved for deep space missions (~75% of astronauts on 6-month missions show SANS signs). If NASA commits to long-duration lunar or Mars missions, NINscan-type devices may become mission-critical. Strangman's BRAIN-SANS 8-modality suite is the most comprehensive non-invasive ICP monitoring platform deployed — and the LBNP countermeasure arm shows the research is moving from diagnosis toward mitigation. The FO investment was in the right problem; the commercialization timeline extends to the mission timeline.

Outcome Category

Clinical/research adoption — active, expanding scope. TRL4→7, 4+ publications (FO era), ~6 BRAIN-SANS manuscripts in preparation (late 2026 expected). NINscan-SE in clinical epilepsy monitoring use. No commercial product. NASA HRP grant ended Mar 2026 (97.6% data collection, no renewal found). Technology scope broadened from NINscan alone to 8-modality ICP/SANS suite including DPOAE, ultrasound, LBNP countermeasure, EEG, and cerebral water/CSF. The FO investment seeded a sustained and still-maturing NASA research program.

Confidence

  • TRL4→7 via parabolic flights: confirmed (TechPort)
  • Publication: "Wearable brain imaging..." J Appl Physiol 2017: confirmed (DOI in TechPort, PubMed)
  • HRP grant 80NSSC20K0841, ended Mar 2026: confirmed (Task Book, generated Apr 2026)
  • Data collection 97.6% complete: confirmed (Task Book, Feb 2025 update)
  • ~6 BRAIN-SANS manuscripts in preparation: confirmed (Task Book, Feb 2025)
  • 8-modality ICP suite deployed: confirmed (Task Book description)
  • LBNP countermeasure arm included: confirmed (Task Book, IWS2024 abstract)
  • NINscan-SE in Epilepsy Foundation device wiki: confirmed (web search)
  • No commercial product: confirmed (no USASpending awards, no company spinoff found)
  • CORRECTION (Session 84): Three 2024–2026 J Appl Physiol papers on IJV flow dynamics were initially attributed to Strangman but are by JSC/KBR group (Marshall-Goebel, Lee, Lytle et al.). Strangman has NO new journal papers as of Apr 2026.

Cross-references