Welcome to the University of Central Florida College of Medicine’s Aerospace Medicine Program, designed to pioneer research, education, and clinical services in the rapidly evolving domains of aviation, space, and extreme environments medicine. With a multidisciplinary approach, this program is committed to advancing human health and performance in both terrestrial and extraterrestrial environments.

From cutting-edge research platforms responsive to our nation’s space program needs to the development of novel and multidisciplinary education programs, we stand at the forefront of this dynamic field. Strategically located near the nation’s major launch and landing facilities, our program collaborates closely with commercial spaceflight partners, government, and academia to address the most critical medical challenges of future space missions while shaping the next generation of aerospace medicine professionals.

As a university, UCF was born to support the space program and the College of Medicine is continuing that mission with its focus on space medicine. Through research and education, UCF faculty and students are looking at how spaceflight affects humans – and bring those health discoveries to those of us on Earth.

The space industry recognizes the health impacts of space travel and has put an emphasis on addressing these issues as more people go into space on commercial launches. These medical priorities include:

• Radiation exposure
• Zero gravity’s impact on the muscles and skeleton, including bone loss
• Eye health
• Space motion sickness 

Multiple studies also have shown that space travel increases stress and oxidation in the body. Because stress and oxidation contribute to inflammation, which is a major contributor to multiple diseases, studies on ways to prevent inflammation in space may lead to anti-aging treatments on Earth. Research on radiation exposure can impact cancer patients undergoing radiation therapy, and developing medical technologies for space could improve medical care on Earth, especially in isolated and underserved areas.

UCF and the College of Medicine’s location so near the Kennedy Space Center is key in making the university a recognized leader in space medicine.