Research in Space Medicine focuses on the well-being of astronauts as well as on using the unique opportunity of weightlessness for medial research. Since astronauts and their physicians and the investigators are at separate locations during space missions, special telemedicine links must be developed to ensure proper medical care to the astronauts. The equipment for monitoring astronauts must be small, easy to use and non-invasive. In addition, it must contain telecommunications capabilities. These tasks are identical to those needed for monitoring of patients at a remote site, or simply at home. Therefore the Institute of Aerospace Medicine at Cologne has during recent years started a telemedicine initiative. The Institute is now involved in a variety of local, national, European and global telemedicine programmes. Space Medicine, the model application of telemedicine, remains the main driver for these initiatives.
The lecture will first focus on Space Medicine research projects done at the Institute of Aerospace Medicine of DLR during various recent space missions (German-Russian Mir 92, German-US Spacelab Mission D-2, Euro-Mir 94, Euro-Mir 95, German-Russian Mir 97) and then link to the telemedicine programmes of the Institute. The lecture will also demonstrate how it was possible to sustain a successful institute portfolio despite massive reductions in institutional financing of the Institute's activities.
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Rupert Gerzer, a medical doctor with both a molecular and a clinical research background, has been Director of the Institute of Aerospace Medicine of DLR, the German Centre for Aerospace Research, since October 1992. He is also Head of the Institute of Flight Medicine at the University of Aachen, and President Elect of the German Society of Aerospace Medicine. He was at the University of Munich from 1984 to 1992 when he formed and directed a division of Clinical Pharmacology. After graduation from the same faculty in 1977, he did his postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Heidelberg (1978-1980) and spent three years at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute and the Department of Pharmacology at Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN (1980-83). He has published more than 150 articles on molecular signalling, clinical research, space medicine and telemedicine in various scientific journals.
No tickets required - Visitors welcome
This lecture has been organised by the Royal Aeronautical Society's Space Group and will be held in the Society's Lecture Theatre commencing at 18:00 hours. Refreshments will be available in the Members' Lounge beforehand. Contact: Conference Department, Royal Aeronautical Society, 4 Hamilton Place, London W1V 0BQ
Tel: 0171 499 3515. Fax: 0171 493 1438. Email: space@aerosociety.com