ARC@Sheba to Launch Groundbreaking Experiment on Joint NASA & SpaceX Mission to Int'l Space Station
For the 2nd time, ARC/Sheba Medical Center, in conjunction with the hospital’s Infectious Diseases Research Laboratory, will be sending a groundbreaking scientific experiment to the International Space Station (ISS) later this week. The 'ARC Space Lab' experiment will explore how the extreme conditions of space, particularly microgravity, affect the genetic behavior of bacteria known to cause disease in humans.
The joint mission by NASA and SpaceX, will launch via a Falcon rocket from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on July 31, 2025, at 12:09 PM EDT (7:09 PM Israel), as part of Crew-11. Developed in collaboration with the U.S.-based space technology company SpaceTango, the ARC Space Lab experiment will grow several bacterial species aboard the ISS using a specially designed Earth-controlled system. Sheba is the only hospital in Israel and one of the few in the world that is working to use space science to create transformative medical solutions for both astronauts and humanity on Earth.
Researchers will analyze how space conditions impact gene expression related to virulence and antibiotic resistance. After growth under microgravity, the bacteria will be stabilized, frozen at -80°C and returned to Earth for molecular and transcriptional analysis and direct comparison to bacteria grown simultaneously in an identical lab setup on Earth.
Prof. Ohad Gal-Mor, Head of the Infectious Diseases Research Laboratory at Sheba, said: “We know that space conditions affect bacterial behavior, including how they grow, express genes, and acquire traits like antibiotic resistance or virulence. This experiment will allow us, for the first time, to systematically and molecularly map how the genetic expression profile of several pathogenic bacteria changes in space. The insights we gain will augment our understanding of infectious disease risks in space travel, and also expand our knowledge of gene regulation and bacterial physiology in general.”
It is well-documented that bacteria behave differently in space, often growing faster and displaying altered characteristics. Astronauts on long-duration missions are more prone to infections, likely due to a combination of microgravity, radiation, stress, and changes in the human microbiome. These challenges make microbiology and immunology vital components of modern and future space medicine.
In a previous ARC Space Lab study, the team examined bacterial conjugation, a process through which bacteria transfer DNA and gain new traits. Contrary to expectations, they found that space conditions reduce the ability of bacteria to acquire antibiotic resistance, a finding that drew significant interest in both the infectious diseases and space research communities. The results were published in the international peer-reviewed journal Microbiology Spectrum.
Prof. Eyal Zimlichman, Chief Transformation, Innovation, and AI Officer, and Director of ARC at Sheba Medical Center, said: “To understand the limits of medicine, we sometimes need to go beyond the limits of Earth. Our experiment in space examines how bacterial behavior changes under extreme conditions and what that means for human health—not just for astronauts, but also here on Earth. This is part of ARC’s mission to shape the future of medicine, wherever it’s needed.”
"Space Tango is excited to launch this groundbreaking microbiology experiment in collaboration with Sheba Medical Center, advancing research at the intersection of medicine and space. This project reflects our mission to support global, forward-thinking institutions to unearth answers and innovation," added Twyman Clements, President & Co-founder of Space Tango.
In the face of global mental health challenges, ARC's Mentaily receives $3 million seed funding to revolutionize psychiatric interventions through AI-powered diagnosis and support
Mentaily, developer of AI-powered mental health assessment, triage and diagnosis tools, announced the closing of a $3 million seed funding round. The round was led by a US and an Israeli family firm. The impact funds Rashi Foundation and Sheatufim as well as renowned angel investors in the digital health sector participated.
Mentaily was founded in 2024 at Sheba's ARC Innovation Center and aims to address complex mental health needs that arise in times of crisis and trauma. The company's first AI-powered product, LIV, simulates clinical psychiatric intake sessions and helps diagnose mental distress and mental illness with high accuracy.
Mental illness is on the rise worldwide, but support remains limited. In the US alone, it is estimated that one in five people are affected by mental health problems, while over 120 million Americans live in areas with inadequate mental health care. This underscores the urgent need for new technologies to supplement existing mental health interventions.
The AI platform supports multilingual, natural language conversations via voice or text and offers an optional AI avatar to enable a personalized and scalable approach to mental health triage. The technology was developed in collaboration between the ARC (Accelerate, Redesign, Collaborate) Innovation Center and the Drora and Pinchas Zakai Department of Psychiatry at Sheba Medical Center, as well as Microsoft and KPMG.
In addition to supporting the general population, LIV also supports security forces through collaboration with the Defense Research and Development Directorate (DDR&D) and the Israeli Ministry of Defense - addressing the needs of a population that often suffers from high stress and prolonged trauma. Future versions of the platform will be adapted for additional populations, including children, adolescents and women.
The new resources are already being used in hospitals, health insurance companies, rehabilitation centers and government organizations throughout Israel, supporting further development and expansion both locally and into select international markets.
Mentaily was founded by Iris Shtein, CEO of the company, Guy Yachin, an Israeli-American serial entrepreneur, and senior clinicians from Sheba Medical Center: Prof. Mark Weiser, Dr. Asaf Caspi and Dr. Daniel Cohen. The company is actively seeking new employees to support its expansion.
“At Mentaily, our mission goes beyond innovation - we're about solving real-world challenges in mental health care,” said Iris Shtein, CEO and co-founder of Mentaily. "LIV enables real-time detection of deterioration and high-risk situations, allowing clinical teams to intervene early and accurately. By supporting clinical decisions and optimizing staff deployment, we are helping to address the global shortage of mental health professionals. Our scalable platform not only improves access and accuracy, but also enables systems to prioritize care where it is needed most. This is revolutionizing mental health triage on a national and global scale."
"LIV is a prime example of innovation developed by local clinicians and implemented in collaboration with other players in the ecosystem: Developers, international technology leaders and business strategists," said Prof. Eyal Zimlichman, Founder and Director of ARC and Chief Transformation and Chief AI Officer at Sheba Medical Center. "LIV's ability to accurately and empathetically identify, prioritize and assess mental health conditions makes it a promising tool for healthcare systems worldwide. As another successful digital health platform in our growing portfolio, the solution fits perfectly with ARC's multi-faceted approach to responsibly and effectively developing and integrating AI into the workflows of health systems worldwide."