posted 09-26-2025 10:04 AM               

Suite Ride Research Unlocks Potential for First Astronaut with Diabetes

Breakthrough findings offer hope to over 500 million people living with diabetes and new solutions in remote healthcare.

Axiom Space and Burjeel Holdings released the preliminary results of the "Suite Ride" research conducted during the Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4). The research concluded that everyday diabetes tools used by millions on Earth can be used comprehensively to provide end-to-end diabetes monitoring from space to ground and back to space — a breakthrough in opening the door to future astronauts with diabetes and providing new solutions in remote healthcare.

The results were revealed at a ceremony held at Burjeel Institute for Global Health, New York, in the presence of global space and healthcare experts, and teams from Axiom Space and Burjeel Holdings. Building on these findings, the healthcare group also announced its ambition of working toward sending the first astronaut with diabetes into space.

Axiom Space and Burjeel Holdings teamed up on the research program during the Ax-4 mission aboard the International Space Station this summer. Sending up a suite of remote care capabilities, the Suite Ride initiative explored how to manage diabetes in space, marking a meaningful step toward making spaceflight accessible for those with historically disqualifying conditions.

The research results found that continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) and insulin pens can operate reliably in the extreme conditions of space. Early results suggest that CGM devices can perform with accuracy comparable to Earth-based readings, enabling real-time glucose monitoring of astronauts in microgravity and can communicate readings to the ground. Insulin pens flown on the space station are now undergoing post-flight testing to evaluate the integrity of the formulation. This continues research from Virgin Galactic's Galactic 07 mission where a successful technical demonstration was conducted confirming that commercially available insulin pens can dispense accurate doses in microgravity, aligning with International Organization for Standardization (ISO) guidelines.

"This is about inspiring people everywhere," said Gavin D'Elia, Global Head of Pharma, Axiom Space. "A diagnosis shouldn't end your dream of space exploration. Together, we're advancing the potential to fly the first astronaut with diabetes and to unlock innovation in healthcare."

The Suite Ride initiative delivered several historic firsts:

First continuous glucose monitoring of crew aboard the space station

• First insulin pens ever flown to station
  
• First validation of glucose monitoring across multiple measurement methods on the space station

Beyond the benefits to space exploration, the research findings extend to advancing remote and underserved communities worldwide. "From 250 miles above Earth in space to 25 miles offshore on oil rigs, we're pioneering new models in remote care," said Dr. Mohammad Fityan, Chief Medical Officer, Burjeel Holdings.

The research builds on a long tradition of space-driven medical innovation. In the 1970s, a miniaturized pump designed for the Viking Mars lander was adapted into the world's first wearable insulin pump billion and used by millions of patients. The Suite Ride initiative represents the next chapter in this legacy, opening space to populations previously excluded and advancing real-time medical monitoring for extreme environments on Earth and beyond.

Axiom Space and Burjeel Holdings will continue to work together to find innovative solutions in chronic disease management for use on and off the planet.