BRC to host space health ‘hackathon’

Rice’s BioScience Research Collaborative (BRC) will host the Health 2.0/Johnson Space Center Space Health Innovation Challenge Jan. 24-26 to encourage ways to keep astronauts alive and healthy on extended voyages beyond Earth.

Participants in the “hackathon” will work on projects along three tracks outlined by NASA: data visualization, predictive analysis and devices. Each calls for a diverse set of expertise and has direct applications to improving modern medicine and health care, according to organizers.

The winning teams will present to JSC and supporting contractors. Prize packages for each of the three tracks will include tickets to the 2014 Health 2.0 Conference and office hours with staff at JSC, the BRC-based National Space Biomedical Research Institute and Wyle, a NASA vendor.

Mentors in attendance will include Jeff Davis, director of the Human Health and Performance Directorate at JSC; Hugh Forrest, director of South By Southwest Interactive, and Fred Trotter, author of the book “Hacking Healthcare.”

Rice faculty, staff and students who are interested in attending should register by Oct. 11, because the registration fee increases Oct. 12. Register at http://MissionToMarsHealth.com.

Partner organizations include the BRC-based Houston Area Translational Research Consortium, the Houston Technology Center, Enventure and Health 2.0 Houston.