Need $10 Million...You Can Help!

October 20, 2008 is the deadline for Google's Project 10 to the 100.  According to the website, the project is a "call for ideas to change the world by helping as many people as possible."  Google is giving away $10 million to the top 5 ideas that can help as many people as possible.

If your idea makes it to one of the top 100 then everyone will get to vote on it.  I hope I can count on your vote if I make the top 100. ;)  You can read my entry below ...

Idea name (50 characters):

Unmanned space laboratory for medical research

What one sentence best describes your idea? (maximum 150 characters

Develop automated unmanned spacecraft to grow protein crystals for creating treatments for various types of cancers and diseases like AIDS.

Describe your idea in more depth. (maximum 300 words)

We need to expand upon the work already done with protein crystal growth in space. Previous manned experiments have proven that growing protein crystals in space have a success rate of 50-100% greater than growing them on Earth. The crystals grown in space are larger and more articulated. Developing these crystals hold the promise to find cures for cancers and diseases such as AIDS.  The problem is that there has not been a long term experimental facility in space dedicated for protein crystals. Researchers would like the access to a microgravity environment for at least one month if not longer.

Creating and utilizing an automated and unmanned protein growth facility spacecraft will allow researchers to continue using space to develop proteins that can be used against the world's deadliest diseases.  Current researchers believe that an automated and unmanned facility could be developed as small as a refrigerator.  Researchers would find the ability to launch automated growth facilities very valuable according to Dr. Lawrence DeLucas, former NASA astronaut.  Other countries are also studying the ability to grow protein crystals in space and would benefit from the research.

The pieces are finally coming available for this to happen. Companies like SpaceX can provide the launch services. The University of Alabama began work on the automated unmanned facility before funding dried up. The $10 million would allow for at least one unmanned launch of an automated laboratory to conduct research in orbit for at least a month and then return to earth.  Perhaps with negotiated rates multiple launches could be conducted.  Repeated launches give researchers the ability to finally conduct long-term studies required for drug development.

What problem or issue does your idea address? (maximum 150 words)

Millions of people around the world die due to various cancers and diseases such as AIDS.  This idea would treat these patients plus create the ability to tackle new diseases that may arise in the future.

If your idea were to become a reality, who would benefit the most and how? (maximum 150 words)

Those with terminal diseases where a solution could be developed by these proteins would benefit the most. To ensure that the drugs developed do not become intellectual property of just one drug company a non-profit biotech organization should oversee the project and ensure all interested parties receive the data.

What are the initial steps required to get this idea off the ground? (maximum 150 words)

Three major tasks can be worked in parallel to work toward the goal of completing the first successful mission within two years of the award.  One task would be to develop or use an existing non-profit biotech firm to act as the principal investigator to determine which study would be the “low hanging fruit” (the condition easiest to accomplish with significant number of afflicted people). A second parallel task would be to contract with firms such as SpaceX who can launch payloads within the $10 million award budget. A third parallel task would be to work with research teams such as the University of Alabama who have already developed unmanned microgravity facility that can be used for this project.  The $10 million budget should get at least one mission off the ground and possibly more if special terms can be negotiated.

Describe the optimal outcome should your idea be selected and successfully implemented. How would you measure it? (maximum 150 words)

The optimal outcome would be a major breakthrough developed for a terminal illness on the first mission.  If this is not possible, then progress can be measured by factors such as (but not limited to) protein crystal growth percentage and articulation of crystal shapes.  One of the initial major tasks would be for a non-profit biotech firm to finalize the key requirements for success.