The Center for the Advancement of Science in Space (CASIS) has named Joseph Vockley, Ph.D., as President and Executive Director for the organization — CASIS is the nonprofit tasked by NASA to manage, promote, and broker research on the International Space Station (ISS) U.S. National Laboratory.
Dr. Vockley will be responsible for driving the CASIS mission, enabling science and technology opportunities onboard the ISS National Lab that benefit life on Earth while maximizing U.S. taxpayers’ investment in the orbiting laboratory. Dr. Vockley assumed his duties on July 1, 2018.
Dr. Joseph Vockley.
Prior to joining CASIS, Dr. Vockley held senior leadership positions within the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries as well as within the public sector. Over the past 30 years, Dr. Vockley has become a recognized expert in the fields of genomics, precision medicine, cancer research, and bioinformatics — receiving multiple patents for his work. In addition to serving in senior leadership positions within notable organizations including The National Cancer Institute and Science Applications International Corporation, Dr. Vockley most recently served as the chief scientific officer and chief operating officer for the Inova Translational Medicine Institute — a research institute focused on translating large-scale genomic data into clinically useful information. While a director at The National Cancer Institute, Dr. Vockley launched the Cancer Genome Atlas Project, a large-scale genomic cancer research project jointly administered with the National Human Genome Research Institute.
The ISS National Laboratory is an ever-evolving research platform enabling vast scientific research in a microgravity environment. Since 2012, hundreds of experiments have flown to the ISS National Lab under CASIS management via NASA’s Commercial Resupply Services contract with SpaceX and Northrop Grumman (previously Orbital ATK) rockets. The ISS National Lab offers opportunities for a diverse range of public and private-sector organizations to explore basic and applied research in the biological sciences, biotechnology, human health, physical and materials science, Earth and space imaging, and engineering research and development that will both advance our efforts in space and contribute to improving life on our planet. The ISS National Lab plays a critical role in accelerating the commercial development of low Earth orbit and generating demand for space research and development activities.
CASIS Chairman of the Board Philip Schein, M.D., said that CASIS looks forward to having Dr. Vockley join the team and drive efforts to bring the ISS National Laboratory to the next level of performance in our quest for the most valuable applications for this unique research platform.
Dr. Vockley, added that the space station is a powerful research facility that has the capacity to change lives for the better. To be part of CASIS at this critical time in space-based research, during the rise of a more commercialized LEO missions, was an opportunity I simply could not pass on