CBH takes over human centrifuge
KI has transferred the ownership of the human centrifuge and the hyper- and hypobaric chambers at the Center for Aeronautics and Space Physiology (SAPC) in Solna to KTH. The Environmental Physiology group at the CBH School has operated the facility for 10 years and will continue to do so.
“Karolinska Institutet, which was the owner of the facilities until the shift in late autumn 2019, currently lacks the expertise and interest in running the facilities,” says Professor Ola Eiken.
According to him, the human centrifuge and pressure chambers are currently the most important tools of the Environmental physiologists for research and development. It is likely that they will continue to be the main user of the facilities, but the intention is to increase and broaden the utilization of the facilities. For example, other research groups within the KTH Space Center will be able to use the facilities and other groups at KTH and other universities – as well as industrial partners – will be able to use them for research and testing activities.
“The change of ownership makes it easier for Environmental Physiology and KTH to motivate and provide desirable upgrades and investments in the facilities. It will also be easier for the Environmental Physiology group to prepare the opportunity for other research groups and industry to utilize the facilities,” says Ola Eiken.