Space Clinic
Located on the campus of the Toulouse University Hospital, the Space Clinic has more than 25 years of experience in coordinating and conducting clinical studies.
The research centre, which has been accredited by the health authorities, is a unique place where clinical studies are carried out for space research and for health on Earth.
Highly spatial health expertise…
The Space Clinic has an international reputation in the field of ground-based simulation of the effects of weightlessness. This enables it to study the body’s reactions to weightlessness and to develop preventive measures (countermeasures) in preparation for spaceflight.
Two simulation models are used : prolonged bed rest and dry immersion.
These are used to test different countermeasures over periods ranging from a few days to several weeks:
- Nutritional supplements
- Medication
- Specific sports training
- Artificial gravity
…With multiple terrestrial applications
Alongside its space activities, the teams are carrying out studies into terrestrial health problems:
- Ageing
- Hyper-sedentary lifestyle
- Dependency
- Fragility
- Performance
- Sleep
- Pharmacokinetics
- Intelligent tissue
- Drug effects
Clinical studies
Infrastructure
Inaugurated in June 1996, the Space Clinic is part of the MEDES complex on the campus of Toulouse University Hospital campus. The facility is the only one of its kind in the world to be located on a university hospital site.
D’une surface de 2000 m², la Clinique Spatiale peut accueillir jusqu’à 14 volontaires simultanément et offre tous les équipements biomédicaux nécessaires afin de garantir la qualité des recherches qui y sont menées et la sécurité et le bien-être des volontaires qui participent aux différentes études.
Spread over two floors, the premises include an office area, modular laboratories, an experimental area with controlled environmental conditions and, in the basement, a short-arm centrifuge and its control room.
The Space Clinic is configured to meet the requirements imposed by a wide range of protocols.
On-site equipment
The Space Clinic has all the necessary equipment for its studies (osteodensitometer, XtremeCT scanner, dry immersion tanks, centrifuge, etc.).
It also has access to the biomedical equipment of the Toulouse University Hospital: PET, SPECT, MRI, CT-scan, biological analyses, etc.
For more information on the clinic’s facilities, click here:
Clinical studies
MEDES has internationally recognised expertise in clinical simulation-of-weightlessness studies, with its 1,500 m² surface area, highly flexible and modular infrastructure, state-of-the-art equipment, skilled, specialised staff, and access to the biomedical platform and expertise of an establishment of excellence: Toulouse University Hospital. MEDES also conducts numerous studies to improve health on Earth.
To learn more about the clinical studies conducted at the MEDES Space Clinic, click here.
Become a volunteer
MEDES regularly conducts clinical studies in its space clinic, studies for the space sector (in particular weightlessness simulation studies) but also for the terrestrial sector.
If you are interested, please let us know. You will be contacted if your profile matches the needs of a future study.
Rich and varied cooperation
MEDES has a wealth of experience and cooperates with numerous players in a wide range of sectors :
- Spatial (CNES, ESA, NASA, CSA and Jaxa)
- Pharmaceuticals (PIerre Fabre, Sanifo, Servier, Roche, Cephalon, etc.)
- Academic (Universities, ISAE-Supaéro, INSERM, CNRS…)
- Industrial (Airbus, Procter and Gamble, etc…)
A centre approved by the health authorities
The Space Clinic is authorised to carry out biomedical experiments on healthy and sick volunteers.
Each of its studies is subject to validation by the CPP (Comité de protection des personnes) and the ANSM (Agence Nationale de Sécurité et du Médicament).
Featured at the clinic
Health From Space – April 2nd and 3rd
April 2-3, 2025
The International Health from Space congress will be held on April 2-3, 2025 at the Palais des Festivals in Cannes, France. We’ll be there! We look forward to seeing you there!
Nouvelle étude de simulation de l’impesanteur : VIVALDI III
De février à avril 2025
Alité ou « immergé » pour la recherche spatiale ? MEDES mène une nouvelle étude clinque à laquelle vont prendre part 20 volontaires au total. Cette étude a pour but essentiel de comparer les 2 modèles de simulation au sol des effets de l’impesanteur sur une durée de 10 jours, pour en définir les avantages et les inconvénients.
Bonne année 2025 !
MEDES et toute son équipe vous souhaitent une belle et heureuse année 2025.
✨ Tous nos meilleurs voeux ! ✨
Nous aurons plaisir à relever avec vous les nombreux défis et mener à bien les projets passionnants qui s’annoncent pour cette nouvelle année.
Featured at the clinic
MEDES a réalisé de nombreuses études cliniques portant sur les esffets de la microgravité sur le corps humaine mais également par exemple sur les effets physiologiques de l’inactivité physique (effets de l’immobilisation lors de vols d’avions de longue durée, les effets des contraintes mécaniques sur le remodelage osseux), les effets des médicaments sur la vigilance (lors de la conduite automobile), le sommeil, la pharmacocinétique, des essais de nouveaux dispositifs médicaux (instrument de mesure de la qualité osseuse…).
Vous pouvez retrouver ci-dessous quelques unes des plus récentes.
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Did you know ?
The Space Clinic was founded in 1996 with the support of CNES, the Toulouse University Hospital and investment subsidies from national and local authorities.
The Space Clinic is located on the site of the Toulouse University Hospital. It is the only space clinic in the world to be located on a university hospital campus.
More than 1,000 volunteers have participated in clinical studies for MEDES.
Clinique Spatiale René Bost
In 2019, the Space Clinic was renamed the Clinique Spatiale René Bost, in tribute to its first director.
MEDES promotes the gender equity of space crews. MEDES conducted the first long-term bed rest study (in 2005) and the first European dry immersion study (in 2021) on a group of women.
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