Houston Medical Times
Page 9
MD Anderson, NASA and ILC Dover partner on Space Suit Art Project to increase childhood cancer awareness Pediatric cancer patients aim for the moon with space inspired art project
Recently, several of Space City’s best-known institutions — The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and ILC Dover — announced a partnership that brings the benefits of arts and science to pediatric cancer patients while increasing awareness of childhood cancer. More than 530 patients, families, and staff members painted original artwork used to create full-sized suits for the Space Suit Art Project. Born out of an idea from MD Anderson’s Arts in Medicine Program, which helps pediatric patients cope with cancer treatment through art, this project inspired leaders at NASA’s International Space Station (ISS) to support the effort with help from astronauts, scientists and engineers. NASA provided patterns for the suits and worked with ILC Dover, a manufacturing and engineering company that develops NASA space suits, to assemble the suits by stitching the hand-painted art pieces together into a wearable replica space suit. “This project has inspired hope for kids fighting cancer, instilled them with courage and created unity, all while increasing awareness of childhood cancer and the importance of pediatric cancer research,” said Ronald A. DePinho, M.D., president of MD Anderson. “We are so proud of this project and grateful for the passion and support we’ve received from NASA, ISS and ILC Dover. This is a wonderful example of the power of collaboration.”
build community among patients and families.
NOW LEASING PHASE II
“This collaboration highlights both the knowledge and inspiration that flow from the International Space Station,” said Ellen Ochoa, Ph.D., veteran astronaut and director of NASA’s Johnson Space Center. “Our astronauts conduct research on board the orbiting National Laboratory that benefit people around the world, including experiments that may inform future cancer research.”
Leading the effort to connect science, technology, arts and the human spirit are Ian Cion, director of the Arts in Medicine Program; Nicole Stott, retired NASA astronaut and the first person to paint in space; and David Graziosi of ILC Dover. Their collaboration created the Space Suit Art Project, which demonstrates the transformative power of arts in the healing process through three space On average, one in 285 children suits designed to convey different in the US will be diagnosed with meanings: Hope, Courage and Unity. cancer before the age of 20. Similar to The first suit, HOPE was adults, children going through cancer treatment can experience anxiety and stitched together from more than depression. Research shows creative 600 hand-painted art pieces created arts therapy benefits cancer patients by patients, families and staff at MD as mental health and behavioral Anderson. It represents the hope health are positively impacted. At patients and families have as they go MD Anderson, art gives patients through treatment. Their primary hope a sense of control and purpose, is to survive cancer, but it’s deeper than makes them more comfortable in survival. The project inspires hope for the hospital environment, and helps see MD Anderson page 22 medicaltimesnews.com
August 2016