Moderator

Donna Roberts, MD, MS recently joined the Center for the Advancement of Science in Space (CASIS) as the Deputy Chief Scientist where she will assist the Chief Scientist in developing long-term microgravity research goals for the International Space Station (ISS) National Laboratory.

Prior to joining CASIS, Dr. Roberts was a Professor in the Department of Radiology and Radiological Science at the Medical University of South Carolina.  In addition to clinical work as a practicing neuroradiologist, she served as principal investigator for several NASA-funded studies investigating the impact of spaceflight on the human brain during long stays in microgravity.  She also conducted several industry-sponsored clinical trials and served as international principal investigator for a multi-national MRI contrast agent drug trial.  She previously worked in Washington, DC for Lockheed Engineering and Sciences Company where she provided program management support to the NASA Life Sciences Division at NASA Headquarters.  Dr. Roberts has served as a voting member of the FDA’s Medical Imaging Drugs Advisory Committee.  She has authored numerous peer-reviewed scientific papers and has given TedX talks describing her research.  She has won several awards including the International Space Station Compelling Results Award from the American Astronautical Society in 2018.

Dr. Roberts holds an MD degree from the Medical University of South Carolina, a master of science in Electrical Engineering from the University of Colorado, and a bachelor of science in Computer Engineering from Clemson University.  She completed residency training in Radiology at the Medical University of South Carolina and a fellowship in Neuroradiology at the University of California, San Francisco.