Video: Dubai-born doctor honoured with space medicine researcher award

Can the phenomenon of extreme weather also be a factor in triggering infectious disease outbreaks?

It’s a daunting question.

Fact: the climate system's warming is a reality of our age. It has fuelled more intense heatwaves, disrupts weather systems, and accelerates sea-level rise. 

Dubai-born doctor and space tech researcher, Dr Farhan Asrar, is leading the scientific community in exploring the global health impacts of climate change and how outer space-based research can help humanity.

Addressing health threat of climate change

“Climate change is the single-biggest health threat facing humanity; and air pollution is the largest cause of premature deaths in the world,” Dr Asrar told Gulf News.

“We are increasingly seeing the consequences of climate change with increasing incidents of extreme weather events, infectious disease outbreaks, climate-change related natural disasters; and the worsening economic challenges associated with these burdens,” Dr Farhan, Associate Dean at the Toronto Metropolitan University's (TMU) School of Medicine.

He is also an Associate Professor a faculty appointments with University of Toronto, Dalla Lana School of Public Health, McMaster University and TMU.

Space health researcher

The father-of-one is an internationally-renowned space medicine and health researcher.

He has led international projects and taught professionals and learners from over 30 countries. 

Dr Asrar forms part of a distinguished group of scientists conducting both ground-based and space-based science activities, ensuring that the next frontier of space exploration is grounded in robust research.

Dr Asrar's work has been published in renowned journals such as Nature Medicine, Nature, the Lancet, and the Journal of Royal Society of Medicine, among others.

He is currently working on the Artemis program (Nasa's new platform to return humans to the Moon), and AI in medicine, in addition to his interests in space innovations, cardiovascular health and preventive health.

He was also twice invited by a UN subcommittee to present and share his research. He has recently been invited by the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) as a reviewer to explore health and life sciences research which the CSA will be conducting on the International Space Station (ISS).

Climate study

A new study led by Dr Asrar, was published on January 14, 2025, in The Journal of Climate Change and Health offers new insights into how outer space technologies can play a key role in combating climate change and supporting climate action. 

Honoured

For his significant contributions to Canada in the field of healthcare, space medicine and medical innovation, Dr. Asrar, was awarded the King Charles III Coronation Medal in March.

Groundbreaking

In a groundbreaking study, Dr. Asrar, has also spearheaded research published in Nature’s Communications Medicine (2024) that shed light on the often-overlooked challenges faced by individuals with disabilities —especially those in medicine and STEM fields — and explores how lessons from space exploration can transform existing societal norms.

The study dives deep into the experiences of disabled professionals and how innovative thinking in the space sector can be leveraged to build a more inclusive future here on Earth.

Dr. Asrar brought together a unique international team of thought leaders and practitioners from Nasa and the European Space Agency (ESA), forming a collaboration that blends medical insight with space science.

Among the study's key contributors is Dana Bolles, a veteran engineer at Nasa with over 30 years of experience.

Bolles made history as part of the inaugural zero-gravity flight under Mission AstroAccess, a program designed to promote accessibility in space by giving disabled professionals the opportunity to experience space-like conditions.

Another co-author, Dr. Thu Jennifer Ngo-Anh, brings a wealth of scientific expertise from her role as Team Leader for Human and Robotic Exploration at ESA.

Dr. Asrar is also an award-winning internationally recognised educator and physician leader for his expertise and research in public health, space medicine, family medicine, health innovation, environment and climate change.

Dr. Asrar has worked with Nasa Earth Sciences experts to explore space’s crucial role in monitoring climate change and educate people about the latest technology, innovative resources, current and upcoming climate action satellites – and steps that outer space can take to innovatively address climate change.