COM-PAC INTERNATIONAL, INC. SENDING BITRAN BAGS TO INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION
August 16, 2017, Carbondale, IL – Com-Pac International, Inc. was notified this week that NASA will be utilizing their BITRAN® brand of leakproof specimen bags in a research project aboard the International Space Station (ISS) in the coming weeks. The project involves growing larger versions of an important protein associated with Parkinson’s disease in the unique micro-gravity environment of space. The Earth-grown versions of this protein are too small for scientists to study and have inhibited development of therapies against this protein to prevent, slow or stop the progression of Parkinson’s disease.
Com-Pac’s bags were selected because of their capability to maintain leak-tight integrity during multiple openings and re-closings over multiple freezing and thawing cycles. The frozen specimens will be launched aboard Space-X’s 12th mission to the ISS, transferred to ambient temperature using automated biotechnology devices and returned to Earth in a refrigerated state for detailed analysis.
“We are certainly very pleased that NASA has chosen to utilize our products aboard the ISS, but are additionally pleased that the products we make right here in Carbondale could contribute to finding a cure for Parkinson’s disease,” said Com-Pac President Greg Sprehe. Sprehe also said the research project was developed and sponsored by the Michael J. Fox Foundation.
Com-Pac manufactures flexible packaging products for the medical and laboratory specimen handling industries and markets them under several Com-Pac brand names as well as for private label customers. Additionally, Com-Pac manufactures private label packaging products for fresh-cut produce, frozen foods, stand-up pouch closures and food storage bags. Com-Pac will celebrate 28 years of business in November of this year and employs over 250 in Carbondale’s industrial park.
More information can be found at:
https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/2295.html