Medical breakthroughs discovered on International Space Station

Research at the International Space Station (ISS) is helping doctors on Earth find new treatment options for patients.

"There is a lot of excitement about this and many other kinds of research," NASA Administrator Bill Nelson said. "It's too bad that it's taken this long. You know, I did this protein crystal growth experiment back in January of 1986, but we didn't have a permanent laboratory in space, and just now, we are beginning to see the payoffs of this drug research."

Over the years, pharmaceutical company Merck has launched several protein crystallization research projects to the International Space Station. Scientists have said observing the proteins in zero gravity could benefit cancer treatments on Earth.