TRISH Speaker Bureau

Dorit Donoviel, Ph.D., is Executive Director for the Translational Research Institute for Space Health (TRISH), and an Associate Professor in the Department of Pharmacology & Chemical Biology and the Center for Space Medicine. Dr. Donoviel leads the institute in finding and funding disruptive human health and performance solutions for astronauts exploring deep space. She leads both domestic and international research programs that bridge academia, industry, and government to deliver fast and cost-effective tangible results. Under her leadership, TRISH established the only commercial spaceflight human research program and database, collecting biomedical data and samples from private spaceflight participants into a shared repository to be used by the broader research community.

The recipient of service awards from NASA and the Pioneer Award from the National Space Biomedical Research Institute, Dr. Donoviel was named a Baylor College of Medicine (BCM) Woman of Excellence and Scholar of the BCM Center for Medical Ethics and Health Policy. She serves on the Brain Trust of the XPrize Foundation, the Inter-Astra advisory board, and the Board of Directors of the Health and Environmental Sciences Institute. Dr. Donoviel earned her Ph.D. in Biochemistry from the University of Washington.        

A frequent guest speaker at scientific meetings, Dr. Donoviel is intentional about engaging with reporters to educate and motivate them to discuss the importance of space health research and its potential for improving life on Earth. 

If you are interested in inviting Dr. Donoviel to speak at an event, please contact us.

Selected events and media:

• “The Bodily Indignities of the Space Life,” The New York Times Magazine, 2024
• “Q&A: Solving Astronauts’ Health Challenges in Deep Space Could Have Payoffs on Earth,” STAT News, 2024
• "Why space is the next frontier to accelerate medical research," SpaceNews, 2024
• “Ethically cleared to launch? Rules are needed for human research in commercial spaceflight,” Science, 2023
• “Does the Future of Medicine Lie in Space?” Aspen Ideas Festival, 2023
• “Space Health: Solving Challenges in Space to Address Cancer Prevention and Longevity on Earth,” SynBioBeta, 2023
• “Space Health: Surviving in the Final Frontier,” SXSW, 2022
• “Space Innovations Lead to a Healthier Life,” TedX Baylor College of Medicine, 2022
• “Astronauts are losing 3 million red blood cells every second in space,” Popular Science, 2022 

Jimmy Wu is the Deputy Director and Chief Engineer at the Translational Research Institute for Space Health (TRISH). He also is a faculty member at Baylor College of Medicine’s Center for Space Medicine (CSM) and associate director of the Exploration Medicine Laboratory. At CSM, Mr. Wu develops, evaluates, and integrates technologies and engineering solutions that will reduce human system risk during exploration spaceflight missions. He serves as TRISH’s team lead of medical technology projects and manages biomedical research conducted on commercial spaceflight missions.

A formidable expert in addressing human health and performance during spaceflight missions, Mr. Wu worked at NASA Johnson Space Center for more than 14 years, providing engineering, integration, operations, research and development, information technology, and project management support to projects addressing human health and performance during spaceflight missions. Projects include support of the medical kits for Space Shuttle and International Space Station; planning of the medical kits for exploration-class missions for NASA’s Human Research Program, Exploration Medical Capabilities element; and hardware and operational support to understand the newly discovered Spaceflight Associated Neuro-ocular Syndrome (SANS). Mr. Wu earned a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from Rice University.

If you are interested in inviting Jimmy Wu to speak at an event, please contact us.

Selected media:

• “First private spacewalk a success! What the SpaceX mission means for science”, Nature, 2024
• “What the Polaris Dawn mission could reveal about human health in space”, The Verge, 2024
• “The science of Polaris Dawn and water under the surface of Mars”, Are We There Yet?, 2024 

As Chief Operating and Communications Officer at the Translational Research Institute for Space Health (TRISH), Rachael Dempsey leads strategic operations and communications to advance NASA’s mission of developing human health solutions for deep space exploration. Her leadership ensures that all space health research aligns with rigorous ethical standards, driving responsible innovation in collaboration with NASA and its partners, including SpaceX and Axiom Space. Well versed in strategies to ensure research integrity while driving innovation in high-risk, high-reward research areas, Dempsey oversees the strategic development of partnerships that not only push the frontiers of space but also create impactful, ethical advancements in healthcare research here on Earth, including in remote or underserved areas.

For more than five years at Baylor College of Medicine, Dempsey played a pivotal role in ensuring that TRISH’s cutting-edge space health research adheres to ethical and regulatory standards. With communications and operational leadership experience spanning healthcare, education and space exploration, Rachael is committed to promoting ethically driven, mission-oriented initiatives. She has facilitated successful collaborations with national and international partners, navigating complex regulatory environments while securing national media placements that highlight TRISH’s commitment to responsible, high-impact research.

Rachael holds an MBA from Rice University Jones Graduate School of Business and a Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from Arizona State University.

If you are interested in inviting Rachael Dempsey to speak at an event, please contact us.

Selected events and media:

• "Good Ethics to Good Science in Commercial Spaceflight Human Research," Baylor College of Medicine, 2023
• Sally’s Night: Sally Talks, Air and Space Museum, 2022, 2023
• "The Future of Healthcare Drive by Spaceflight," CES, 2022
• “Keeping Humans Healthy in Space Will Upgrade Medical Treatment on Earth” Interesting Engineering, 2022 

Rihana Bokhari, Ph.D., is the acting Chief Scientific Officer and Deputy Chief Scientific Officer for the Translational Research Institute for Space Health (TRISH). She has faculty appointments in both Baylor College of Medicine's Center for Space Medicine and the BCM Department of Education, Innovation and Technology. Dr. Bokhari’s expertise in space science and radiation biology, and her propensity for big-picture thinking, enable her to drive TRISH’s strategic goals.  

Dr. Bokhari has deep experience in space physiology, beginning with her training as a NASA Space Biomedical Research Institute (NSBRI) fellow. Her primary expertise lies in the effects of disuse and radiation on the musculoskeletal system. Dr. Bokhari most recently served as a support scientist for NASA Research and Education Support Services where she focused on grant review, solicitation writing, project management and portfolio management for multiple NASA programs. She graduated from Texas A&M University with a Ph.D. in Exercise Physiology.  

If you are interested in inviting Dr. Bokhari to speak at an event, please contact us.

Selected media:

• "How much radiation Starliner astronauts may have been exposed to while waiting to come home," ABC News, 2024
• "SPACE-H Accelerator Looks for Companies Solving Health Problems in Space," Payload, 2024
• "‘Puffy-head bird-leg syndrome’: What space travel does to the body," Sydney Morning Herald, 2024