---
title: Kolling Institute Researchers Inform Next-Generation Suit Design
description: Kolling Institute researchers are collaborating with Metakosmos on musculoskeletal research and wearable technology for extreme environments.
---

 Sep 8, 2026 · 5 min read

# Kolling Institute Researchers Inform Next-Generation Suit Design

 Kolling Institute researchers are collaborating with Metakosmos on musculoskeletal research and wearable technology for extreme environments.

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 Metakosmos Editorial Team

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![Kolling Institute Researchers Inform Next-Generation Suit Design](https://www.blog.metakosmos.co/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/A057_Company%20Update_%20Researchers%20inform%20next-gen%20space%20suit%20design-3.webp)

Re[sea](https://www.metakosmos.co/sea)rchers from the Kolling Institute, one of Australia's oldest medical research institutions, are collaborating with Metakosmos on next-generation suit development.

Academic Director Professor James Elliott has described the alignment between the institute's muscle mapping work and the company's objectives.

## RESEARCH AREAS

The collaboration covers wearer protection, design, and mitigation of physiological impacts including space radiation and microgravity.

Space radiation affects the musculoskeletal system through bone density loss, muscle atrophy, joint degeneration, impaired healing and increased injury risk. Microgravity produces spinal lengthening measurable in centimetres on return.

## DESIGN CONSEQUENCE

A suit fitted at launch fits differently after months in microgravity. A crew member with reduced bone density and altered muscle mass carries different injury thresholds than the ground baseline.

## MUSCLEMAP

Elliott has described the MuscleMap programme as an assessment tool applicable to operator pain and performance in flight, on return and in preparation for later missions.

That maps to the lifecycle structure of the [PULSE layer](https://www.metakosmos.co/pulse): pre-mission baseline, in-mission monitoring, post-mission assessment feeding the next cycle.

## METHODOLOGY

Elliott's group works on measuring wellbeing after trauma. The methodology collects comprehensive physiological data, builds pathways that run on simulated models, and addresses modifiable environmental factors.

The predictive element corresponds to [SYNSUIT digital twin modelling](https://www.metakosmos.co/prove/synsuit).

## BETA TESTING

The Kolling Institute served as a beta testing partner for Kernel360. Elliott described the combined expertise of Metakosmos and researchers from Kolling and INSIGHT as breaking new collaborative ground in wearable technology for extreme environments.

Metakosmos designs cover environments from deep-sea operations to station missions. The collaboration addresses terrestrial health and performance alongside spaceflight, across the [land](https://www.metakosmos.co/land) and sea domains.

### References

- [Metakosmos - LABS](https://www.metakosmos.co/labs)
- [Metakosmos - PULSE](https://www.metakosmos.co/pulse)
- [Metakosmos - PROVE](https://www.metakosmos.co/prove)
- [Metakosmos - SYNSUIT](https://www.metakosmos.co/prove/synsuit)
- [Metakosmos - CORE](https://www.metakosmos.co/core)
- [Metakosmos - Land](https://www.metakosmos.co/land)
- [Metakosmos - Sea](https://www.metakosmos.co/sea)
- [Metakosmos - Space](https://www.metakosmos.co/space)
- [Metakosmos - Partners](https://www.metakosmos.co/partners)
- [Kolling Institute — Researchers inform next-gen space suit design](https://kollinginstitute.org.au/news/researchers-inform-next-gen-space-suit-design/)
- [Northern Sydney Local Health District — Researchers inform next-gen space suit design](https://www.nslhd.health.nsw.gov.au/News/Pages/Researchers-inform-next-gen-space-suit-design.aspx)
- [Medianet — Kernel360 launch and Kolling beta testing](https://newshub.medianet.com.au/2024/10/metakosmos-unveils-kosmosuit-kernel360tm-first-of-its-kind-spacesuit-telemetry-human-performance-software/70194/)

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