Joan Vernikos, PhD

Former Director of NASA’s Life Sciences, Joan Vernikos, PhD, is an author, health coach, consultant, and sought-after motivational speaker on the tangible health and economic benefits to individuals and organizations of resetting your health for life, living healthy and healthy aging. A pharmacologist from the University of London, her research and publications on the management of stress, and how spaceflight and Earth’s gravity affect men and women, have been recognized with numerous awards. She also holds three patents.

A member of the International Academy of Astronautics, Dr. Vernikos has served on the Space Studies Board of the National Academy of Sciences, and is the NASA Space correspondent for Defense and Foreign Affairs. Her books include the award-winning The G-Connection: Harness Gravity and Reverse Aging (2004), Stress Fitness for Seniors (2009), Sitting Kills, Moving Heals: How Simple Everyday Movement will Prevent Pain, Illness and Early Death — and Exercise Alone Won’t (2011), and Designed to Move — The Science-Backed Program to Fight Sitting Disease & Enjoy Lifelong Health (2016), all of which have been translated and published internationally.

Dr. Vernikos currently serves as Honorary Chair of Taksha’s Institute of Space Health and Aging (TISHA).