Richard Britten

Richard Britten is a Senior Professor at Eastern Virginia Medical School specializing in radiation biology and neuroscience. His research investigates the effects of space radiation exposure on the central nervous system, with a particular focus on low-dose proton and 4He ion impacts on animal cognition, including risk-taking predisposition, cognitive flexibility, and set-shifting processing speed in rats. His recent work has revealed sex-dependent behavioral alterations following simulated galactic cosmic radiation, alongside studies on blood-brain barrier integrity and the combined effects of social isolation and radiation on fine motor skills. Britten collaborates extensively with institutions across the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Italy, Norway, Russia, Austria, and Australia, including Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, MD Anderson Cancer Center, and the University of Liverpool. His findings contribute to understanding radiation risks for long-duration spaceflight and informing behavioral health countermeasures.