Expedition 5300 - Grenoble Alpes University Foundation
Physiopathological responses to hypoxia on the female body
Since 2019, Expedition 5300 has been investigating the impact of chronic hypoxia on human health. The project has focused particularly on the inhabitants of La Rinconada in Peru, which is the highest city in the world. The project's new focus is on how women adapt to oxygen deprivation, a subject that has been little explored by science until now. It focuses on the specific responses of women to hypoxia, taking into account factors such as their hormones, menstrual cycle and age.
Understanding the impact of oxygen deprivation on the female body
Since 2018, the Expedition 5300 scientific research programme has focused on the mechanisms by which the human body adapts to and becomes intolerant of hypoxia, or a lack of oxygen. The Foundation has supported the program from 2019 to 2023.
Oxygen imbalances can occur in cases of respiratory diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or sleep apnoea, or in physiological situations such as high altitude.
While science has made progress in understanding the male response to hypoxia, the female response remains a largely unexplored area. Although it is assumed that sex hormones play a role, the current data are inconclusive.
This project aims to address this knowledge gap by determining the specificities of female responses and adaptations to hypoxia. The project will examine how these responses differ according to exposure duration (from a few hours in a laboratory to a lifetime at high altitude), age (pre- and post-menopause) and the phase of the menstrual cycle.
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5 groups of women and men from and living at low altitude involved in the study
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Direct beneficiaries 210 inhabitants
“As the scientific link between the Air Liquide Foundation and Samuel Verges, I'm particularly enthusiastic about the idea of supporting Expedition 5300. This program perfectly embodies what I'm passionate about: on the one hand, the excellence of the fundamental research to understand the complex mechanisms of adaptation to hypoxia, in particular the groundbreaking study carried out on women. On the other, its incredible human dimension, with real follow-up of local populations. Seeing science translated into lasting support is an immense source of motivation.
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Aude MILET, PhD
Scientific Affairs Manager - Head of Medical Exploratory Team, Partnership and Strategy - WBL MSI
A triple objective: humanitarian aid, training and research promotion
The Expedition 5300 program also aims to provide medical and humanitarian support by helping to improve the health of people suffering from hypoxia-related pathologies, and by developing sustainable public health initiatives with local communities.
To ensure sustainable and integrated management of the specificities of altitude, Expedition 5300 teams consider the training of future Peruvian and international players to be an essential priority. The program is committed to supporting Peruvian and French students and professionals through training programs. In addition, the expedition aims to promote cooperation and the development of scientific synergies by encouraging collaboration and the sharing of knowledge with other players in the fields of research and health.
Finally, the team is committed to promoting science and knowledge by sharing its discoveries through scientific communication initiatives, raising awareness of the challenges of high-altitude research among Peruvians, institutions and the general public.
UGA Foundation research into altitude hypoxia
What the Air Liquide Foundation does
The Air Liquide Foundation is contributing 150,000 euros. The endowment will contribute both to the salary of a post-doctoral researcher and to covering part of the mission and research costs for the experimental projects in which the post-doctoral researcher will be involved, on both the French and Peruvian sides.
