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High Altitude Research: A Natural Laboratory to Better Understand Respiratory Diseases

High Altitude Research: A Natural Laboratory to Better Understand Respiratory Diseases

The Air Liquide Foundation supports fundamental research projects on respiratory diseases in order to better understand and treat them. At the end of June, as part of its support, it had the pleasure of welcoming the Grenoble Alpes University Foundation and discussing the project with Samuel Verges, INSERM research director and head of Expédition 53001.

Why did you choose Rinconada as the site for your laboratory?

The goal is to study human adaptation to extreme conditions with an oxygen concentration half that of Paris. This site offers a natural laboratory at an altitude of 5,000 meters to analyze hypoxia. The support of the Fondation Air Liquide2 is essential to manage the logistics and equipment required for this expedition.

What are the effects on these populations living daily at this altitude?

Altitude hypoxia affects the body, our cognitive and physical abilities are reduced. Local populations have been genetically adapted to this hypoxic environment for millennia, which allows them to live at such high altitudes. They have adapted physiologically: more red blood cells and blood volume, but also increased risk of cardiac and neurocognitive problems. 20% of this population is hypoxia intolerant, which affects their overall health. Children may have developmental problems or be anemic.

How do you apply what you learn in your studies to medicine?

With this life-size model, we have a better understanding of how the human body works and its limitations in a state of hypoxia. It characterizes major diseases that we treat in our hospitals, such as COPD (the third leading cause of death in the world), sleep apnea, and even hypertension. This knowledge helps to develop more effective treatments for these diseases.

What are the potential concrete applications of your research?

As part of the Altitude Health Chair3, research is showing that hypoxia training can improve athletic performance and have benefits in the prevention and treatment of certain chronic diseases. For example, exposing obese patients or patients at risk of cardiovascular disease to controlled hypoxia can stimulate their bodies in a beneficial way, similar to exercise. This is one of the concrete applications of this research.

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1 Since 2018, Expédition 5300, the world's first scientific team to go to Rinconada-the world's highest city, at 5,300 m-is trying to break through and understand the mechanisms of adaptation to altitude in a hypoxic environment.

2 The Air Liquide Foundation has made it possible to finance the work of a post-doctoral student for 3 years and to publish around twenty scientific articles.

3 Within the University of Grenoble Alpes and INSERM, the Hypoxia Physiopathology Laboratory (HP2) and the UGA Foundation have created a unique center of expertise, research and development related to mountains, altitude and health. The Chair of High Altitude Health aims to develop and disseminate knowledge on the impact of the mountain environment on human health.