Edinburgh Altitude Research Expedition 2009
March 4th, 2009 Posted in NewsIn May 2009 a team of medical students from Edinburgh University will embark on a month long expedition to Mount Kilimanjaro, Tanzania to investigate some of the causes and symptoms of Altitude sickness.
The team, lead by third year medical student Stewart Jackson, will split into two camps: one at 2743m and the other at 4750m. At both locations, the students will take collect data on optic nerve sheath diameter, transcutaneous CO2 levels and will also take DNA samples of climbers. It is well established that swelling of the brain is the basis of one of the severe forms of altitude sickness. By looking at the effect that oxygen administration has on optic nerve sheath diameter the team hopes to elucidate the mechanism by which oxygen administration relieves some of the symptoms of altitude sickness. The team also hopes to improve our understanding of factors that may contribute to altitude sickness susceptibility; such as genetics and exercise.
The fact that the expedition has been endorsed by eminent figures, such as Sir Christopher Hoy KBE (triple Olympic gold medal winner in cycling) and Reinhold Messner (the first man to climb Mount Everest without oxygen supplements) indicates the significance that the findings could have for athletics and mountaineering.
If you would like to find out more about this expedition or how to go about organizing your own please contact:
-James Beggs
