07.06.2007
Alan Richardson (pictured below), a PhD student and graduate from Chelsea School, is due to return home this month following four month's work as a research scientist on the Xtreme Everest Expedition, the largest medical expedition ever.
Running from March to June 2007, the expedition tested over 208 people trekking from Kathmandu to Everest Base Camp. Run by University College London, the study investigated human performance at extreme altitude with the aim to improve the care of critically ill patients by increasing the amount of oxygen in the blood.
Alan had been working on a team calibrating equipment along the route. He spent the remaining two months at Namche Bazaar and base camp performing cardiopulmonary exercise testing, pupilometry, retinal photography and phlebotomy.
Speaking from base camp Alan says: "It's hugely rewarding being involved in the world's biggest medical expedition. We've produced an unprecedented amount of accurate data on the effects of hypoxia on humans, which will hopefully be of use in critical care."
"It's also good for my career to be involved in producing so many research articles. Looking ahead I would like to be a lecturer in exercise physiology at the University of Brighton and hopefully carry on doing research in environmental physiology."
While Alan had adjusted well to his temporary home, he is looking forward to returning home: "I knew living up here would be hard, but not being able to contact people is the hardest thing," he says, adding: "I've lost 12kg, so I'm looking forward to a good meal!".
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