AltitudeOmics 2012
Published 1 October 2012
Exercise Physiology PhD Student at the University of Brighton, Rosie Twomey has been carrying out research in the United States and Bolivia, as part of a high altitude research project in collaboration with internationally renowned researchers.
The project is called AltitudeOmics 2012 and is directed by Dr Rob Roach along with Dr Andy Subudhi, from the Altitude Research Centre, University of Colorado Denver. The project aims to study the integrated responses of humans to chronic exposure to high altitude, and the basic mechanisms involved in acclimatisation.
As part of the project Rosie firstly travelled to the Department of Human Physiology, University of Oregon, to begin collecting data for the study.
She said: “I have been involved with a novel add-on study to this project, investigating mechanisms of fatigue and responses to exercise after acclimatisation to high altitude. I am one third of the fatigue team, alongside leading researchers in the area, Dr Markus Amann (University of Utah) and Dr Stuart Goodall (University of Northumbria).”
The remainder of experiments were carried out at high altitude in Bolivia. Rosie said: “I travelled to Bolivia for the most important trials of the study at 5260m above sea level on Mount Chacaltaya, which is 30km from La Paz.
“Participants were recruited from the University of Oregon student population and underwent a thorough pre-screening protocol.
“In the fatigue protocol alone they underwent transcranial magnetic stimulation, peripheral nerve stimulation, an extreme hypoxic cycling trial to exhaustion instrumented with NIRS (to measure cerebral and muscle oxygenation), EMG, transcranial doppler (to measure cerebral blood flow) and an oesophageal balloon (to investigate work of breathing).
“The trip involved long and demanding days of experimental testing, data analysis and helping other research teams.”
The trip did not always go to plan, as Rosie explains: “During the testing period in Bolivia, one member of the fatigue team was delayed with severe gastrointestinal issues. On the afternoon that he made it up to the mountain, the other team member developed high altitude pulmonary oedema and had to be evacuated immediately on oxygen. Needless to say as the only team member who made it through all testing, I was kept on my toes!”
Rosie has found the whole project a fantastic experience, which will help with her own research. She said: “It was a great honour to be working alongside a team of multi-disciplinary physiologists. I am thankful to my supervisors Dr Emma Ross and Jeanne Dekerle for setting up the opportunity and Professor Jo Doust for making the trip possible. The unique and exciting data set will contribute to my PhD thesis and two manuscripts for publication, which are currently in progress.”
Read more about the AltitudeOmics project and Altitude Research Centre at the University of Colorado
