Before jetting off to Bolivia to work at the High Altitude Pulmonary and Pathology institute in La Paz, the research teams from across Canada, the U.S., Ireland and France gathered on the Mount Royal campus for baseline testing at the Integrative Physiology Lab.
In the middle of July, campus can be described as quiet, with many faculty and students on break, but this year was a bit different. Mount Royal, more specifically the B-wing, became a hive of activity with more than 40 international researchers from nine universities here to do baseline testing before a research expedition to Bolivia.
Led by Dr. Trevor Day, PhD, and the University of Calgary's Dr. Richard Wilson, PhD, the overarching research project is "Integrative Physiological, Metabolic and Microbiota responses to rapid ascent and resident at high altitude." Essentially, they are studying how people who live in lower altitudes respond and acclimatize to a rapid ascent and stay at a higher altitude (3,500 metres and above).
However, under the overarching project, some of the individual research teams from other universities have their own objectives around similar themes. Other Canadian schools taking part include the University of Waterloo, Western University, the University of British Columbia and the University of Calgary as the co-lead organization There are six key areas of the research that look at different organ systems and functions of the body in high altitude:
- Cardiovascular, respiratory and blood acclimatization over time
- Tracking markers of sleep quality and central sleep apnea
- Respiratory responses and sensations to transient blood gas challenges
- Control of standing balance and cognitive function
- Responses to exercise stress
- Biochemistry of blood
The MRU team, composed of current and former students along with two faculty members (Drs. Day and Nick Strzalkowski, PhD), is assessing respiratory and blood markers of acclimatization, and how they relate to central sleep apnea and the control of standing balance in response to high altitude.
Before jetting off to Bolivia to work at the High Altitude Pulmonary and Pathology institute in La Paz, the research teams from across Canada, the U.S., Ireland and France gathered on the Mount Royal campus for baseline testing at the Integrative Physiology Lab. The same tests were then performed in La Paz (elevation 3,500 m) to track changes in participants as they experienced a higher altitude.
"There's lots of models of doing high-altitude research. One could be an incremental ascent to higher and higher altitudes and that is the kind of work we have done in the past in Nepal," Day says The other way of studying is to find a high-altitude location or lab somewhere where you can live for 10 days and do a rapid ascent to that location. Then you can do your testing to monitor physiological changes over time."
The cut off for what is considered high altitude is 2,500 m or above, explains Day, so as one can imagine, it is tricky to find somewhere to do this kind of research. However, Wilson has a connection who runs the lab in Bolivia, which was able to accommodate the research teams and offer them labs to do their testing. "It is one of those rare locations where you can go and spend a week or more doing testing on each other that has all of the amenities."
In a traditional lab setting, researchers can recruit people to come to the lab to run tests on, but since this research expedition had the added element of travel, the researchers also volunteered as participants. Day notes how great this is for researchers (including students) to experience, adding that they get the added benefit of learning more about how their own bodies respond to high-altitude exposure.
"The student researchers benefit in many ways from these types of projects. Not only do they carry out their own experiments, but they learn a lot about problem solving in conditions that may not be ideal. On top of that, international collaboration and sharing of ideas and expertise is really valuable."
Day also highlights the connections made on these trips, as students often meet professors who they work with later in their graduate studies or professional careers. The trip itself included many Mount Royal graduates who are now in graduate or professional programs across the country.
Among them is Rodion Isakovich, who is now studying medicine at the U of C's Cumming School of Medicine.
This wasn't his first research trip as he joined Day and others in 2023 on a trip to Nepal. Isakovich says his time at MRU played a crucial role in preparing him for both research work and the challenges of medical school.
"The connections I built with my professors were particularly impactful on my academic journey and personal development. I am incredibly grateful for the opportunities they provided, including independent research courses, as well as the chance to participate in international expeditions to Nepal and Bolivia," Isakovich says. "I also benefitted from a range of classes, which gave me a solid foundation in scientific work and continue to support me in my current medical studies."
The B.Sc. Health Sciences graduate says the research expedition was a once-in-a-lifetime experience. "The connections I made during the trip are what I value the most. I learned new skills and a great deal about various fields of science, but the most memorable aspects were discovering Bolivia, its people and its fascinating culture."
On the trip, he had several roles including assisting with capillary blood collection and analysis, conducting daily physiological measurements, and supporting colleagues in their research projects. He recognizes the unique benefit that comes with gaining research experience like this during an undergraduate program.
As Isakovich looks to complete his studies in medicine and begin his residency, he reflects on the impact his connection to Day has had and the foundation provided by his time at MRU. "These experiences have further deepened my interest in physiology, which will be invaluable for the scientific side of medicine. Moreover, they have strengthened my adaptability, teamwork and communication skills, which are essential for the human side of medicine," Isakovich says.
The expedition was funded in large part by NSERC Discovery grants with some internal funding from MRU and U of C.
