{"id":2008,"date":"2024-07-26T21:41:12","date_gmt":"2024-07-27T01:41:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/altitudeclinic.com\/blog\/?p=2008"},"modified":"2024-12-10T10:39:51","modified_gmt":"2024-12-10T14:39:51","slug":"bolivia-high-altitude-research-expedition-2024","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/altitudeclinic.com\/blog\/2024\/07\/bolivia-high-altitude-research-expedition-2024\/","title":{"rendered":"Bolivia High-Altitude Research Expedition 2024"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

Canada, France, Ireland, USA and Bolivia<\/h2>\n

<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

10-20th July 2024 at the<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

High Altitude Pulmonary and Pathology Institute (HAPPI-IPPA)
THE BEST HIGH-ALTITUDE RESEARCH FACILITY IN THE WORLD<\/strong>, located in the “Capital of Hypoxia”,\u00a0La Paz, Bolivia 3,500masl.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

The High Altitude Pulmonary and Pathology Institute celebrating 54 years of creation on July 9th, 2024, was the hosting Institution for the Bolivia High-Altitude Research Expedition, a scientific event with the special collaboration from the Bolivian Navy (Armada)<\/strong>. The international team, composed of 16 Principal Investigators and 28 PhD and Post-Doc students, arrived at 4:00 pm at the Airport in La Paz, Bolivia (4,100m). They set up all their equipment in the different laboratories on floor 1 (auditorium and the auditorium large annex room -1 project), on the 6th floor (2 labs – 3 projects), and on the 7th floor (2 projects). The cafeteria provided the breakfast, lunch, and dinner services with a gradual taste bud adaptation to Bolivian tasty natural food.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

The Expedition was headed by Richard Wilson (University of Calgary) and Trevor Day (Mount Royal University) and sponsored in large part by UCalgary\u2019s Brain Create NSERC Training Program, A University of Calgary Transdisciplinary Connector Award, and an HBI Rebecca Hotchkiss International Scholar Exchange grant. Initially conceived in Sept 2023, research teams from across Canada, France, Ireland, and the USA quickly joined in. It had a unique, original, innovative concept of scientific collaboration between top-line researchers with leading-edge technology in a very friendly and harmonic environment where the human touch allowed extraordinary success!!\u00a0<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Integrative physiological, metabolic, and microbiota responses to rapid ascent and residence at high altitude.<\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

LOCAL HOST\/COLLABORATOR<\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Prof. Dr. Gustavo Zubieta (MD), High Altitude Pulmonary and Pathology Institute (HAPPI-IPPA), La Paz, Bolivia<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATORS\/ORGANIZERS (alphabetical by last name):<\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Dr. Trevor Day (PhD, Mount Royal University and University of Calgary, Canada)<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Dr. Richard Wilson (PhD), University of Calgary, Canada<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\n

<\/p>\n

CO-INVESTIGATORS (alphabetical by last name)<\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Dr. Marie (Claire) Arrieta (PhD), University of Calgary, Canada<\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Dr. Jacquie Baker (PhD), University of Calgary, Canada<\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Dr. Kevin Cummings (PhD), University of Missouri, USA<\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Dr. Paolo Dominelli (PhD), University of Waterloo, Canada<\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Dr. Marie-No\u00eblle Fiamma (PhD), University of Sorbonne, France<\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Dr. Glen Foster (PhD), University of British Columbia, Canada<\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Dr. Eileen Hasser (PhD), University of Missouri, USA<\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Dr. Daniel Keir\u00a0(PhD), Western University, Canada<\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Dr. Ken O\u2019Halloran\u00a0(PhD), University College Cork, Ireland<\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Dr. Maxime Patout (MD), University of Sorbonne, France<\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Dr. Jane Shearer (PhD), University of Calgary, Canada<\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Dr. Nicholas Stzalkowski (PhD), Mount Royal University, Canada<\/strong><\/p>\n

Marina Rincon Sartori (PhD) University of Calgary<\/strong>, Canada<\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Dr. Christopher Wilson (PhD), Loma Linda University, USA<\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

SUPPORT STAFF AND RESOURCES (alphabetical by last name)<\/strong> Dr. Jamie Keess (MD), Emergency Physician, Banff, Canada and Clinical Lecturer, University of Calgary<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

It was 10 days of intensive work in the diferent laboratories and a recording of massive amount of data regarding Adaptation to High Altitude<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

See the\u00a0AMAZING SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH ACTIVITIES<\/a>\u00a0in all the building\u00a0HERE<\/a>. Video courtesy of the French Team: Claire, Maxime and Marie-Noelle. Copyright Maxime Patout!!<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\"Tiahuanacu<\/a>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

On Sunday July 14th we visited the ruins of Tiahuanacu located at 3,800m.\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"\" The French team\u00a0 Marie-Noelle Fiamma, Maxime Patout, Clara Bianchi in Tiawanaku. Foto courtesy of Marie-Noelle.<\/p>\n<\/figcaption>\n

<\/figcaption>\n
\n
\"\"
Bruce Fernandez our coordinator, Gustavo Zubieta-Calleja Bolivian host and Director of the High Altitude Pulmonary and Pathology Institute (HAPPI-IPPA) and Richard Wilson of the Univ of Calgary The mastermind behind this expedition with Trevor Day (Univ. of Calgary and Mount Royal Univ.).<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n
<\/figcaption>\n<\/figure>\n

<\/p>\n

Richard Wilson contributed the following beautiful photos and hilarious poetic comments!<\/p>\n

\"\"
The statues!

<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"
The hats.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\"\"
The lovebirds.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"
The smiles.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\"\"
The stowaways.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"
The crew.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"
The Admiral.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"
The Marina.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\n
\"\"
The Karina.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"
And the local.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"
The Irish contingent. Photo courtesy of Erik Lucking.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"
Mount Royal University team.
Photo courtesy of Trevor Day.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

And then the testing days:<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n

<\/p>\n

\"\"
Right after the testing, we presume!
Courtesy of Ken O’Halloran.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"
Ken and electrodes.
Photo courtesy of Ken O’Halloran.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"
Glen Foster. Pre or post testing? not sure!
Photo courtesy of Ken O’Halloran.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n

<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n

<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n

<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n
\"\" Maxime pulmonary function testing. Foto courtesy of Marie-Noelle.<\/figure>\n
<\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n

<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>\"\"<\/figure>\n

<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n

<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n

<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n

<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n

<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n

<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\n
\"\"
Marie-Noelle pulmonary function testing<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n

<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n

<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n

<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n

Natalia being tested in Glen Foster’s lab.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Polysomnography preparation by Clara. Foto courtesy of Marie-Noelle.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

The cafeteria<\/strong> was a place for food enjoyment and scientific discussions, enjoying the incredible winter sun in La Paz. Cecilia Calleja Estenssoro handled the catering along with Parilla62. It was great, tasty Bolivian food!<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n

<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n

<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n

<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n
\"\"
Cecilia Calleja Estenssoro Catering Boss along with Javier Calleja Estenssoro and Tete de Calleja from “Parilla62”<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Symposium<\/h2>\n

High Altitude and Brain Symposium – La Paz, Bolivia
July 11 – 19, 2024<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n

Sponsored by the Rebecca Hotchkiss International Scholar Exchange (RHISE) Program\u00a0and a University of Calgary Transdisciplinary Connector Award.<\/span><\/p>\n

Organizer:\u00a0 Richard Wilson (Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary)<\/p>\n

Distinguished Chair and Master of Ceremonies: Dr. Eileen Hasser (University of Missouri)<\/p>\n

This symposium ran in the evenings during an HBI-led expedition to La Paz, Bolivia to explore the effects of high altitude on the nervous system involving 14 PIs from 5 countries and 30 trainees. Days were filled with intensive experiments; the symposium occurred in the evenings, immediately after dinner. In addition to the 44 expedition participants, we invited South American scientists to the symposium each evening. A major goal was to increase networks between Canada, USA, France, Ireland, Bolivia and other South American countries, and plan future scientific collaborations. July 14 was set aside for sight-seeing. The Symposium Program was as follows:<\/p>\n

July 10: Opening Night<\/strong><\/p>\n