In follow-up to Dr. Craig Steinback's research expedition to the Himalayas in October 2016, two current Faculty of Physical Education and Recreation students and one faculty alumnus are embarking on a return trip to the Asian mountain range. For the next month, Graeme Purdy (4th year BSc), Jordan Rees (2nd year MSc) and Marina James (faculty alumnus - BSc, 2015) will be studying cardio-metabolic adaptations to physical activity at altitude and following up on several research questions from Dr. Steinback's initial trip.
As Dr. Steinback explains, these three individuals were chosen to go on this rare excursion due to their expertise.
"Jordan-graduate student under Dr. Normand Boule's supervision- is an expert in metabolic regulation during exercise and will be studying glucose regulation at altitude using continuous glucose monitors."
"Marina-who is working in Dr. Margie Davenport's lab this summer-will be characterizing how blood flow to the kidneys changes with altitude and how this affects kidney function - this will also include specialized urine analysis."
"Graeme has organized previously large scale projects in our lab and is funded by an NSERC Undergraduate Student Research Award for this project. He will be studying the effects of altitude on spleen volume and hematocrit-during stress the spleen constricts and mobilizes stored red blood cells into the circulation increasing the oxygen carrying capacity of the blood."
The group convened in Calgary in late April to complete baseline testing on 16 participants. They will then track these participants testing them in Kathmandu (1400m) and at 3500m, 3800m, 4200m and 5200m as the group treks to Everest Base Camp. This trip is logistically challenging as they will be performing studies in lodges as they ascend, as opposed to the measures Dr. Steinback and the team made at the research station in October. They hope to be able to identify how cardio-metabolic adaptations occur with ascent.
Jordan, Marina and Graeme left for their trip in the early hours on May 4th and will return at the end of the month. This expedition is in collaboration with Dr. Steinback's close colleague at Mt Royal University, Dr. Trevor Day, as well as international collaborators from Ireland.
"I am looking forward to so many things! I'm very excited about the field research side of things and I'm ready to face some of the challenges and obstacles that may come up along the way. I am also looking forward to trekking in the Himalayas and learning about the Nepalese culture. This is a very unique opportunity and I feel so fortunate to be a part of this amazing team of researchers. I think this will be an invaluable experience, building on much of the knowledge that I have learned in the classroom and lab during my Masters degree." - Jordan Rees (2nd year MSc)
"I can't imagine a more invaluable opportunity for personal and professional growth. As someone passionate about high altitude physiology, being able to go out and perform field research in a setting as beautiful and iconic as the Himalaya is pretty special. I'm most excited for a sunrise hike we are doing up to Kala Patthar, which will be the highest point of our trip (5550m). Here, we will have an amazing view of the whole valley feeding up to Everest and Everest itself, which I know will be spectacular." - Graeme Purdy (4th year BSc)
"I'm most looking forward to seeing in person all the places that I've seen in pictures and heard stories about from past expeditions. Professionally, I'm excited to try testing in a more uncontrolled environment, as I would like to continue to do expeditions of this nature as a professional sonographer." - Marina James (BSc, 2015)