CXE 2009: analysis of biological samples
Research type
Research Study
Full title
CXE 2009: analysis of biological samples and exploration of the relationships between sample analysis results and phenotype data obtained from the CXE 2009 baseline and field studies.
IRAS ID
178911
Contact name
Michael P W Grocott
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University College London Sponsor Rep
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
0292/043-045, 047-048, 1701/001, UCL Research Ethics
Duration of Study in the UK
4 years, 1 months, 2 days
Research summary
The amount of oxygen available in the air falls dramatically as one ascends to high altitude (hypobaric hypoxia). This leads to a low level of oxygen in the blood (hypoxaemia) that is associated with reduced physical function and exercise capacity; the degree to which this occurs varies widely between individuals. Critically ill patients in hospitals experience a comparable situtation. Hypoxaemia is a universal phenomenon in this patient group and leads to a lack of cellular oxygen (hypoxia), organ failure and death. Our ability to predict which patients will suffer adverse effects of hypoxaemia and which will survive is poor. Currently, treatment strategies for hypoxaemia are limited and not without severe adverse consequences. Our research group aims to identify mechanisms that may lead to the successful treatment of hypoxaemia in critically ill patients.
The CXE 2009 project was a study based in London and Nepal to investigate the effects of low oxygen levels on human performance. It comprised a number of studies, and investigated the utilisation of oxygen and the efficiency of adaptation to hypoxia in healthy human volunteers. We hypothesise that the individuals will demonstrate dissimilar physiological coping mechanisms for dealing with low oxygen levels. Some are likely to be more efficient than others in their adaptation. They may be more effective at harnessing oxygen for the generation of energy. The cellular processes that govern this may be amenable to manipulation and of benefit to critically ill patients.
The study collected data and samples at sea level and altitude. The project was conducted in collaboration with local doctors and scientists in Nepal.
REC name
East of Scotland Research Ethics Service REC 1
REC reference
15/ES/0113
Date of REC Opinion
16 Jul 2015
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion