Xtreme Everest 2 - going to extremes to understand critical illness

Deputy Research Leader, Dr Tom Adams, who qualified from UCL in 2012, said, “Intensive care represents the knife edge between life and death. Some patients can adapt to low levels of oxygen, some cannot, so it is often a critical factor that determines whether or not they will survive.”

Medical devices ranging from Venus Plethysmographs1 to Chemiluminescence Detectors2, many of which have serial ports will be connected to the team’s PCs using FTDI USB cables supplied by sponsor machine-to-machine communication specialist Alpha Micro Components, and used to capture vital data in this extreme environment.

The team will examine the impact of hypoxia on genes, the lungs, the blood and cells. Most importantly they will be taking a close look at each individual’s DNA in a bid to identify genetic ‘markers’ that help some patients cope with low levels of oxygen. Identification of these markers will ultimately enable doctors to accurately forecast the survival rates of patients entering intensive care.

Concluding Christos Papakyriacou, Managing Director, Alpha Micro Components, said, “We are proud to be a sponsor of this significant expedition and to help the team realise their goal - to extend the life expectancy of people entering intensive care and give the sickest patients a chance of survival.”