A large number of native population in India live in high altitudes. Pilgrims visit different shrines located in the upper reaches of Himalayas. Besides the mountaineers and soldiers also sojourn different high altitude location as part of their duty. One common health problem that afflicts the people visiting or living in these high altitude locations are dramatic fall in blood pressure combined with physical tendencies of mental giddiness, vomiting, nausea, acute bleeding problems, insomnia etc. because of lack of sufficient supply of oxygen for cellular respiration. These high altitude illness which can be life threatening becomes more acute as one ascends to high altitude areas. Similarly, our jawans and officers who operate in different geographical and topographical areas need to be protected from these high altitude illness, which in medical parlance is called ‘Hypoxia’.
Defence Institute of Physiology and Allied Sciences (DIPAS), one of the premier institute of Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), from its inception in 1962 is engaged in research into enhancing human capabilities and responses. It has made substantial contribution by successfully devising many pathbreaking inter-disciplinary studies/projects in different areas of life sciences in general and control of chronic hypoxia in particular.
DIPAS which now celebrates its golden jubilee is organizing a Global Hypoxia Summit and 4th International Conference on Chronic Hypoxia from 09-12 August, 2012 in Delhi. The summit will lead to assemblage of worldwide known experts and eminent researchers working in the field of Hypoxia/high altitude illness. The conference will provide the participants an opportunity to discuss the most recent advances in high altitude research, chronic hypoxia, oxygen sensing and transnational research. The synergy of the research efforts amongst biologist, physiologists and clinicians will provide the wind under the wings to this flight of research into the frontiers of hypoxia. Last but not the least this meeting will also provide a great opportunity for scientific exchanges, personal and institutional contacts thus, facilitating a more efficient scientific collaboration worldwide.
About 350 delegates from National Institutes and Universities and more than 70 delegates from countries like USA, UK, Japan, China, Russia, Germany, Canada, Finland, Bolivia, Australia, Ukraine, Nepal etc will participate and present their papers in the conference on various aspects of High altitude research, Chronic Hypoxia, Oxygen Sensing and Translational Research.
In this global hypoxia summit, DIPAS has planned one symposium dedicated in memory of late “Sukhamay Lahiri” who is known across the world for his research contribution in oxygen sensing and homeostasis. There will also be a popular session on Health and Adventure at High Altitude.
The seminar which will be held at VP Patel Chest Institute, Delhi University will be inaugurated tomorrow by Minister of State for Defence Dr. MM Pallam Raju where he will also distribute several awards for best papers, oral and poster presentations and travel fellowships to young researchers.
