Falk College strives to achieve excellence in education not only through good teaching but also through participation in active research. Our students benefit by learning from researchers who are working at the cutting-edge of knowledge, within well-equipped laboratories, and in projects that are both domestic and abroad. We encourage both undergraduates and graduate engagement to achieve not only a rewarding educational experience but also enhanced career opportunities upon graduation. Learn more about the different types of research awards.
Extramural AwardHigh-altitude Environments and Spleen Function in Humans
Sherpa highland natives in Nepal are known worldwide for their extraordinary physical abilities at high altitude. They are derived from Tibetan populations that may have experienced natural selection over thousands of years in response to hypobaric hypoxia (i.e., low oxygen environments). This project seeks to understand the role of the spleen and natural selection in determining the exercise capacity and hypoxia tolerance of Sherpa at altitude…
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Extramural AwardDoctoral Dissertation Research: Oxygen Transport Phenotypes and the Different Evolutionary Trajectories of Andean Versus Tibetan Highland Native Populations
The Andes region of South America and the Himalayas region of Asia both have populations of humans who have resided at high-altitude (3,000-5000m) for thousands of years. These populations are well-adapted to the hypoxic conditions of the mountains, but curious differences also exist for certain hematological, ventilatory, and genomic traits. This study is the first direct comparison of several of these traits (with a focus on exercise capacity and blood flow) between matched groups of Quechua from Peru and Sherpa from Nepal. The study uses the same measurement protocols in locations that are at nearly the same altitude (i.e., the city of Cerro de Pasco, Peru, and the village of Pheriche, Nepal, both at ~4,300m).
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2021-2022 SU CUSE GrantThe Association of the EGLN1 Gene with the High Aerobic Capacity (VO2max) of Nepali Sherpa at High-altitude
There is compelling evidence that highland-native populations in the Himalayas (Sherpa,Tibetans) and the South American Andes (Quechua) are genetically adapted to chronic hypobaric hypoxia. For example, both population groups are tolerant to extreme high-altitude and show impressive physical work capacity in hypoxia. In Peruvian Quechua, we have identified several high frequency genetic markers that are associated with a significantly higher aerobic capacity (VO2max) at high-altitude. These markers were found in a gene known as EGLN1 which is a central component of the Hypoxia Inducible Factor (HIF) pathway. The HIF-pathway regulates the cellular response to hypoxia. In this CUSE grant, we will seek to replicate our Peruvian findings by collecting DNA and measuring VO2max in n=70 Sherpa highlanders at 4,240 m altitude in Nepal.
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