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E X P E D I T I O N IN THE HIGHEST CITY OF THE WORLD FEBRUARY 2019 - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

SCIENTIFIC AND HUMANITARIAN E X P E D I T I O N IN THE HIGHEST CITY OF THE WORLD FEBRUARY 2019 www.expedition5300.com A N EXPEDITION IN THE HIGHEST CITY OF THE WORLD LED BY A WORLD-CLASS LABORATORY FROM GRENOBLE ALPS UNIVERSITY


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SCIENTIFIC AND HUMANITARIAN

E X P E D I T I O N

IN THE HIGHEST CITY OF THE WORLD FEBRUARY 2019

www.expedition5300.com

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AN EXPEDITION IN THE HIGHEST

CITY OF THE WORLD LED BY A WORLD-CLASS LABORATORY FROM GRENOBLE ALPS UNIVERSITY

WWW.EXPEDITION5300.COM WWW.HP2.UNIV-GRENOBLE-ALPES.FR

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H Y P O X I A , W H AT I S I T ?

THE ESSENTIALS

T E A M O F R E N O W N E D R E S E A R C H E R S

S C I E N T I F I C A N D H U M A N I TA R I A N E X P E D I T I O N

U N I Q U E A N D O U T S T A N D I N G

O N A LT I T U D E , H Y P O X I A A N D G E N E T I C S

Decrease in the amount of oxygen available in the blood or tissues. This situation is associated with a rise in altitude or certain pathologies (respiratory for example). At the cerebral level, hypoxia results in a decrease in cognitive performance, memory issues, slowness of ideation and, in extreme cases, loss of consciousness. Hypoxia is associated with a series of cardio-respiratory and biological responses that may be protective or deleterious.

“ “

IN THE HIGHEST CITY OF THE WORLD

W H O I S L E A D I N G A

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L e d b y H P 2 L a b o r a t o r y, t h e international leader in altitude and hypoxia research that will collaborante with other laboratories. In total, more than 15 scientific and medical experts directly involved in this project. U n d e r s t a n d m e c h a n i s m e s o f altitude adaptations to treat p a t i e n t s w i t h r e s p i r a t o i r e p a t h o l o g i e s a t s e a l e v e l . Supports (material, knowledge,…) to the local population. La Rinconada, in Peru is the highest city in the world (5300m) where more than 50 000 inhabitants are living permanently. Setting a laboratory of physiology and human biology in the heart of La Rinconada. To develop new treatments of diseases related to lack of oxygen and advance research in other areas : technology, space, ... Scientific and humanitarian expédition

  • ver a period of 6 weeks beginning of

2019.

THE ESSENTIALS

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Participate in an exceptional scientific and human adventure. EXPEDITION 5300 is the first expedition in the world to study permanent habitation at such an altitude. Contribute to developing our knowledge on the limits of human adaptation to the extreme environment

  • f high altitude.

Expected benefits both for highlanders and for lowlanders travelling or working at high altitude. Spin-off in Space Exploration : future lunar and Mars missions will take place in space modules where oxygen concentration will correspond to similar altitudes. To explore new treatment stratégies for chronic diseases, in particular respiratory patients suffering from a decreased oxygen level because of their pathology. Associate your profile to an expedition with a strong scientific, innovative and human dimension with the best specialists in the world.

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THE ESSENTIALS

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01 02 03 04

PRESENTATION LET’S SHARE

Contacts

Appendices

Project Adventure

LINE OF ACTION

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PROJECT PRESENTATION

1

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In 15 years, the Hypoxia Physiopathology (HP2) laboratory of INSERM and Grenoble Alpes University has become the French leader and one of the most recognized international groups in the field of hypoxia research. The work of this team has led to many high- level scientific publications and have a strong societal impact, in particularly a significant impact in the field of altitude and for people traveling or residing there for an extended period or permanently.
 Studying the mechanisms that allow highlanders to live with a very limited quantity

  • f oxygen but also their intolerance to this

altitude hypoxia, is critical to identify and understand the extreme limits of the adaptation capacities of the guman body to its environment. Humanity has distinguished itself through millennia by its formidable abilities of adaptation to its living environment and its

  • evolutions. Adaptation to the environment is
  • ne of the outstanding aspects and a decisive

contribution to the development of habitation throughout the planet Earth.

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OUR RESEARCH

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L A R I N C O N A D A ?

UNDERSTAND THE MECHANISMS THAT ALLOW THE HUMAN BODY TO ADAPT TO FUTURE ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGES. TO SUPPORT SPACE RESEARCH BY REPRODUCING ALTITUDE CONDITIONS SIMILAR TO LIFE ON MARS. TO DEVELOP OTHER AREAS OF RESEARCH THANKS TO OUR RESULTS : TECHNOLOGICAL AND MEDICAL ...

A T R U E O P P O R T U N I T Y T O D E V E L O P O U R KNOWLEDGE AND ADDRESS FUTURE SCIENTIFIC, MEDICAL AND SOCIAL CHALLENGES.

This is the highest city in the world, nestled in Peru with nearly 50,000 inhabitants living at over 5000 m altitude. While it is generally considered that permanent human life is not possible beyond 5000 m, the population of La Rinconada is challenging current knowledge

  • n the adaptations of the human organism to its environment and in

particulary to hypoxia. La Rinconada inhabitants are born, grow and work at an altitude higher than Mont Blanc that climbers hardly reach due to the lack of

  • xygen.

A significant part of the local population shows difficulty in tolerating the lack of oxygen and develops symptoms which we know only superficially and whose treatment strategies have still to be determined. Analyze, understand, act, these are the main objectives of EXPEDITION 5300 to enable Research and Medicine to move forward.

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LA RINCONADA : A UNIQUE PLACE

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LA RINCONADA : A UNIQUE PLACE

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The development of scientific knowledge on the human adaptations and maladaptations to extreme environments, and in particular high altitude hypoxia, is a central element of this project. Much larger issues can be addressed as the entire project unfolds. In La Rinconada where the population is remote, there are difficult living conditions due to the environment (isolation, lack

  • f oxygen, extreme temperatures, etc.), pollution (due to the

concentration of population, industry lack of modern infrastructure) and relative poverty. Our project aims to make this city better known to the public and international institutions, to initiate medical, health and educational projects benefiting to local population.

AN EXPEDITION THAT LINKS SCIENCE WITH HUMANITY

IMPLEMENTATION OF COLLABORATIONS AND PARTNERSHIPS BETWEEN PERUVIAN AND FRENCH SCHOOLS SCIENTIFIC AND MEDICAL TRAINING SCIENTIFIC AND MEDICAL EQUIPMENT FOR LOCAL STAFF CREATION OF PREVENTION MATERIALS ON THE E F F E C T S O F H I G H A LT I T U D E F O R L O C A L POPULATION EXTENSION AND AWARENESS VIA CONFERENCES O N T H E S P E C I F I C I T I E S O F H Y P O X I A , T H E ENVIRONMENT,…

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Learn more ? For more information on our research, please refer to the note we sent you as an attachment.

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  • DR. SAMUEL VERGÉS
  • DR. STÉPHANE DOUTRELEAU
  • DR. SÉBASTIEN BAILLIEUL
  • PR. FRANÇOIS ESTÈVE
  • DR. SAADI KHOCHBIN
  • DR. JULIEN THÉVENON
  • PR. PHILIPPE CONNES
  • DR. IVAN HANCCO

AN EXPEDITION LED BY THE BEST RESEARCHERS

  • DR. AURELIEN PICHON
  • DR. PAUL ROBACH

PHYSIOLOGIST, EXPERT IN HYPOXIA - AND EXPEDITION LEADER CARDIOLOGIST SPECIALIZED IN EXERCISE SCIENCES DOCTOR AND PHYSICIAN DOCTOR IN SPORT MEDICINE AND REHABILITATION PERUVIAN DOCTOR, PHD STUDENT OF HP2 LABORATORY RESEARCH DIRECTOR, EXPERT IN GENETICS AND EPIGENETIC MEDICL CONSULTANT, EXPERT IN GENETICS PHYSIOLOGIST AND PROFESSIONAL MOUNTAIN GUIDE PHYSIOLOGIST, HAEMATHOLOGIST EXPERT PHYSIOLOGIST, SPECIALIST IN RESPIRATORY CONDITIONS IN HYPOXIA

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C O M M U N I C AT I O N T E A M

THIS CENTER OF EXPERTISE JOINS THE MAIN EXPERTS AND CENTRAL INSTITUTIONS OF FRANCE AND ALPINE COUNTRIES IN THE FIELD OF MOUNTAIN AND ALTITUDE HEALTH. EXALT IS A COLLABORATIVE NETWORK INITIATING AND SUPPORTING RESEARCH PROJECTS AND INNOVATION IN RELATION TO ALTITUDE. THE EXPEDITION5300 PROJECT IS SUPPORTED BY EXALT.

T E C H N I C A L P A R T N E R S

CENTER OF ALTITUDE EXPERTISE (EXALT)

LOUIS LAFORET AXEL PITTET

MARKETER, COMMUNICATION SPECIALIST VIDEO MAKER PHOTOGRAPHY

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THIS CHAIR WAS LAUNCHED IN 2018 AND SUPPORTS THE RESEARCH IN THE FIELD OF MOUNTAIN AND ALTITUDE

  • HEALTH. IT ESPECIALLY SUPPORTS THE PROJECT EXPEDITION5300. THIS SUPPORT IS IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE

SCIENTIFIC AND MEDICAL STAFF OF UNIVERSITY GRENOBLE ALPS TOGETHER WITH PRIVATE CONTRIBUTORS AND PARTNERS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS PROJECT.

CHAIR «MOUNTAIN, ALTITUDE, HEALTH » OF UNIVERSITY GRENOBLE ALPES FOUNDATION

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EXPERIENCED EXPEDITION LEADER A W O R L D - C L A S S S C I E N T I F I C T E A M

SAMUEL VERGÈS LABORATORY HP2

In developed countries, the increased prevalence of several chronic diseases (sleep apnea, obesity, diabetes, etc.) goes hand in hand with a profound change in lifestyles, especially concerning the amount

  • f physical activity carried out daily. The

reduction in physical activity has become a major factor in the occurrence of chronic pathologies with cardiovascual and metabolicrepercussion. The research of the Exercise-Hypoxia team are providing positive outcomes to the area

  • f altitude issues and allows and allow to

bring better preventative measures.

COMMUNICATION

In 2011, my team led an original project at Mont-Blanc where a real laboratory was settled in at the VALLOT Observatory at an altitude of 4300 m. Volunteers spent 7 days to analyse cerebral changes during high altitude exposure. (Appendices) In 2015, my team participated in an international scientific expedition in the Himalayas (Manaslu) together with 7 countries, studying the cardiorespiratory and metabolic adaptations of 50 volunteers carrying out a trek up to more than 5000 m altitude. These projects have resulted in numerous high-level scientific papers, mass-market communications (lectures, films, TV shows, etc.) and significant media exposure in regional and national media detailing the results. We decided to work with communication specialists to transcribe as faithfully as possible this unique expedition to the

  • world. This team will take care of daily

communication with media. In addition to this, we will create a 26 or 52 minutes documentary of this expeiditon in original way. It will also focus on the daily lives of high altitude population. In short, this is a first in the field of altitude research !

A COMMUNICATION TEAM COME WITH US

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WHY FOLLOW US ?

LEARN MORE ?

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O U R S T R E N G T H S

P RO JE CT TEAM

A M B I T I O N

U N I Q U E

THE 1 S T

S C I E N T I F I C

H U M A N I T A R I A N

PROJE CT O N A LT I T U D E

I N C L U D I N G A C O M M U N I C A T I O N T E A M F O L L O W I N G U S

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TO FINANCE OUR EXPEDITION, OUR NEED HAS BEEN ESTIMATED TO 300 000 €.

LOGISTIC : 50 000 € BIOLOGICAL ANALYSIS : 100 000 € PUBLIC COMMUNICATION : 20 000 € SCIENTIFIC COMMUNICATION : 20 000€ PURCHASE MEDICAL EQUIPMENT : 100 000 € OTHER : 10 000 €

DEPENDING ON THE NUMBER OF SUBJECTS ANALYSED RESEARCH LABORATORY AT LA RINCONADA FLIGHTS, GROUND TRANSPORTATION , ACCOMMODATION,

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BUDGET

MEDIA, DOCUMENTARY, SOCIAL NETWORK,…

THE REMUNERATION OF RESEARCHERS AND PART OF MEDICAL AND SCIENTIFIC MATERIAL ARE PROVIDED BY THE PARTNER INSTITUTIONS OF THIS PROJECT.

DISSEMINATION OF KNOWLEDGE

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PLANNING

WINTER 2018

PROJECT LAUNCHED WITH DR HANCCO, PERUVIAN

RESEARCHER

MARCH 2018

LAUNCH UGA CHAIR "MOUNTAIN, ALTITUDE, HEALTH"

JUNE 2018

  • DR. HANCCO IS COMING TO

GRENOBLE,

AUGUST 2018 2ND STEP

PURCHASE SCIENTIFIC AND

MEDICAL EQUIPMENT

JULY 2018
 1ST STEP

PRESENTATION OF THE PROJECT TO THE FRENCH AND PERUVIAN AUTHORITIES

SEPTEMBER 2018

FINALISATION OF THE RECRUITMENT OF

THE TEAM OF RESEARCHERS AND PHYSICIANS

FIRST MEETINGS OF THE TEAM.

ON-SITE PILOT STUDY - OBSERVATIONS - LOGISTIC

OCTOBER 2018 3RD STEP

LOGISTIC (FLIGHTS, ACCOMMODATION AND CO.)

OCT - DEC 2018

PRELIMINARY TESTS AND FINAL

PREPARATION OF INVESTIGATIONS

JANUARY 2019

EXAMINATIONS SCIENTIFIC AND

MEDICAL TEAM IN GRENOBLE

(SAME PROTOCOL AS THAT USED

IN PERU).

FEBRUARY 2019 LA RINCONADA

6 WEEKS OF EXPERIMENTATION AT 5300M ALTITUDE, 40 INHABITANTS + 10 RESEARCHERS

MARCH 2019 FRANCE

RETURN TO FRANCE FOR ANALYSIS

MAY - JUNE 2019

RESULTS INTERPRETATION

AUGUST 2019

PRESENTATION OF THE FIRST

RESULTS

DECEMBER 2019

SUBMISSION OF THE FIRST SCIENTIFIC

PUBLICATIONS

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DURING OUR EXPEDITION

PARIS - LIMA - PUNO

2 DAYS

PUNO

3 DAYS

CONFERENCES HOSPITAL VISITS SCHOOLS

LA RINCONADA

TRANSPORT EQUIPMENT LIMA-PUNO

1 DAY

40 PATIENTS + TESTS 1 NIGHT

UNDER OBSERVATION

LA RINCONADA

30 DAYS

INSTALLATION

LA RINCONADA

2 DAYS

BACKING UP

2 DAYS

END OF VISITS

LIMA - PARIS

2 DAYS

PUNO

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TRANSPORT EQUIPMENT PUNO - LA RINCONADA TRANSPORT EQUIPMENT LA RINCONADA - PUNO

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JUMP WITH US !

2

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DEVELOP YOUR PROFILE IMPROVE YOUR IMAGE WORK YOUR VALUES WIN IN CREDIBILITY

BY ASSOCIATING YOU WITH

S C I E N T I F I C R E S E A R C H

COMMUNICATE DIFFERENTLY

DEFINE YOUR GOALS ?

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DEVELOP ORIGINAL COMMUNICATION ACTIONS THAT MEET YOUR NEEDS BY WORKING WITH OUR COMMUNICATION TEAM CONNECT YOUR PROFILE WITH A UNIQUE VEHICLE TO THE WORLD JOINING THE BEST INTERNATIONAL RESEARCHERS

BE DIFFERENT

E N G A G E Y O U R T A R G E T

STORY AFFECTIVELY PASSION IMPLICATION

FORM AND AMBITION

ORIGINALITY

TO TALK TO CREATE LINK PROOF TO WORK TO PROPOSE

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THANKS TO OUR COMMUNICATION TEAM, IT IS POSSIBLE TO CONSIDER A STRONG PARTNERSHIP TO MEET YOUR AMBITIONS WHILE HAVING A REAL FOLLOW-UP.

MEDIA COMMUNICATION DIGITAL COMMUNICATION PRESS KIT PRESS CONFERENCE PRESENCE IN OUR PRESENTATION VIDEOS

B E F O R E

LET’S COLLABORATE TOGETHER

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MAGAZINES, NEWSPAPERS, PQR, PQN, MEDIA TV, RADIO / PRESENCE ON WEBSITE WITH LINK. SOCIAL NETWORK : FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM,… PRESENCE OF YOUR LOGO, A HALF-PAGE DEDICATED TO YOUR ACTIVITIES. LARGE SCALE DISTRIBUTION IN GRENOBLE - INVITATION OF PARTNERS AND JOURNALISTS - LIVE BROADCAST RS / YOUTUBE MANY PATCHES / TEASERS PRESENTATION, LOGO PRESENCE, ...

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MANAGEMENT COMM’ MEDIA, SOCIAL NETWORK PRESS RELATIONSHIP AND PATCH WEBSITE

SOCIAL NETWORKS - PARTNER ADS - VIDEO PATCHES - INTERVIEWS - SHOWCASING OUR

  • COLLABORATION. 24/7 FOLLOW-UP WITH OUR COMMUNICATION TEAM - POSSIBILITY TO PLAN

COMMUNICATION ACTIONS UPSTREAM TO BE DISSEMINATED DURING THE EXPEDITION ...

ADVANCING YOUR SKILLS / KNOW-HOW

DURING

OUR COMMUNICATION TEAM WILL BE PRESENT 24/7 DURING THIS ADVENTURE TO FOLLOW THE EXPEDITION AS CLOSELY AS POSSIBLE !

ARTICLES AND DAILY REPORT FOR THE DAILY AND SPECIALIZED PRESS. UPDATED WEBSITE ... ABILITY TO ADAPT TO YOUR NEEDS TO HIGHLIGHT YOUR PRODUCTS / SERVICES, ...

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LET’S COLLABORATE TOGETHER

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FINALISATION OF A DOCUMENTARY OF 26 OR 52 MINUTES ACKNOWLEDGMENT EVENING

TV / RADIO / REGIONAL MEDIA / NATIOANAL MEDIA / SPECIALTY PRESS

AFTER

POPULARISATION OF OUR WORK - DOCUMENTARY FOR SCIENTIFIC AND HUMANITARIAN PURPOSES - PARTICIPATION SCIENTIFIC FESTIVALS / MOUNTAIN - PROPOSAL TO THE MEDIA FOR DISTRIBUTION. PREVIEW OF THE RESULTS - REVIEWS AND EXCHANGES WITH THE WHOLE TEAM PRESENTATION OF THE RESULTS - DESCRIPTION OF THE EXPEDITION - WRITING ARTICLES FOR THE GENERAL PUBLIC PRESS AND SPECIALIZED PRESS

OUR DESIRE TO BUILD A LONG-TERM RELATIONSHIP IS ALSO DEFINED BY COMMUNICATION ACTIONS CONDUCTED DOWNSTREAM AND WORKED WITH YOU TO ENSURE THAT NOTHING IS A COINCIDENCE.

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LET’S COLLABORATE TOGETHER

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POSSIBILITY OF PRIVATE EVENING ACCESS TO DATA RELATED TO OUR RESEARCH CUSTOMIZED EXPERTISE

REQUESTS, DESIRES, NEEDS ? WE CAN CO-BUILD CUSTOMIZED PROMOTION ACTIONS WITH OUR COMMUNICATION TEAM.

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AND MAYBE MORE ?

AND MAYBE MORE ?

UPSTREAM WORK WITH THE COMMUNICATION TEAM, SETTING UP A MEDIA PLAN IF NECESSARY ACCORDING TO YOUR NEEDS AND REQUESTS, TO DO WITH OUR RESEARCH TEAM EVENING OF THANKS WITH TESTS / GAMES / EXERCISES ON YOUR COLLABORATORS, ... TO DEFINE WITH OUR RESEARCH TEAM ACCORDING TO YOUR NEEDS AND POSSIBLE APPLICATIONS

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SILV E R

5 0 0 0 €

G O L D

2 0 0 0 0 €

PLATINUM

5 0 0 0 0 €

P R I V I L E G E

8 0 0 0 0 €

HOW CAN YOU HELP US ?

THESE ARE ONLY INDICATIVE LEVELS THAT MAY VARY DEPENDING ON THE TYPE OF PARTNERSHIP ENVISAGED.

LEARN MORE ?

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SPONSOR

A UNIQUE EXPEDITION IN THE WORLD

ASSOCIATE

YOUR IMAGE TO THE BEST INTERNATIONAL RESEARCHERS

BENEFITS IN VARIOUS DOMAINS

SPACE EXPLORATION, TECHNOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS, HUMANITARIAN PROJECT

TAX EXEMPTIONS FOR A PARTNERSHIP OR SPONSORSHIP

60% REDUCTION OF TAXES CEILING

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STILL ANY DOUBT ?

* Variable conditions depending on the collaboration envisaged. Contact us for more information.

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CONTACTS

3

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WE WILL ANSWER QUICKLY TO YOUR QUESTIONS AND REQUESTS.

Axel PITTET

SAM’ VERGÈS AXEL PITTET

SAMUEL@EXPEDITION5300.COM AXEL@EXPEDITION5300.COM

PR OJE C T LEAD ER

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CONTACTS

COMMUNI CATI ON LEADER

+33 4 76 76 68 60 +33 6 46 21 10 87

CR INSERM, Laboratoire HP2 (U 1042), Université Grenoble Alpes UM Sports Pathologies, CHU Grenoble Hôpital Sud, Avenue Kimberley 38 434 Echirolles, France Laboratoire HP2 (U 1042), Université Grenoble Alpes UM Sports Pathologies, CHU Grenoble Hôpital Sud, Avenue Kimberley 38 434 Echirolles, France

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WWW.EXPEDITION5300.COM

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TO KNOW MORE ?

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APPENDICES

4

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THEY SUPPORTED US

Former partnerships in our past expeditions

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INTERNATIONAL SCIENTIFIC EXPEDITION “MEDEX" MANASLU 2015

TO WATCH TO WATCH

“EXPERIMENTATION VALLOT” EXPÉDITION MONT-BLANC 2011

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SLIDE 34 Tous droits réservés - Les Echos 2010 12/1/2010 P.10 LES STRATÉGIES

SCIENCES

N

  • us ne sommes pas tous
égaux devant le manque d’oxygène. Voilà la conclu- sion à laquelle sont parvenus plu- sieurs scientifiques qui suspectent un défaut génétique d’être à l’ori- gine de la sensibilité plus ou moins marquée des individus à ce phénomène autrement appelé hy-
  • poxie. A haute altitude, la pression
partielle des gaz qui composent l’air que nous respirons diminue et chaque inspiration apporte moins d’oxygène à notre organisme. Cette asphyxie partielle se traduit par le « mal des montagnes » qui se manifeste, selon les individus et l’altitude, par de simples nausées, des maux de tête, voire des œdè- mes cérébraux ou pulmonaires. Une étude réalisée dernière- ment par une équipe de généti- ciens de l’Hôpital européen Geor- ges-Pompidou vient éclairer le
  • sujet. Conduite auprès d’un panel
de 80 individus, elle révèle que l’altération d’une enzyme particu- lière (succino-déshydrogénase) provoque des perturbations dans le mécanisme de détection de la pression d’oxygène dans le sang au niveau des cellules du corps
  • carotidien. Mais cette dégradation
semble plus ou moins marquée selon les organismes, et certains sont donc moins bien armés que d’autres pour affronter la raréfac- tion de l’air au-dessus de 1.500 mètres d’altitude. Stratégies d’adaptation « Avec l’hypoxie, on touche aux li- mites des connaissances physiologi-
  • ques. Chaque découverte apporte
donc une brique essentielle à la compréhension des stratégies d’adaptation du corps humain dans les environnements extrê- mes », recadre le médecin biolo- giste Jean-Paul Richalet qui a di- rigé l’étude. Pas moins d’une vingtaine de travaux de recherche
  • nt été publiés ces dernières an-
nées pour tenter d’y voir un peu plus clair. On a par exemple com- pris que, pour éviter au cœur de s’emballer en pompant le surplus de sang réclamé par les cellules manquant d’oxygène, l’organisme commande la dégradation enzy- matique des bêtarécepteurs res- ponsables de l’accélération cardia-
  • que. On sait également qu’en
haute altitude, une protéine nom- mée HIF (« hypoxia-inducible fac- tor ») indique aux cellules rénales de sécréter de l’érythropoïétine (EPO) pour fabriquer un plus grand nombre de globules rouges quand l’oxygène manque. Ce phé- nomène subsiste quelques jours après le retour à une altitude nor-
  • male. C’est pour cette raison que
de nombreux sportifs de haut ni- veau s’entraînent en montagne avant des compétitions importan-
  • tes. « Il nous faut maintenant com-
prendre les équilibres des processus d’activation des défenses de l’orga- nisme face au manque d’oxygène et les raisons pour lesquelles survien- nent des surréponses qui font bas- culer le mécanisme de l’acclimata- tion vers l’accident », résume Jean-Paul Richalet. Le sujet a de l’importance pour quelque 140 millions de person- nes qui vivent en permanence au- delà de 2.500 mètres d’altitude dans le monde, en particulier sur l’Altiplano andin et les hauts pla- teaux tibétains. Dans ces régions, plus de 10 % de la population souffre d’une concentration exces- sive d’hémoglobine, connue de- puis 1925 sous le nom de maladie de Monge. Dans la plupart des cas, les signes cliniques se limitent à des maux de tête, une fatigue persistante, des troubles du som- meil, des difficultés digestives et des vertiges. Mais dans 5 % des cas au moins, cette mauvaise adapta- tion à l’altitude peut évoluer vers des problèmes pulmonaires aigus, des symptômes d’insuffisance car- diaque ou des accidents céré-
  • braux. « Nous cherchons d’autres
alternatives thérapeutiques à la “saignée” , pratiquée comme au temps des rois de France », pour- suit le médecin. Avec l’université péruvienne de Lima, il envisage par exemple une vaste étude épi- démiologique pour tester l’effica- cité d’une molécule (l’acétazola- mide) déjà employée dans le traitement de l’hypertonie (aug- mentation de la pression) oculaire. D’autres applications L’avancée des connaissances sur l’hypoxie a aussi son importance pour l’amélioration de la prise en charge thérapeutique de malades vivant en plaine. Associé à d’autres centres de recherche hospitaliers et universitaires, le la- boratoire Inserm HP2 (hypoxie, physiologie et pathologie) a créé l’été dernier l’association Exalt pour coordonner les travaux me- nés sur le sujet dans les Alpes, en France (à partir de laboratoires de recherche en Rhône-Alpes et en Haute-Savoie notamment), en Suisse (à l’hôpital de Genève, spécialisé dans l’hypothermie), en Autriche et en Italie. « C’est le premier centre d’expertise sur l’alti- tude en Europe », résume son pré- sident, Samuel Vergès. Plusieurs sujets prioritaires ont été lancés. Le programme Cervox va par exemple évaluer l’effet de l’hy- poxie sur la chaîne neuromuscu- laire en soumettant une trentaine de sujets sains à une batterie d’exercices physiques en atmo- sphère réduite sous l’aimant d’un appareil d’imagerie fonctionnelle. « Notre hypothèse est que le cer- veau pourrait être plus impliqué qu’on ne le croit dans la limitation des performances », explique le
  • chercheur. La médecine du sport
n’est pas la seule concernée : la compréhension des mécanismes d’intolérance à l’hypoxie d’alti- tude pourrait aider les médecins à comprendre les perturbations induites par des affections respi- ratoires comme l’apnée du som- meil ou la BPCO (broncho-pneu- mopathie chronique obstructive), la troisième cause de décès par maladie dans le monde. PAUL MOLGA

La montagne, terrain de recherches des scientifiques

L’altitude, en raison de ses conditions extrêmes,

  • ffre aux chercheurs de

nombreux sujets d’études comme, par exemple les stratégies d’adaptation du corps humain à la raréfaction de l’air, la recherche des victimes d’avalanche ou encore le traitement des gelures.

A haute altitude, la pression partielle des gaz qui composent l’air que l’on respire diminue et chaque inspiration apporte moins d’oxygène à l’organisme. Cette asphyxie partielle se traduit par le « mal des montagnes ». BOERMANS, MENNO/HOLLANDSE HOOGTE-REA

A R T I C L E NEWSPAPER LES ÉCHOS 12/01/2010

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ARTICLE MONTAGNE MAGAZINE ARTICLE CAHIER PRATIQUE

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SLIDE 36

A R T I C L E NEWSPAPER LE FIGARO A R T I C L E NEWSPAPER LE DAUPHINÉ LIBÉRÉ