My research focuses on the broad area of human responses to hypoxia. Current research is focused on three major areas: cerebrovascular hemodynamics in hypoxia and exercise; transcriptomic prediction of human responses to hypoxia; and the integration of systems biology with integrative, whole body physiology to understand the molecular and cellular mechanisms of oxygen sensing in humans.

Cerebrovascular Hemodynamics: We have recently shown that hypoxia impairs cerebral autoregulation; research is underway to begin to understand the importance of this finding and its possible mechanisms.

Prediction of Human Responses to Hypoxia: We found that a gene expression signature from a blood sample collected in Denver predicted >95% of those who later developed acute mountain sickness. A recent validation study at lower altitudes in a more diverse population confirmed these findings. Studies are underway to examine the physiological links of these transcriptomic markers and pathways that lead to susceptibility to altitude illness.

Systems biology and human integrative physiological responses to hypoxia: We are undertaking studies to link a comprehensive ‘omics’ pathway of oxygen sensing (transcriptomics, epigenetics, proteomics, metabolomics) to physiological responses that serve to improve oxygen transport during acute and chronic hypoxia.

At the Altitude Research Center I have mentored 17 junior researchers, ranging from research fellows in Emergency Medicine, Neurology and Pulmonary Medicine to medical students, postdoctoral fellows and undergraduate students. I am active on the Department of Emergency Medicine research council, and mentor an additional six junior faculty on hypoxia research-related topics.