The Qinghai Provincial Department of Science and Technology, commissioned by the Department of International Cooperation of the Ministry of Science and Technology, organized experts from inside and outside the province for a project acceptance meeting for the “Research on the Molecular Mechanism and Intervention Measures for High Altitude Hypoxic Injury (2011DFA32720)” in Xining, Qinghai, on July 15.
The project explores the correlation between the multiple phenotypes and gene polymorphisms of plateau adaptation and maladaptation and studies the genetic adaptation mechanism of the plateau population by employing such technology as whole-genome SNP based on the analysis of differences between Han-Tibetan genomes, key nodes in the functional network, and the interaction between genes and products. Based on the previous cooperation between Qinghai University and the University of Utah, the project carried out research on the pathogenesis of acute and chronic altitude sickness and prevention and intervention of altitude sickness. It removed the bottleneck in obtaining high-quality health and disease samples, and acquired a large number of previous samples of the population with comprehensive clinical phenotypic data, which laid an important foundation for research on hypoxic adaptation, and especially the prevention and intervention of altitude sickness, and helped establish a technical system for data and sample collection at sites with difficulty in this regard. The achievements will exert a role in predicting, preventing and treating hypoxic diseases, and promoting social development in plateau areas.
Based on the cooperation and exchanges with the University of Utah, the project introduced advanced genomic analysis methods, which provided important support for the project implementation unit regarding its cutting-edge research on plateau adaptation and injury. The project made multiple breakthroughs in independent intellectual property rights. Related research results were published in Nature Genetics, Plos Genetics, Nature Communications and other high-level journals. During the implementation of the project, the cooperation with the University of Utah located in the United States further helped improve the scientific research capabilities of researchers at the High Altitude Medical Research Center, and especially the scientific research and innovation capabilities of young scientific and technical personnel. The implementation unit with great strength in research has set up a research team with a high academic level, rich experience in technology, and high scientific research quality.
The project revolved around the needs for economic development and ecological construction on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, and has made multiple achievements based on the residents of and migrants to the plateau with tolerance, which was worthy of further study. Therefore, it is of great significance to the future prediction, prevention and treatment of hypoxia, and the social and economic development of plateau areas in China.
The project was reviewed by the expert group and accepted.
[Editor: Song Shengqing Editor in charge: Rong Zengfeng]
