Mayo’s Argentine Research Expedition

It’s extreme science about extreme athletes and explorers. People who climb mountains – or run up them – provide a great example of what the human body can do. Understanding their physiology in unusual environments will help researchers to understand better how the body works when it’s under the stress of disease and illness.

Cardiology researcher Bruce Johnson, Ph.D., will set up remote monitoring equipment at base camp at Aconcagua — the second highest mountain range in the world — to track vitals on Diane Van Deren, the ultra runner who is scheduled to run up and down the mountain — twice.

Dr. Johnson is no stranger to studying folks in unusual places. He spent part of last year at the South Pole, collecting data on people who work there. In addition to studying Diane, he will also be testing a range of technology that may one day be used to monitor patients remotely. All of this is aimed at improving the ways Mayo can improve patient care for a variety of conditions, both on and off our campuses.

Dr. Bruce Johnson and colleagues at the South Pole

Stay tuned to this blog for updates on this research project as it happens – including posts directly from the scene. For those on Twitter, our hash tag for the project will be  #Xmedicine.

Diane Van Deren and one of her many mountains