In February, The EMPU was featured on a segment of Imbedded with Mark Miller on Discovery Channel’s Daily Planet. Mark was in the lab to experience the effects of hypoxia and what the associated dangers would be if the pilot of an aircraft suddenly became hypoxic. You can view the episode here, and you can check out more of Mark’s Imbedded segments here.
After extensive refurbishment and equipment upgrades, the EMPU is now officially open for research for the first time in almost three years. The EMPU has upgraded everything from the chamber coating and video/audio communications equipment to chamber environment monitors and new environmental control capabilities.
Data collection has started for UBC student Normand Richard’s study of Normobaric Hypoxia VS. Hypobaric Hypoxia. Richard is a masters student of P.I. Dr. Michael Koehle of the Environmental Physiology Laboratory at UBC. Together they are looking at the relationship between hypoxia, ambient pressure, physiology and acute mountain sickness (AMS). “Dr. Koehle has been a huge supporter of the unit, volunteering his time on many occasions during High Altitude Indoctrination training for pilots and as a consultant on our safety committee.” states the director of the EMPU, Sherri Ferguson. “I am very pleased to be working with both himself and his students in a scientific capacity once again.” Although this is Dr. Koehle’s first study as a P.I. in the EMPU, he did his post doctoral fellowship in the department of Kinesiology, now named the department of Biomedical Physiology and Kinesiology, in 2007 and has been a participant in a number of studies involving the hyper/hypobaric chamber.
The Environmental Medicine and Physiology Unit teamed up with Cicada Studio to provide you with a state-of-the-art 360° virtual tour of the lab, as well as inside the Main Lock and Wet Pot of the Hyperbaric Chamber! Come see what it is like to be inside the chamber!
Just simply click on the virtual tour link in our Quick Links section to the right, compatible with most mobile devices!
Andrew Gillatt, Cicada Studio
The Environmental Medicine and Physiology Unit’s website is currently under construction. Updates are being made regularly so be sure to check back often!
If you have any comments, suggestions or requests please submit them to jma67@sfu.ca