Blog focussing on research from the NCL extreme environments laboratory. Run by Dr Owen Jeffries
MSc student Molly Carruthers has just completed a project working with Ollie (PhD student) examining the accuracy of continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) in hot environments. They examined a range of temperatures at rest and during light physical activity, data which will feed into future publications and impact public health recommendations particularly for diabetic populations. Molly has been fantastic in the lab and we wish her success in her future ventures.
UG students Vicky Catterall and Holly Youd undertook a project in the environmental chamber this year exploring physiological and metabolic responses to simulated heat wave events. They examined a range of outcome measures in a range of conditions from 21-40 degrees centigrade. The data will feed into a larger project which will inform future public health concerns in a climate that increasingly demonstrates greater instability and increased heat wave intensity, duration and frequency globally. Vicky won the class prize for her written dissertation exploring this question – well done Vicky!
Vicky designed an excellent infographic to visualise the key findings from the project see left.
Projected rises in body core temperature are shown after sedentary and light physical activity in healthy populations.
Amy & Rebecca are MSc students exploring the effects of dehydration on cardiac function. They have been working in the lab since January and aim to complete data collection by the end of July. Clinical Echocardiographer Prof Chris Eggett facilitated training the students in taking two specific measures using the echo ultrasound equipment and recording accurate ECG. A challenging project requiring exercise in extreme heat (40 degrees centigrade) for 3-4hrs and technically demanding taking these measures in this environment.
Amy & Rebecca both plan to travel after their MSc and may end up pursuing their interests in thermal physiology in some lab in Australia! Enjoy the travels!
Issy Davis (BS.c student) and Oliver Milard (MS.c. student) completed a project in the lab this year with two aims. Firstly they explored the effect of temperature on steady state and intermittent exercise, quantifying thermoregulatory, physiological and metabolic responses. Secondly they used new wearable technology to explore reliability in reporting body core temperature when compared to gold-standard invasive thermometry.
Oliver is pursuing his interests by looking for future PhD projects and we wish him good luck!
MSc student Sophie Evans completed her research project (2023) in our environmental lab exploring the effect of dehydration on cardiac function. Sophie was trained to take a number of specific measures using echocardiography by Prof Chris Eggett a clinical echocardiographer. Participants endured an exercise test in hot environmental conditions to achieve the target dehydration. We hope to further expand our insights from this project in the near future.
Good luck to Sophie who starts a PhD at Bath University this October!
Our undergraduate students (2023) explored the effect of convective airflow on body temperature in a range of extreme environmental temperatures. They also trialed wearable technology in these extreme environments that reported core body temperature.
Harriet, James & Jack (pictured below L to R) spent several months in the environmental facilities testing a number of participants in extreme temperatures between 37 and 45 degrees C. The project generated some very interesting insight into how we tolerate extreme fluctuations in temperature.
