High Altitude Task Force
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More than 80 million people worldwide live in high altitude areas (>2500 metres above sea level). Studies indicate that factors linked to high altitude including low oxygen levels, vasculopathy and metabolic abnormalities alongside genetic predispositions, collectively contribute to the onset and advancement of PH.
The High Altitude Task Force raises awareness and understanding of PH linked to high altitude and organises scientific conferences in regions affected by high altitudes.
The Task Force will have a satellite meeting at the PVRI Dublin 2026 Congress on 28 January. Details can be found on the Congress webpage.
8th International Leh Symposium 2026
The Task Force are currently planning for the 8th International Leh Symposium 2026 - Therapeutic targets & molecular mechanisms for pulmonary diseases in hypoxia.
Location: McLeod Ganj, Dharamshala, Himachal Pradesh, India
Dates: 23 - 27 October 2026
If you are interested in joining this Task Force, please get in touch
Webinars
The Task Force is organising a series of webinars on Hypoxia in pulmonary vascular research – altitude and beyond.
Upcoming webinars
- Do Travelers to High Altitude Need to Worry about their Blood Pressure? on 10 March 2026
Register for free
Past webinar recordings
- Iron and High Altitude by Martina Muckenthaler on 4 November 2025
- Role of inflammatory immune cells in hypoxic pulmonary hypertension by Rahul Kumar on 1 July 2025
- La Rinconada Expedition 5300 – an overview of scientific results by Samuel Verges on 27 May 2025
- Acute altitude illnesses in COPD patients and healthy individuals at high altitude by Michael Furian on 15 April 2025
- Human metabolic responses to high altitude hypoxia by Andrew Murray on 5 November 2024
- Pulmonary hemodynamic acclimatization to high altitude – pathophysiological insights by Robert Naeije on 1 October 2024
Publications
- Characteristics and risk profiles of patients with pulmonary arterial or chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension living permanently at >2500 m of high altitude in Ecuador, Rodrigo Hoyos, Mona Lichtblau, Elizabeth Cajamarca, Laura Mayer, Esther Irene Schwarz, Silvia Ulrich
- Sex-derived attributes to SARS-CoV-2 fatality in co-morbid patients, Neha Chanana, Tsering Palmo, Kavita Sharma†, Rahul Kumar, Brian Graham, Qadar Pasha, Physiol Endo&Met 2020
- Vascular homoeostasis at high altitude: role of genetic variants and transcription factors, Neha Chanana, Tsering Palmo, John H Newman and M.A Qadar Pasha. Pul Circa 2020.
Leaders
Aastha Mishra, Institute of genomics and integrative biology (CSIR), India
Silvia Ulrich, University Hospital of Zurich, Switzerland
Want to be part of something special?
All PVRI members are welcome to join an IDDI Workstream or a Task Force.
Our Regional Task Forces don't yet have global coverage. If you're interested in starting one, please contact us.
Interested in accessing global data on PH patient experience?
Almost 4,000 patients and carers across 85 countries completed Phase 1 of our PH Global Patient Survey (PHGPS). Questions across all PH groups included diagnostic tests & timelines, genetic testing, treatments, financial burdens, hospital visits, research participation, quality of life, telemedicine, patient-reported outcome measures, and self-monitoring with digital technology. The findings have the potential to improve patient care, guide future research and help us address unmet needs.