Symposium ‘Jungfraujoch and beyond. High Altitude Physiology and Medicine’
On April 4, 2024, the symposium ‘Jungfraujoch and beyond. High Altitude Physiology and Medicine’ took place at the ExWi Building of the University of Bern, Switzerland.
Prof. Walter R. Hess (1881-1973) of the Institute of Physiology of the University of Zürich and winner of the Nobel Prize for Medicine (1949) established the International Foundation for the High Altitude Research Station Jungfraujoch in 1930, which he presided over as its first president until 1936. In 1931 he opened the research station on the Jungfraujoch. Prof. Alexander von Muralt (1903-1990) of the Institute of Physiology at the University of Bern followed Hess as president of the International Foundation until 1973. He was one of the founders of the Swiss Academy of Medical Sciences in 1943 and established the Swiss National Science Foundation in 1952.
With the symposium, HFSJG wants to pay tribute to the extraordinary achievements of these pioneers of “High Altitude Physiology and Medicine” and shed light on then, now and future research in this field.
Welcome messages by Prof. Dr. Silvio Decurtins, President International Foundation HFSJG, and by Prof. Dr. Hubert Steinke, Institute for the History of Medicine, University of Bern, were given:
Afterwards, the program continued with presentations by
Dr. Leander Diener, Max Planck Institute for the History of Science, Germany, ‘Hess and von Muralt – pioneers at Jungfraujoch’
Prof. em. Dr. med. Peter Bärtsch, University Clinic Heidelberg, Germany, ‘Medical research at high altitude’
Prof. Dr. Heimo Mairbäurl, Heidelberg University Hospital, Germany, ‘Adaptation to high altitude’
Prof. Dr. Carsten Lundby, Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences, Norway, ‘Exercise at altitude’
Prof. Dr. med. Marc Moritz Berger, RKH Hospital Ludwigsburg, Germany, ‘Acute mountain sickness’
Prof. Dr. med. Susi Kriemler, University of Zürich, Switzerland, ‘Children at high altitude’
PD Dr. med. Jacqueline Pichler Hefti, Swiss Sportclinic Bern, Switzerland, ‘Research at extreme altitudes’
Prof. Dr. med. Silvia Ulrich, University Hospital Zürich, Switzerland, ‘Patients with lung disease in the mountains’
Prof. Dr. med. Jean-Paul Schmid, Clinic Gais, Switzerland, ‘Patients with heart disease in the mountains’
Prof. Dr. Grégoire Millet, University of Lausanne, Switzerland, ‘Recent disruptive findings and future directions of altitude research’
Prof. Dr. Tong Zhu, Peking University, People’s Republic of China, ‘Health effects and atmospheric environment researches in Mt. Everest (Qomolangma)’
Program of the symposium and abstract booklet:
On the following day, April 5, 2024, invited participants of the symposium visited the High Altitude Research station Jungfraujoch by splendid weather.