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A STUDENT-LED, HIGH ALTITUDE MEDICAL RESEARCH EXPEDITION

APEX 7

APEX 7 was our latest expedition, taking place between June/July 2025, once again heading back to Huayna Potosi in the Bolivian Andes at 4800m above sea level. The team explored how extreme altitudes and low oxygen levels affect human physiology, with projects ranging from hormone regulation to genetic expression.

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Having taken 85 student volunteers from the University of Edinburgh, 8 expedition organisers and 4 doctors, APEX 7 was the largest controlled, simultaneous ascent of a mountain in history. 

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Read the full APEX 7 Expedition report below!

APEX 7 Expedition Blog

Take a look what the APEX 7 team have been up to in the lead up to and during the expedition! We will try update this blog as often as possible, but due to limited signal there might not be daily posts!

Meet the Expedition Team

APEX 7 is being organised by a group of senior medical students at the
University of Edinburgh.

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Expedition Leader  

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Cameron Norton 

Cameron is a 6th year medical student with an interest in critical care/emergency medicine. After volunteering on APEX 6 he caught the medical research bug and is excited to lead some fantastic research of his own, alongside planning the logistics and execution of APEX 7. He is also extremely keen to be back in South America and facilitate an experience of a lifetime to a fresh set of volunteers.

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Expedition Leader  

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David Geddes

David is in his fifth year studying medicine at the University of Edinburgh and is one of the expedition leaders for APEX 7. He developed a strong interest in medical research and high-altitude medicine whilst being a volunteer on APEX 6 and is now looking forward to being responsible for the planning and execution of the next expedition! David is excited to be part of such a tight-knit team and can't wait to contribute to some really exciting research topics and travel around South America post-expedition!

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Head of Research

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Anya Tan

Anya is an incoming FY1, having trained at the University of Edinburgh and is the Head of Research for APEX 7. She is excited to be part of the team leading the next expedition to Bolivia after being an APEX 6 volunteer. She is looking forward to co-ordinating lots of exciting projects and getting the volunteers involved in high-altitude research!

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Head of Communications

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Colette Revadillo

Colette is a sixth year medical student at the University of Edinburgh and is excited to be part of the APEX 7 committee as the Head of Communications. She is excited to work in close liaison with the committee to organise events for future APEX 7 volunteers and ensure all upcoming information is communicated via our social platforms. 

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Head of Volunteers and Publicity

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Ella Andrea

Ella is a sixth year medical student at the University of Edinburgh and is one of the Heads of Volunteers and Wellbeing for APEX 7. She thoroughly enjoyed APEX 6 due to its deep sense of community and camaraderie and is excited to foster an environment like this for the next volunteers of APEX 7. Ella cannot wait to contribute to both high-altitude research and the enjoyment of the future volunteers, and is thrilled to be part of such a hardworking and passionate committee!

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Head of Volunteers and Publicity

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Ella McElnea

Ella is a fifth year medical student at the University of Edinburgh and is one of the Heads of Volunteers and Wellbeing. She is really excited to get to know all of the volunteers and be involved in some really cool research up the mountain in Bolivia!

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Head of Funding, Grants and Sponsorship

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Ben Harrison

Ben is a fifth year medical student at the University of Edinburgh. He is thrilled to be involved in making APEX 7 a reality, ensuring we have the funding to realise our ambitions as well as building exciting partnerships with sponsors. After developing his passion for altitude research on APEX 6, he is enjoying the opportunity to develop his own research interest on the expedition. Most of all, he cannot wait to be back in La Paz, sharing the incredible experience that is APEX with a new generation of volunteers!

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Head of Funding, Grants and Sponsorship​

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Camille Maezelle

Camille is a fifth year medical student at the University of Edinburgh. Her interest in high altitude medicine was kickstarted from volunteering on APEX 6 and she is keen to come back as part of the committee. As head of funding, grants and sponsorship, she will be handling all things money-related, ensuring there is enough funding for the expedition and securing exciting sponsorships. Camille is looking forward to heading back up the mountain, meeting all the lovely volunteers and getting involved in research!

APEX 7

Contact us at apex7@altitude.org
or via our social media below

Expedition Outline

Country

Bolivia

Dates

June/July 2025

Elevation

4800m

Sponsorship, Grants and Supporters

APEX 7 would like to thank the following organisations for their sponsorship, support, and grants, without any of whom the expedition would not be possible. Click on the images to explore what our sponsors have to offer!

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​APEX 7 would like to offer our profound thanks to the following people. It truly takes a mountain (no pun intended) to organise such an expedition and without any of the names below, the APEX 7 expedition would not be able to happen:

  • Jon Cassidy

  • Professor Kenneth Baillie

  • Laura Rankin

  • Ellie Mcmaster

  • Dorcus Lange

  • Sarah Atkins

  • Dr Jeremy Windsor

  • Graham Ayres

  • Dr Jane Redford

  • Alexios Papachronopoulos

  • Dr Nina Rzechorzek

  • Lindsay Murray

  • Professor Kate Heal

  • Dr Oliver Vick

  • Professor David Argyle

  • Marrianne Watson

  • Philip Argo

  • Professor Neeraj Dhaun

  • Rhiannon Cameron

  • Dr Roger Thomson

  • Clara Lopez Velasco

  • Mr Andrew Sutherland

  • Dr Ian McCormack

  • Professor Sarah Walmsley

  • Dr Manuel Alejandro Sanchez Garcia

  • Cat Graham

  • Dr Matt Wilkes

  • Dr Shona Main

  • Anthony Davie

  • Edinburgh ACCORD Team

  • Edinburgh EMREC Team

  • APEX Charity

  • Rena Gertz

  • Simon J Smith

  • Jamie Smith

  • Maggie Smela

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