Experiments on High Altitude Research Management in China

Xiaohong Yang and Yongjun L

Abstract

The Chinese plateau area includes all of Tibet and parts of the Qinghai, Xinjiang, Sichuan and Yunnan provinces. As reported, the plateau area in China is about 257.2×104 km2, which accounts for approximately 26.8% of China’s land area. Until 2006, approximately 12 million people lived permanently at altitudes between 2,200 and 5,200 m on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. Much scientific research regarding how to prevent and treat high altitude disease is needed in China, and it has become difficult to manage the amount of grants on high altitude research in China. This paper summarizes the experiments on high altitude research management at the Third Military Medical University in Chongqing, China. These experiments included the following: (1) improving the scientific research management system; (2) selection of quality grants to support from the Key Laboratory of High Altitude Medicine; (3) strengthening cooperation during the research process; and (4) strengthening the grant review and evaluation process. In recent years, with these high altitude research management studies, we were awarded the National Science and Technology Progress Award (first prize) in 2006, which was named “Research on the pathogenesis of and preventive measures against HAD”; we published over 1000 papers, more than 50 of which were published in SCI journals; and we received 2 national “973” projects and 1 National Technology Support Program. Additionally, we received support for 1 specialized project for the State Ministry of Health. The total value of these awards to increase the quality of high-altitude research was 49.54 million RMB.