The Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê Centre for Human Health and Performance comprises a mix of clinician-academic and pure basic scientists. Our mission is to explore human physiology and pathophysiology, using the studies of one to inform the other.
Our work
In the past, we have:Â
Identified the first genes influencing human physical performance.
Identified the first genes influencing human cardiac growth.
Explored the human response to low oxygen supply (hypoxia), using:
(i) gene-environment interaction studies (cohorts taken to high altitude)
(ii) mathematical models of mitochondrial function
(iii) population genetic approaches (e.g. Tibetans and Sherpas vs Han Chinese and lowland Caucasians)
(iv) taking >200 people to 5000m (Everest region), and 9 to the summit, to study their responses.
Determined the process of muscle wasting in ICU patients.
Co-created artificial intelligence systems to diagnose eye disease, and predict the in-hospital decline.
Co-delivered reports on health and climate change (The Lancet Commissions, and Countdowns).
Current work includes working with others to:
Use Artificial Intelligence systems to diagnose cognitive disease using retinal images (AltzEye)
Seek the causes of, and treatments for, Long Covid
Support the development of a new integrated lung function measurement device
Assess the contribution of Hb-mass and plasma volume to anaemia in dialysis and ICU patients
Define the physiology of non-freezing cold injury
Determine the role of maintaining electrolyte (K+ and Mg++) levels in preventing post-op AF
Determine what a normal skin microbiome is, and its physiological functions.Â
Assess the biology of ketones, with a special emphasis on neuroprotection.
Professor Montgomery also has a strong interest in human health and climate change and co-directs the Wellcome Trust-funded Lancet Countdown on Health and Climate Change. Additionally, he founded 'Real Zero' in October 2023, to drive on climate change.Â
Key research collaborators
Professor Mike Grocott (Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê and Southampton)
Dr Gianpiero Cavalleri (Ireland)
Dr Andrew Murray (Cambridge)
Dr Zudin Puthucheary (QMUL)
Dr Ronan Astin (Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê)
Climate change key collaborators
Professor Peng Gong (China)
Professor Anthony Costello
Professor Paul Ekins
Professor Tadj Oreszczyn
The Montgomery Lab, Leads
Chair, Intensive Care Medicine
Research Fellow
Selected publicationsÂ
Maselkar S, Kiazand A, Montgomery H, et al. (2023) . The Lancet Respiratory Medicine, 11 (1).Â
Flower L, McNelly A, Montgomery H, Puthcheary Z, et al. (2022) JPEN J Parenter Enteral Nutr.Â
Montgomery H, Hobbs R, et al. (2022) Lancet Respir Med.Â
Hendriks SL, Montgomery H, Benton T, et al. (2022) BMJ
Campbell NG, Allen E, ²Ñ´Ç²Ô³Ù²µ´Ç³¾±ð°ù²âÌý±á, Aron J, Canter RR, Dodd M, ...O'Brien B. (2022). . Journal of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Anesthesia.
Bhandari S, Dolma P, Mukerji M, Prasher B, ²Ñ´Ç²Ô³Ù²µ´Ç³¾±ð°ù²âÌý±á, Kular D ... Bhattacharyaa A. (2022). . PLoS One, 17 (9).
Chhetri I, Hunt JEA, Mendis JR, ... Puthcheary Z, Montgomery H, Creagh-Brown BC. (2022). l. Journal of Clinical Medicine, 11 (14).
Ramasawmy M, Mu Y, Clutterbuck D, Pantelic M, Lip GYH, van der Feltz-Cornelis C, Wootton D, Williams NH, ²Ñ´Ç²Ô³Ù²µ´Ç³¾±ð°ù²âÌý±á, et al. (2022).  PLoS One, 17 (8).
Related programmesÂ
The Centre for Human Health and Performance runs an active PhD programme and is willing to hear from prospective students at any time. Students should have at least an upper second-class degree. For details contact Hugh Montgomery at h.montgomery@ucl.ac.uk.
The Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê Centre for Human Health and Performance works to help save and improve lives. Through the study of healthy people, the mechanisms of disease can also be identified and new treatments found. For example:
Studying heart growth in soldiers tells us how hearts grow abnormally in cases of high blood pressure.Â
Studying improvements in metabolism with exercise has told us how metabolism becomes inefficient in cancer (leading to trials with a new drug to prevent wasting).Â
Studies of climbers facing low oxygen levels on Everest tell us how patients with lung disease or in intensive care can be helped to survive their own low oxygen levels.
Your donations to our work are very well received. Thank you!
Contact Details
Postal & Visiting Address Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê Centre for Human Health and Performance 1st Floor, Institute for Sport, Exercise and Health 170 Tottenham Court Road ³¢°¿±·¶Ù°¿±·Ìý W1T 7HA