Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine has received
a $4.7 million grant from the Defense Advanced Research Projects
Agency (DARPA) to fund the development of a new class of drugs
to enhance soldiers’ performance at high altitude by dilating
the blood vessels. “Our blood carries less oxygen at high
altitudes,” said Dr. Jonathan Stamler, who will direct the
research. “And there is not much we can do about it. But if we
could improve blood flow in tissues we could deliver more oxygen
regardless of how much oxygen the blood carries.” The body
produces nitric oxide and releases it into the bloodstream to
dilate the blood vessels when increased blood flow is needed.
Dr. Stamler plans to research ways to deliver nitric oxide to
the blood through inhalers. The Case Western Reserve School of
Medicine notes potential non-military applications to enhance
blood delivery such as with “heart failure, ischemic heart
disease, stroke, sickle cell disease and diabetes,” though I can
think of a certain other class