Research summary
Every day, humans face extreme environments that affect their body temperatures. Some are external environments, such as increasingly hot and humid weather due to global warming, or the heat you create when running or cross-country skiing. But they can also be caused by internal factors, such as fasting or changes in hormones during pregnancy and menopause.
As Canada Research Chair in Extreme Human Environments, Dr. Toby Mündel’s aim is to better understand what regulates body temperature and how this occurs when people are faced with extreme internal and external environments. He and his research team are identifying the mechanisms and modulators of human temperature regulation across a person’s lifespan. They hope to discover the molecular signature of heat stress and provide innovative solutions to accurately predict body temperature. Their work will also provide a foundation for guidelines and policies on how people can work safely and adapt to physical activity during heat stress.