China on Wednesday launched a major research initiative aimed at developing early warning technologies and prevention strategies for high-altitude cardiopulmonary and cerebral diseases, in an effort to better protect public health, according to health authorities and experts.

The project is part of a national research program known as the Noncommunicable Chronic Diseases – National Science and Technology Major Project. It is jointly led by West China Hospital of Sichuan University and Army Medical University.

It is overseen by the National Health Commission, with the Development Center for Medical Science & Technology, an institution under the commission, responsible for administrative management.

At a launch ceremony in Beijing, lead researchers said about 70 research institutions across the country are involved. The effort aims to address challenges including unclear adaptation mechanisms and limited capacity in early warning, precise diagnosis, and effective prevention and control.

The project will also focus on acute and severe high-altitude illnesses, chronic injuries linked to prolonged exposure, and health risks and rehabilitation challenges associated with de-acclimatization.

Researchers said the program will emphasize systematic work covering disease risk warning, precision intervention, clinical treatment, scientific oxygen use, exercise and nutrition guidance, and rehabilitation care.

Zeng Yixin, executive director of the major project and vice minister of the National Health Commission, said China has the world's largest high-altitude land area and faces a heavy burden from both acute and chronic altitude-related illnesses.

He said the low-pressure, low-oxygen and low-temperature environment in plateau regions poses serious health risks and has hindered efforts to raise average life expectancy in these areas.

Zeng said advancing high-altitude medicine research is important for protecting the health of plateau residents, increasing life expectancy and supporting major infrastructure development in these regions.

Zeng stressed the importance of understanding the pathological mechanisms of high-altitude illnesses, which involve multiple factors ranging from hypoxia-related major organ insufficiencies through immunity and inflammation to metabolism.

Chen Zhu, chief technical officer of the project and a tenured professor at Ruijin Hospital affiliated with Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, said the program is expected to produce medical parameters tailored to China's conditions and scalable solutions for wider use.

Luo Fengming, president of West China Hospital of Sichuan University and a project leader, said preliminary research is underway in high-altitude areas of Sichuan and Qinghai provinces and the Xizang autonomous region, with the project scheduled for completion in 2029.

"We aim to build a full-cycle system covering screening, prevention, diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation to effectively reduce the incidence and mortality of major high-altitude diseases," he said.

Gao Yuqi, a researcher at Army Medical University and another project leader, said high-altitude illnesses are generally divided into acute and chronic forms, including conditions such as headache, cerebral edema, pulmonary edema and polycythemia, which thickens the blood due to excess red blood cells.

He said these conditions share common mechanisms involving immune and metabolic pathways, which will be a key focus of the research.

Gao added that one goal of the project is to translate complex medical findings into practical tools accessible to the public.

"We aim to develop methods that ordinary people can understand, learn and use effectively, making plateau health prevention knowledge accessible to everyone and providing comprehensive protection for those living, working and traveling in high-altitude regions," he said.