Head: Wilfried De Backer
Secretary: Maria R. Bonsignore


Clinical physiology is ideally positioned since the discipline is widely accepted as an important link between research and clinical medicine. This link is recognised by the additional title for the Assembly of Integrative Biology. The Gas Exchange and Exercise Group is particularly orientated towards the most integrative aspects of respiratory physiology, both in health and disease. In recent years, much attention has been paid to factors controlling oxygen transport, mechanisms of pulmonary hypertension and gas exchange in COPD. The Sleep and Control of Breathing Group has played a major role in the recognition of sleep apnoea syndrome as an important public health problem, particularly through a Task Force. The Respiratory Structure and Function group focuses on more basic physiology, from cellular and molecular to integrative physiology.