Investigating organelles, cells, organs and organisms, physiologists work to define the mechanistic basis of living systems in health and disease. In spite of major recent advances, it is a serious problem that the biomedical sciences are currently 'drowning' in masses of data that do not generate new ideas or models. We are in danger of missing the 'big picture'.

The conference will therefore be a very broad physiology/pathophysiology symposium that takes us all the way from the main bodily support systems to the principal functions, namely, sensing, moving, talking and thinking. We aim for presentations that provide a broad perspective and there will be adequate time for meaningful discussions.

The symposium is hosted by the American Physiological Society and the Academia Europaea Cardiff University Knowledge Hub and is co-sponsored by the Leopoldina.