From the 23rd till the 29th of July, I attended the First International Summer Institute on Network Physiology (ISINP) that took place in the splendid setting of Como Lake at Villa del Grumello. This summer school was for me a great opportunity to meet international experts in the field of Network Physiology and other PhD students working on the analysis of physiological signals.
The various lectures aimed to address the fundamental question on how diverse physiological systems and organs dynamically interact and integrate their functions to generate a variety of physiologic states at the organism level. Yet, despite its importance to basic physiologic functions, the nature of interactions between diverse organ systems and sub-systems, and their collective role in maintaining health is not known.
The lectures ranged from physics and applied mathematics to neuroscience, physiology and medicine, covering a range of physiological systems from the cellular to the organ level, and discussed the challenges, current frontiers and future developments in the emerging Field of Network Physiology. There were also lectures by leading physiologists and clinicians, working with large medical and ICU databases.
It was not only a week of intensive study. In particular, we had a lot of social gatherings in the evening (at the expense of sleep and shape ?). During the social event of the Summer School, we had also the opportunity to attend to a classical music concert at the Teatro Sociale di Como.
In conclusion, I would like to thank prof. Plamen Ch. Ivanov, director of the summer school, for giving me the opportunity to attend this interesting school and enhance my knowledge in the field of network physiology.
