The global platform for physiology

The IUPS is connecting researchers, promoting scientific excellence, and fostering international collaboration in physiological sciences since 1953.

International Congress of Physiology 2026 (organized by the Chinese Association of Physiological Sciences (CAPS)

October 16 - 18, 2026
/
Capital Convention Center , Beijing, China

The Chinese Association for Physiological Sciences (CAPS) invites you to the International Congress of Physiology 2026 marking the 100th Anniversary of CAPS.

About us

The International Union of Physiological Sciences (IUPS), was founded to represent the discipline of physiology in international organizations and give it a global voice

Research Excellence

We promote cutting-edge research across all areas of physiology and related disciplines.

Global Network

We connect physiologists worldwide through congresses, publications, and international programs.

Recognition & Support

We offer lectures for established researchers and travel awards for early-career investigators

IUPS President, Yoshihiro Kubo

A warm welcome to IUPS!

Physiology is a discipline that seeks to understand the functional mechanisms of life. By its very nature, it constitutes the foundation of medicine, as reflected in the title of the “Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine.” In an era in which academic disciplines are becoming increasingly borderless, I believe it is imperative to broaden the scope of classical physiology. Physiology can be redefined as a borderless and interdisciplinary life science dedicated to the elucidation of the mechanisms of life functions. In this context, it is essential to incorporate novel approaches enabled by methodological advances, including various omics analyses, super-resolution imaging, and computational sciences. Let us work together to bring “updated physiology” to the forefront of the life sciences, particularly in the field of medicine.

One of the principal missions of IUPS is the global promotion of physiological sciences. IUPS now comprises more than 60 member organizations worldwide, and this geographical diversity is a true strength of our union. As a member of Team Professor Susan Wray, my distinguished and successful predecessor, I had the opportunities to attend meetings in various regions worldwide. I witnessed there the passion and motivation of physiologists, and realized the significance of the support of IUPS in fostering better opportunities. Nurturing the next generation of physiologists remains a critical priority and will continue to be an important focus during my presidency.

Over the coming four years, I will devote myself to fulfilling the mission of IUPS: the global promotion of physiological sciences. I will do so in collaboration with the Executive Committee, Council, Board of the General Assembly, IUPS Fellows, as well as representatives and members of our affiliated organizations worldwide. I respectfully request your continued support and cooperation.

Despite the many challenges facing our world today, we remain united as One World. Within IUPS, we stand together as One Team.

Latest News

November 1, 2025
IUPS is glad  to report that sponsoring  an Early Career Academic Conference held  in conjunction with the Annual Nigerian Physiology Conference in Lagos, Nigeria (September 12-14, 2025)  encouraged more than...
October 11, 2025
IUPS has been asked to show support for a student-led physiology conference in October in Lahore, Pakistan with around 300 medical and dental trainees participating. The conference had two parallel...
October 6, 2025
IUPS has recently established a research grant for early career African physiologists. The  grant is managed  by the  African Association of Physiological Sciences (AAPS). AAPS is now  calling for international,...

Our History

Founded in 1953, IUPS has been bringing together national physiological societies from around the world for more than 70 years to advance vital knowledge about biological systems.

Through our congresses, educational programs, and publications, we have supported groundbreaking contributions in cardiovascular research, neuroscience, metabolic biology, and many other fields.
Today, we empower the next generation of physiologists with travel grants, early-career awards, and mentorship programs that span continents.

1953

Founded

60+

National member societies

25000+

physiologists  connected

IUPS currently represents more than 60 national physiological societies

The International Union of Physiological Sciences (IUPS), was founded in 1953 to represent the discipline of physiology in international organizations and give it a global voice. It also provides a platform for worldwide exchange between physiologists of all countries by supporting global and regional scientific events, regional workshops, and supporting, with expertise of its members, the development of regional structures. IUPS especially supports young scientists by offering travel awards to international meetings. IUPS liaises with national physiological societies and other organizations worldwide to facilitate initiatives that strengthen the discipline of physiology and cultivate the next generation physiologists.

Physiology is a basic medical science, it matters to you

Physiology is an exciting science! Physiologists all over the world work hard to get an up to date understanding of the function of organs and the whole body. Modern methods like genomics, molecular biology, cell biology, high resolution microscopy, and carefully developed animal models are used to understand basic cellular processes and their interactions. It is the specific goal of physiologists to link these primarily isolated findings to a comprehensive view of the functions of the body. We want and need to understand how complex biological systems like our body work.
Thus, physiology is a basic medical science as knowledge of normal functions of the body is the basis for understanding diseases and identifying targets for effective treatment.
Did you know that the often cited “Nobel Prize in Medicine” is indeed established as the “Noble Prize in Physiology and Medicine”? This underpins the important role of physiology for all disciplines of modern medicine.

How is IUPS fostering its mission and related goals?

To serve its mission, IUPS has several major activities that are regularly revised and adapted to our long-range strategic planning.

The development of an IUPS mentoring programme bringing expert peers together with early career physiologists particularly in countries with less developed infrastructure. Teaching workshops and workshops on physiological methods are held on a regular basis, mostly in Africa and Asia. IUPS is promoting the development of advanced computational models of physiological function and standards of worldwide sharing of physiological data and models. To support this focus on the “Physiome Project” the IUPS is also launching an innovative new journal (Physiome) with the goal of improving model reproducibility and sharing in physiological science. To support global interaction between physiologists, IUPS – in conjunction with a national physiological society – organizes an international meeting (IUPS Congress) every four years. IUPS also contributes symposia and travel awards to other physiological meetings worldwide. IUPS is also broadcasting scientific events of potential interest for physiologists.

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