News & Views
Celebrating our members, our history and shaping a healthier future
In 2026, the Physiological Society celebrates its 150th anniversary. For this milestone, we have launched our 150 years of discovery hub. This hub will showcase our 150 voices collection, a gallery of engaging member stories and Society heritage gems, as well as our exciting events programme. In this article, browse our events programme to be part of the conversations to enhance understanding of health and disease, and shape the future of physiology education and teaching.
150 voices collection
During our landmark year, we will share 150 voices from our community. In this collection, enjoy the compelling stories from physiologists past and present, the discoveries that have shaped our understanding of the body, and the community driving physiology forward. View the first set of collected works to discover more about the people, their careers and research. Browse the gallery (insert page link)
Historical Highlights
From William Sharpey’s pioneering appointment as the first Professor of Anatomy and Physiology at University College London in 1836, to our recent launch of two cutting-edge journals in nutritional physiology and precision medicine, the Physiological Society’s story spans 150 years of scientific progress. Dive into our timeline and explore the milestones that shaped physiology as we know it (insert page link).
Our video will guide you into the spirit of this historical celebration and the Society’s aspirations, looking ahead to the impact of the next 150 years. Watch now (insert page link)
Be part of the Society’s legacy
2026 is our biggest programme of events to date celebrating our 150th milestone. All abstracts presented throughout the year will be published in a special 150th Anniversary Abstract Booklet, which will become part of our historical archive capturing a snapshot of physiological research in 2026.
Events calendar
Start planning your 2026 event attendance and mark your calendars to ensure you don’t miss out!
Celebrating Physiology in Italy
23 January 2026 | University of Milan, Italy
Dietary Manipulations for Health and in the Prevention and Management of Disease 2026
08 – 09 April 2026 | Manchester Metropolitan University, UK
Over two days, we will bring together an interdisciplinary community of internationally leading and early career researchers to showcase the latest advances in nutritional physiology.
Programme themes include personalised responses to nutrition, the emerging roles of milk sugars in health, ketogenic diets for health and performance, metabolism in neuromuscular disease, nutrition and brain vascular health, and the impact of ethnicity on the development of cardiometabolic disease.
The meeting will focus on identifying knowledge gaps, addressing challenges in translation, and exploring opportunities to enhance understanding of diet in health and disease.
Key dates:
Abstract submission closes: 07 January 2026
Registration deadline: 18 March 2026
Fit for the Future: Physiology Education and Teaching in the UK
14 – 15 April 2026 | Newcastle University, UK
The 2026 meeting will provide the opportunity for educators to describe how they are incorporating and promoting physiology in broader biomedical and clinical programmes, how they engage students with physiological content, and how they are addressing the challenge of restricted finances, growing class size, and changes to academic careers. These will be addressed in four related themes:
- Students as co-creators
- Bringing research culture to the undergraduate experience
- Innovations and hot topics in curriculum design
- Education focused academics
Key dates:
Abstract submission closes: 09 January 2026
Registration deadline: 24 March 2026
Microvasculature as a Key Regulator of Health and Disease in the Brain and Beyond
16 – 17 April 2026| Sainsbury Wellcome Centre, London, UK
This meeting brings together experts in cardiovascular and metabolic physiology, neuroscience, and systems biology to examine the complex interplay between neuroendocrine regulation, micro-neuro-vascular function, cardiometabolic health, and cognitive decline.
A key focus will be the role of (neuro)vascular dysfunction in the early stages of (neuro)inflammatory, cardiometabolic, and neurodegenerative diseases. This dysfunction is a common underlying factor in a broad range of chronic conditions and worsens with age, contributing to multimorbidity.
Key dates:
Registration deadline: 26 March 2026
UK Glia 2026
08 – 09 June 2026 | University of Bristol, UK
UK Glia 2026 will unite researchers across all career stages, from undergraduate students to leading experts, to explore the cutting-edge of glial biology.
This meeting will highlight the pivotal role of glia in brain physiology, offering invaluable insights for those investigating glia function in both health and disease.
It is an essential event for anyone seeking to integrate glia research into their work, addressing crucial areas like neurodegeneration and neuropsychiatric disorders.
Key dates:
Abstract submission closes: 16 January 2026
Registration deadline: 18 May 2026
Celebrating Physiology in Oxford
18 – 19 June 2026 | University of Oxford, UK
Celebrating Physiology in Northern Ireland
25 June 2026 | Queen’s University Belfast, UK
Celebrating Physiology in London
30 June – 01 July 2026 | University College London, UK
Celebrating Physiology in Edinburgh
03 July 2026 | Celebrating Physiology in Edinburgh
Synergy for Science 2026: PIEZOs and the Physiology of Mechanobiology
12 – 16 July 2026 | Scottish Event Campus, Glasgow, UK
The inaugural Synergy for Science 2026, SynSci26, conference features the 6th International Symposium for Mechanobiology, placing mechanobiology at the heart of the event. It will bring together researchers exploring how forces shape life across development, ageing, and disease.
As part of SynSci26, the Society is hosting a dedicated two-day track within the broader programme ‘PIEZOs and the Physiology of Mechanobiology’.
Key dates:
Submission deadline for Oral presentations: 22 February 2026
Submission deadline for Poster presentations: 8 March 2026
Recent Advances in Nutritional Physiology: A Muscle-centric Perspective
25 – 26 August 2026 | University of Exeter, UK
This meeting will explore recent advances in nutritional physiology as they pertain to skeletal muscle tissue. Contemporary topics will include the influence of age and sex on protein turnover, the skeletal muscle response to obesity and weight loss, ketone metabolism, and the interplay between exercise and nutrition. Over the two days, the programme will present a diverse range of emerging evidence, spanning mechanistic experimental physiology through to clinical applications.
Ion Channels in Organ Microcirculatory Control: Emerging Ideas and Pathological Relevance
27 – 28 August 2026 | University of Oxford, UK
This meeting offers a unique opportunity to delve into the cutting-edge science of vascular ion channels, spanning from their intricate molecular mechanisms to their influence on the complex physiological functions of the cardiovascular system. Key highlights of the event include (i) an exploration of the molecular physiology of ion channels, revealing how regulation at the single-channel level translates into the dynamic control of blood vessel function; (ii) innovative in silico computational studies that illuminate the impact of ion channels on microvascular blood flow; and (iii) a focus on the medical relevance of vascular ion channels, featuring inspiring examples of how academic discoveries are driving innovation and the development of new therapies.
Key dates:
Abstract submission period: 22 April – 08 June 2026
Registration deadline: 06 August 2026
Celebrating Physiology in Cambridge
18 September 2026 | University of Cambridge, UK
Early Career Symposium
25 November 2026 | Royal Society of Medicine, London, UK
