About the Human and Animal Physiology Group

The first professor was H.C. Reimers, who was appointed as professor in Anatomy, Physiology and Diseases and Medicine of Domestic Animals. He was one of the 32 appointed professors of the new university. He saw himself mainly as teacher, learning his students on how to handle healthy and diseased animals.

In the history of Human and Animal Physiology the fully equipped respiration cells (indirect calorimetry rooms) for large animals were a milestone. These not only served to internationally position the chairgroup research, but also served as template for later facilities for large animals on the Wageningen Campus and internationally and for humans at Maastricht University and internationally. In the past 10 years, Human and Animal Physiology pioneered in extending mouse indirect calorimetry with sensors to detect microbial fermentation gasses (methane and hydrogen) in addition to the conventional Oxygen and Carbon dioxide. He current system also senses hydrogen sulfide and isotopic carbon dioxide, allowing for analysis of oxidation of specific non-radioactive labeled substrates. Human and Animal Physiology is also fully equipped, and further develops, oxygraphy for cells in culture. In addition, insect respiration cells are being implemented. The chairgroup thus extends a tradition which it pioneered in the 1950’s.

The research focus of Human and animal Physiology started with (nutritional) metabolism and extended to endocrinology as well es neurophysiology in the 1970s. While initially the research was translational, it shifted to production animals. Later again, model animal species, especially rats and insects were studied, were humans. The number of staff peaked in 1965 with 45 people and remained stable in the 1970s, but then gradually declined until 2008, when only two permanent staff member remained, all other personnel was temporary. Since then Human and Animal Physiology managed a continuous growth with currently 20 staff, one post doc and 18 PhD students (January 2024). This coincided with modernization and extension of its education portfolio, now covering many study programs, including Human Nutrition and Health, Biology, Animal Sciences, Biotechnology, Molecular Life Sciences and Food technology. It also coincided with a research focus on metabolism, integrating physiology with molecular and biochemical physiology. While the current fundamental goal is on understanding metabolism in humans as well as animals, the application goals is human preventive health.

Collaborative paintings of a Mitochondrion, a Cell and the human body by Human and Animal Physiology scientists. These paintings adorn the coffee corner of Human and Animal Physiology.