The Department of Molecular Medicine at Sapienza University is proud to announce its involvement in the “Artemis 4554” mission, an important scientific expedition organized by the Italian Air Force, taking place from July 20 to 26, 2025, at the Margherita Hut—the highest refuge in Europe, located at 4,554 meters on Monte Rosa.
This initiative, part of the celebrations for the Centenary of the Italian Air Force Medical Service, will feature a multidisciplinary team of doctors, researchers, and specialists from the Air Force Medical Corps conducting a series of experiments on human physiology at high altitude, under extreme conditions and low partial oxygen pressure. The goal is to enhance our understanding of how the human body adapts in critical environments.
Our Department contributes to the mission through the expertise and know-how of Prof. Gianluca Borghini and Prof. Fabio Babiloni (Department of Physiology and Pharmacology "Vittorio Erspamer") in the fields of human physiology and mental state measurement (Human Factors), supporting the development and analysis of the planned experiments and promoting applied research in frontier contexts such as aerospace and aviation medicine.
The “Artemis 4554” mission represents a unique opportunity to strengthen the dialogue between academic research and operational applications, in an inter-institutional framework that also involves the National Research Council, the Universities of Milan and Padua, the Monzino Cardiology Center, the Galeazzi Institute, the Mondino Neurological Institute, and many other public and private entities.
Through this commitment, the Department of Molecular Medicine reaffirms its dedication to excellence in research and its active contribution to building the knowledge that will guide future challenges—from the mountains to space.
The official press release from the Italian Air Force can be found at the attached link.