Deputy Coordinator

Full Professor of Physiology | University of Rome "Tor Vergata"

Myrka Zago is a renowned bioengineer and physiologist at the Department of Civil Engineering and Computer Science Engineering. As the Director of the Center for Space Biomedicine, her work represents the cutting edge of how extreme environments can unlock secrets of the human brain and body.

Prof. Zago’s research focuses on how the human brain adapts to different gravitational environments. Her landmark achievements include:

• Neural Representation of Gravity: Co-discovered the internal brain mechanisms that simulate the effects of gravity on the body—work that has been featured in premier journals such as Science and Nature Neuroscience;
• Spaceflight Experiments: Directed and performed experiments involving over 20 astronauts aboard the Space Shuttle and the International Space Station (ISS);
• Microgravity Expertise: A leading contributor to npj Microgravity, she investigates how the absence of weight affects human sensorimotor coordination. 

A key pillar of Prof. Zago’s work is the "spin-off" effect—applying space research to terrestrial medicine: 

• Neurorehabilitation: She translates her findings on neural gravity representations into innovative neurorehabilitation protocols;
• Clinical Partnership: Her protocols are implemented at the IRCCS Santa Lucia Foundation in Rome to help patients recovering from neurological impairments.

At the University of Rome "Tor Vergata," Prof. Zago bridges the gap between engineering and life sciences:

• Directorate: Leads the Center for Space Biomedicine, a hub for interdisciplinary research;
• Education: Teaches Space Physiology, offering PhD students a unique perspective on bioengineering applied to human health and aerospace.