Dr. Joseph Roca, Director, Lung Function Unit, University Hospital Barcelona (Spain)

Josep Roca is Director of the Lung Function Unit at the Hospital Clinic (Barcelona), Professor of Medicine at the University of Barcelona, Coordinator of a Master in Respiratory Medicine, and Coordinator of the ICT program on chronic patient management at the Hospital Clínic. The author of more than 180 original articles in peer-reviewed journals; editor of three books and author of several book chapters and revisions, Prof. Roca has broad interests in respiratory medicine, from gas exchange and development of predicted values, to muscle function and pulmonary rehabilitation in COPD. He is currently leading a multidisciplinary team working on research and development projects addressing different aspects of chronic diseases, including NEXES and Biobridge. NEXES is a European Union project (2008-2011) aiming to validate and promote adoption of innovative services for chronic patients supported by information and communication technologies (ICT). Biobridge (Genomics and chronic disease phenotypes: modeling and simulation tools for clinicians, 2007-2009) aims to identify disease phenotypes with poor prognosis in prevalent chronic conditions such as COPD, cardiac failure and diabetes.