Carmelo Mastrandrea qualified and practiced as a physician in the UK prior to completing his PhD related to bone physiology in France. His research focusses on aspects of cardiovascular and skeletal health, investigating the often-detrimental consequences of periods of protracted inactivity in the human body. Carmelo’s involvement in bed rest and spaceflight studies allow him to assess and develop countermeasures aimed at mitigating the detrimental changes associated with periods of inactivity, many of which are similar to those that occur naturally during normal aging.