Christina Spengler

Prof. Christina Spengler is an Adjunct Professor and Deputy Head of the Institute of Human Movement Sciences and Sport at ETH Zürich. Her research focuses on mechanisms governing respiratory, cardiovascular, neuromuscular, and metabolic systems during exercise and rest, aiming to develop training strategies for athletic performance and clinical rehabilitation. She leads the Exercise Physiology Lab, established in 2013, using advanced technologies to assess respiratory mechanics, cardiovascular function, and muscle performance. Her work targets patients with cardiorespiratory, neuromuscular, and metabolic disorders.

Education: MSc in Biochemistry (ETH Zurich), PhD in Physiology (ETH Zurich), medical degree (University of Zurich). Postdoctoral research at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health investigated respiratory control and circadian rhythms. Awards include the 2001 Scientific Award of the Swiss Society of Sports Medicine.

Research interests span exercise-induced physiological adaptations, respiratory muscle training, and wearable sensor technologies for health monitoring. She teaches courses in Exercise Physiology and supervises advanced research projects. Key contributions include studies on footwear biomechanics, arrhythmia management in athletes, and sleep-cardiac interactions.

Her lab develops innovative training regimens and technologies, such as magnetic phrenic nerve stimulation protocols and accelerometer-integrated devices for activity tracking. Ongoing projects explore exercise impacts on chronic diseases and the reliability of physiological testing methods.