The elucidation of the cellular and molecular responses to changes in oxygen tension constitutes an exciting research topic given the dependence of virtually all human tissues on appropriate oxygen supply and the involvement of hypoxia in high-incidence pathologies such as cardiopulmonary diseases and cancer. The Hypoxia Inducible transcription Factor (HIF) plays a pivotal role in this response by controlling the expression of most of the genes involved in the adaptation to hypoxia. Our research group aims to provide novel insight into transcriptional response to hypoxia and to exploit this knowledge to improve clinical management of pathologies in which hypoxia is a common feature. To this end we are currently involved in the following.