Professor Patricia R M Rocco is currently Full Professor of Respiratory Physiology at Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (Brazil). She is member of Brazilian Academy of Medicine and Brazilian Academy of Science. She received the title of scientist of the State of Rio de Janeiro [Carlos Chagas Filho Foundation for Research Support in the State of Rio de Janeiro (FAPERJ)]. She is currently a researcher of Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq) at the highest level (1A). She was President of the Brazilian Society of Physiology (2021-2022) and Global Secretary of International Society for Cell and Gene Therapy (2022-2025). Professor Rocco has made an impressive contribution to her specific field of respiratory medicine (more than 520 papers published, 150 book chapters) and trained many top scientists in Brazil and abroad (51 doctoral candidates, 45 master candidate, and 30 postdoctoral fellows). She is an internationally recognized investigator, with collaborations with several European and American groups, a consultant and visiting professor at international universities, and a member of the editorial boards of major journals. Prof. Rocco is a pioneering Brazilian respiratory researcher, recognized for her important discoveries in new therapeutic strategies for respiratory diseases. She has worked on the pathogenesis of respiratory diseases, which has led to modifications to some therapeutic strategies.