The quest to determine and understand the molecular mechanisms of disease is one of the key goals of modern medical research. This Encyclopedia captures the current state of knowledge to provide the reader with concise information on molecular pathophysiology, covering the full range of human diseases. More than 1,200 entries span 23 topic fields, and include both defined diseases, such as Parkinson's disease, and pathophysiological entities, such as tremor. Each entry is written by a leading expert - more than 1,000 contributors in all - ensuring reliable, state-of-the-art descriptions of the mechanisms involved. The uniformly structured descriptive essays are supplemented by 500 figures and illustrations. The Encyclopedia is a valuable resource for clinicians and scientists in all medical disciplines. Moreover, its usefulness extends to individuals working in related professions, and to more casual readers interested in the mechanisms leading to disease.

Florian Lang is professor of physiology and chair of the department at the University of Tübingen in Germany. He studied medicine in Munich and Glasgow and has held positions at the University of Innsbruck, the Mayo Clinic, Yale University, the University of Naples and the Max Planck Institute, Frankfurt. He is a cell physiologist whose specific interest lies in the physiology of host cells invaded by pathogens.