The coordination action entitled "STEP: A Strategy for the Europhysiome", supported by the european Commission (Contract N. 027642) aims to develop a consensus process that will produce the research roadmap toward the so-called Virtual Physiological Human, and the other Physiome-related initiatives at the European level.

The action, that is expected to involve most stakeholders, including researchers, clinicians, and
industry representatives, is steered by a consortium of 9 partners:
1. University of Luton (LUT) 2. Istituti Ortopedici Rizzoli (IOR) 3. Universitè Libre de Bruxelles (ULB) 4. University of Sheffield (USFD) 5. Aalborg Hospital (AAS) 6. University of Oxford (UOXF) 7. University of Nottingham (NOT) 8. Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique - LaMI (CNRS) 9. University College London (UCL).

To move from the situation of individual projects to a more homogeneous approach, a set of N. 6 Strands has been organised: Hard Tissue Modelling; Soft Tissue Modelling; Fluid Modelling; Anatomy & Physiology;Multiscale Modelling and ICT Infrastructures & Service. The Strand Coordinators (respectively, IOR, AAS, USFD, ULB, UOXF and LUT) guarantee a level of gravitas to the project so that suitable experts are going to become involved with it.

The priorities for the kickoff meeting of STEP project are to share among the Participants the Programme of work (such as WPs, deliverables, budget and reporting), to talk about the external events related with the project, to introduce the IT support for discussion, to agree about the Experts Panel, and, finally, to coordinate the actions for the organisation of the First Conference, scheduled next May in Bruxelles.