Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is a severe lung condition characterised by rapid onset of inflammation in the lungs, causing fluid buildup and impaired oxygen uptake. Existing therapies like mechanical ventilation and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) exhibit high risks. ECMO uses synthetic hollow fibre membranes to replace lung function but falls short with regard to efficiency and haemocompatibility. Funded by the European Innovation Council, the BioMembrOS project proposes to mimic the respiration of birds and fish for a more effective biomimetic approach against ARDS. Researchers will develop membrane structures that offer improved haemocompatibility and gas permeability. Collectively, the work is expected to revolutionise artificial respiration devices.