23 September, 2025
The European Respiratory Society (ERS) and the European Lung Foundation (ELF) have today issued a joint statement warning of the escalating threats to science and scientists worldwide.
The respiratory community is deeply concerned that disinformation, political pressure and funding cuts risk undermining years of progress in medical research. Without urgent action, this could have serious consequences for patients, health systems and wider society.
The statement highlights three urgent priorities:
- Defending independent science as the foundation for life-saving treatments, effective prevention, and sound policy decisions.
- Countering disinformation that spreads rapidly online, erodes trust and puts patients and vulnerable populations at risk.
- Strengthening international collaboration, which has proven essential in tackling global health crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic.
Dr Eva Polverino, ERS Director of Scientific Relations with the European Union, said: “Independent, collaborative science is the backbone of public health. It must be protected from disinformation and political manipulation if we are to face today’s urgent challenges, from air pollution and climate change to infectious and chronic diseases.”
Dimitris Kontopidis, ELF Chair, added: “Patients and the public deserve access to reliable, evidence-based information. Everyone has the right to make health decisions based on trustworthy knowledge, not disinformation that puts lives at risk.”
ERS and ELF are calling on European institutions, national governments and policymakers to:
- Protect cross-border research and innovation
- Uphold scientific integrity and transparency
- Challenge disinformation
- Guarantee sustained funding for public health and research
- Invest in education and health literacy
- Ensure decisions are science-based and informed by experts and lived experience
The organisations are urging leaders to unite in defending science and advancing international collaboration, to secure a healthier, more resilient future for all.