27 January, 2026
The call for abstracts for the ERS Cough Conference 2026 is currently open (deadline 31 January) – a call which also encourages the submission of abstracts related to the work of the ERS Clinical Research Collaboration (CRC), Neurocough.
Respiratory professionals with an interest in chronic cough are encouraged to submit an abstract for the event, which will take place from 15–17 July in London, United Kingdom.
The expanded call for abstracts and the event’s partnership with Neurocough will help to ensure that the patient voice is at the centre of scientific discussion at the conference.
Patients living with chronic cough will actively take part in the conference both as speakers and discussants, which is a first for cough conferences – when also considering the ERS Cough Conference’s predecessor, the London International Cough Symposium.
This also follows the launch of the European Respiratory Society’s new strategy in autumn 2025, which focuses on strengthening partnership with patients – facilitated in the most part through the Society’s partnership with the European Lung Foundation – as one of its five core aims.
As with the ERS Congress theme for 2026, which focuses on partnerships between patients and professionals, patient experience will be prominent at the ERS Cough Conference.
Here to explain the role of patients in the conference programme is organising committee member Dr Marta Dabrowska. Marta is also Co-Chair of Neurocough CRC, and its National Lead for Poland.
Please explain the role of patients in the ERS Cough Conference 2026?
Patients are invited to participate in the ERS Cough Conference, as they are at the centre of chronic cough care. Patient testimony will be included in the programme to help researchers and clinicians better appreciate the patient’s perspective, including the impact of cough on daily activities, limitations, and overall quality of life.
We believe that the ERS Cough Conference 2026 will be a forum where patients, clinicians, and scientists can meet and exchange ideas on advances in the understanding and treatment of chronic cough.
How important is it to incorporate the patient voice into events and activities like the ERS Cough Conference?
A good partnership with patients is a key component of treatment. It helps establish individual treatment goals and optimise therapy.
Good doctor–patient cooperation requires mutual understanding and awareness of the condition. Participation of patients in the ERS Cough Conference will allow healthcare professionals to better recognise and understand patients’ expectations, while at the same time enabling patients to deepen their uptodate knowledge about cough.
What is the role of Neurocough CRC in the organisation of the Cough Conference?
The Neurocough CRC (New understanding in the treatment of cough) is a pan-European, multicentre network dedicated to disseminating knowledge and improving the management of chronic cough.
It also leads the first pan-European registry study of adult patients referred for chronic cough evaluation and actively promotes research in this field. The ERS Cough Conference 2026 is organised in collaboration with the Neurocough Group, providing an opportunity to present results of studies based on the Neurocough Registry, advance research networking, and strengthen education on cough as well as patient engagement in this area.
The abstract submission deadline for the ERS Cough Conference is 31 January, 2026. In addition to submissions from respiratory professionals with an interest in cough, ERS also encourages submissions which relate to the work of the ERS CRC Neurocough.