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Scientific and clinical researchers are central to driving advancements in respiratory medicine and are vital to the development of new methods and technologies for the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of respiratory diseases.
Scientists and researchers progress our understanding of various mechanisms involved in lung biology, including lung development and lung pathophysiology, the cell and molecular biology of the respiratory tract in health, disease and development, and the basis of injury to the lungs and new approaches to treatment for lung injury.
This year’s virtual ERS Congress has a strong scientific and clinical research led programme, featuring a variety of activities that will deliver the latest updates in respiratory medicine.
Catherine is Associate Professor in the Department of Clinical Microbiology at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI) and is a member of the editorial boards of Journal of Innate Immunity and European Respiratory Review. She has served on scientific review panels for the European Commission, French National Research Agency, US Alpha-1 Foundation, Austrian Science Fund, Belgian Research Foundation and national and charitable funding bodies in Ireland, the UK and EU.
Q: What makes the ERS Congress unique for scientists and clinical researchers?
The ERS Congress is the perfect event where both scientists and clinical researchers can learn about the latest innovations in lung health. Many of the scientific sessions are specifically designed to appeal to both audiences, and all are presented by leading topic experts.
Q: What can scientists and clinical researchers expect to gain from taking part in this year’s Congress?
In addition to hearing the most up-to-date information from the best international experts in each field, this year’s congress will allow face-to-face networking for those present in Barcelona. For those who are attending virtually there are opportunities to ask the speakers and poster presenters questions and to exchange ideas with other participants.
Q: In your opinion, what will be the popular topics for scientists and clinical researchers during this year’s Congress, and what will be a particular highlight for you?
There will be a huge range of topics to choose from at this year’s congress, with something of interest for every lung scientist or clinical researcher. I am looking forward to the new mini-symposium format and especially the session Long-term effects of CFTR modulators in cystic fibrosis (6 September, 14:15–15:30). This session is intentionally translational and directed at different specialists and disciplines involved in the management of CF patients.
Q: Can you select some sessions that you recommend to scientists and clinical researchers?
Assembly 3 have prepared a broad range of sessions for basic and translational scientists that will also be of interest to clinical researchers including:
Symposium – Dangers in the air we breathe (5 September, 9:30–11:00)
Symposium – Cell death modalities regulating the onset an progression of chronic lung diseases (4 September, 14:15–15:45)
Hot Topic – The Human Lung Cell Atlas: a universal reference for all respiratory scientists (5 September, 11:15–12:45)
