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Q: As Head of Assembly 3, what are you most looking forward to about this year’s ERS Congress?
I am looking forward to more sessions with basic research, due to the increase in translational sessions that aim to bridge the gap between clinical and basic science. I am especially looking forward to the Assembly meeting and networking event as well.
Q: What in your opinion will be the hot topics for Basic and translational sciences?
Some interesting topics that we will see explored at this year’s Congress are: immune cell and structural cell interactions and novel insights from multi-omic data; effects of metabolic changes on respiratory health; advanced in vitro modelling of external exposures; lung damage and tissue repair; and lung developmental trajectories and ageing.
Q: Tell us your top three picks from the Congress programme?
1. Oral presentation: The regenerative potential of stem cells in lung diseases
Tuesday, 10 September, 09:30–10:45 CEST
A truly translational session on exciting and promising cell-based therapeutic strategies for respiratory disease.
2. Year in review session: Scientific year in review
Monday, 9 September, 08:30–10:00 CEST
This session will provide an overview of various key publications, focusing on immune interactions and metabolic changes during aberrant lung tissue damage and repair responses, that are expected to have major impact in the respiratory field with high relevance for the clinic based on promising results in pre-clinical models.
3. Postgraduate course: The latest developments in culture models for respiratory research.
Saturday, 7 September, 14:00–17:30 CEST
An overview of the latest developments of 3D models for respiratory disease and how these can be used to advance the field.
Q: As Secretary of ERS Assembly 3, what are you most looking forward to about this year’s ERS Congress?
Scientifically, I look forward to the sessions we organised together with the other assemblies under the translational science initiative. The showcase of young researchers in the science slam, organised by the ECM, is always marked in my agenda. The meeting with Assembly 3 members in a layed-back atmosphere with drinks and food during our networking event on Tuesday evening is the social highlight I look forward to most.
Q: In your opinion, what will be the popular topics for Basic and translational sciences during this year’s Congress?
Although we study the respiratory system and we all have our favorite cell type, there is growing appreciation for the importance of interactions. The importance and effects of interactions between the lungs and the environment, and cell-cell interactions are again a popular theme in various sessions. Presented studies range from observations to the use of innovative cell culture models to address these interactions.
Q: Tell us your top three picks from the Congress programme?
1. Hot topic: Metabolic changes in chronic lung diseases
Monday, 9 September, 15:30–17:00 CEST
This session will illustrate how changes in cellular metabolism play a role in the development and progression of chronic lung diseases, and could represent attractive pharmacological targets.
2. Symposium: No cell is an island; implications of immunological crosstalk in the lung
Monday, 9 September, 10:15–11:45 CEST
Within the overarching theme of interactions, this session will demonstrate how immune responses are dependent on the cellular niche and context, and that cells should not be studied in isolation.
3. Oral Presentation: The regenerative potential of stem cells in lung diseases
Tuesday, 10 September, 09:30–10:45 CEST
This session is part of the translational science initiative and will provide an overview of the current status of the potential to use stem cells in the treatment of various lung diseases.