2 December, 2025
Abstract submission and early-bird registration is now open for the ERS Cough Conference (15–17 July in London, United Kingdom, and online). The conference is a new addition to the Society’s scientific and educational events portfolio.
The inaugural ERS Cough Conference (ERSCC) 2026 will take place at the Royal College of Physicians in London, UK, with online attendance also available. It is a continuation of the biennial London International Cough Symposium, which was established in 1992 by Prof. John Widdicombe.
The theme of ERSCC 2026 will be Chronic cough as a disease. The event will:
- provide a forum to update physicians and scientists on the most recent advances in the cough field
- give opportunities for authors to present their work (30 posters will be selected for oral presentations)
- facilitate panel discussions and networking sessions between established researchers, clinicians and early career members, from across the globe
- highlight new treatments, drugs, cough models, monitoring devices from clinical trials, and industry research and development
ERSCC integrates with the ERS NEUROCOUGH Clinical Research Collaboration, a pan-European multi-centre network that aims to improve the management of chronic cough. There will also be an award for the best oral presentation at ERSCC 2026, judged by an expert panel.
Prof. Omar Usmani, ERS Science Council Chair and member of the ERSCC organising committee, said:
“Chronic cough is a common condition that affects 10%–30% of the adult population across the globe. Unsurprisingly, it is encountered by healthcare professionals in all fields of clinical practice, from primary to secondary and specialist care.
“Often, chronic cough is not associated with any detectable disease, but with significant progress in our understanding of mechanisms and new treatments, it is now being considered a disease entity of its own – which is reflected in the theme of the first ERS Cough Conference.
“Along with my colleagues on the event’s organising committee, I very much look forward to welcoming delegates to London next year to this new ERS event. I encourage all professionals with an interest in chronic cough to submit an abstract to the event, in order to showcase how cough touches the lives of our patients across many of our respiratory and non-respiratory disciplines.”