27 January, 2026
The next ERS Lung Science Conference (LSC) is fast approaching (19–22 March, 2026 in Estoril, Portugal, and online) – but what will be covered by the event’s engaging, interactive programme?
This year’s LSC will be the event’s 24th edition. Since the early 2000s, the conference has continually presented the very latest novel experimental research, and given a crucial platform for respiratory professionals – particularly early-career respiratory researchers – to share their findings.
Here, ERS Conferences and Seminars Director Prof. Didier Cataldo answers key questions about the forthcoming conference.
Please tell us what to expect from this year’s programme – including its topics and sessions?
The 2026 LSC will demonstrate how multiscale and multiomic approaches are revolutionising our understanding of lung diseases throughout the lifespan.
The programme covers a wide range of areas in lung biology and diseases, including early-life lung injury, immune and stromal cell heterogeneity, host–pathogen interactions, and the pathogenesis and diagnosis of fibrosis, COPD, asthma, and cancer. There is a particular focus on translational impact and clinical relevance.
Please explain the significance of this year’s theme and the thought behind this?
The theme of this year’s conference is the deliberate choice to bridge the gap between the discovery of disease mechanisms at a basic level and real-world diagnostics and therapeutics. This is illustrated by sessions that combine omics, imaging and artificial intelligence.
Which sessions or topics are you looking forward to most?
I am particularly excited about the integration of multiomics into the lung atlas, multiomic profiling of host–pathogen interactions and spatial biology, and of course the young investigator sessions, which are the essence of the Lung Science Conference and set the scene for future leadership.
What do you hope that the conference will achieve?
Our goal is to create a unique environment where ideas connect, careers grow, and science moves closer to patients, so I warmly encourage anyone passionate about lung research to join us in Estoril.
Learn more or register for the ERS Lung Science Conference 2026.