ERS Assembly 12: Interstitial lung diseases

Group 12.01
Chair: Marlies S. Wijsenbeek
Secretary: Wim A Wuyts

Our group is dedicated to improve diagnosis and treatment of idiopathic interstitial lung diseases. The main representative of this group of diseases is Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis, but a whole spectrum of diseases is comprised, including unclassifiable idiopathic interstitial pneumonia’s. In the past decade important advances are made in the multidisciplinary care and treatment of many of these diseases and especially for those manifesting progressive pulmonary fibrosis. Nevertheless, many of the idiopathic ILDs still remain without cure and with a high symptom burden for patients.
Therefore, our group aims to improve knowledge and stimulate research and collaborations to forward the field of idiopathic ILDs. To do so, together with other groups and assemblies, we organise educational activities, such as the twice yearly ILD-school, webinars and symposia. Different group members are involved in international guidelines and statements. We provide members with a network to engage in care and research collaborations. There is a broad range of interest within the group, including basic and translational research, clinical trials with pharmacological or supportive interventions as well as focus on new technologies in diagnosis and care.
Diversity is much valued in our assembly, so please all feel welcome !

Group 12.02
Chair: Elena Bargagli
Secretary: Antoine Froidure

Our group is dedicated to the study, the diagnosis and the treatment of non-idiopathic interstitial lung diseases, namely ILD with an identified trigger. These rare lung diseases often imply that, on top of disease treatment, interventions and control of risk factors are required to dampen symptoms and modify disease course. The main ILD of known origin are ILD related to connective tissue diseases (CTD-ILD), ILD caused by exposure to an airborne toxic or pollutant, from tobacco to aero antigens, drug-related ILD, and pneumoconiosis related to professional and environmental exposure.

The objectives of our group are to improve the knowledge on these complex diseases and to foster collaboration with specialists from related fields like rheumatology, toxicology and pharmacology. We are active in developing guidance and recommendation for diagnosis and treatment of ILD of known origin and eager to develop research collaborations on this topic within the ERS.

Group 12.03
Chair: Paolo Spagnolo
Secretary: Marcel Veltkamp

Our group is dedicated to Sarcoidosis and other granulomatous disorders. The priority of group 12.03 is to move forward both education and research in the field of granulomatous disorders with a special focus on sarcoidosis, which includes the largest group of patients within the entire spectrum of ILD. However, sarcoidosis is the prototype of the orphan/neglected disease and patients with sarcoidosis often feel similarly orphan and neglected.
Diagnosis and treatment of sarcoidosis is a multidisciplinary exercise, often involving other specialists like cardiologists, neurologists, rheumatologist and many others. Together with other ILD-assemblies, we have developed an ERS School of Sarcoidosis, which will take place in the first half of 2023, in which one of the main focuses will be the multidisciplinary approach to the disease. Along with increasing the interest in sarcoidosis from bench to bedside and the number of group members, the other objective of our assembly is to develop and guide multicenter international studies on Sarcoidosis and other granulomatous disorders.

Group 12.04
Chair: Maria Molina-Molina
Secretary: Cormac McCarthy

Rare ILDs involves a group of complex and well-defined ILDs that affects young adults and present a high morbi-mortality. Lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM), pulmonary langerhans cell histiocytosis (PLCH), pulmonary alveolar proteinosis (PAP), alveolar microlithiasis, monogenic ILDs, and eosinophilic pneumonia are some of the entities included in this group. The recent advances in genetics, diagnosis and treatment over the last years are currently being translated into clinics.

For this reason, the major objectives of this group are:

• Updating education and training on diagnosis and treatment of these ultrarare ILDs through ERS webinars, guidelines, or statements
• Enhancing member engagement to participate in clinical and research activities. (The energy and creativity of early career and junior members are more than welcome in this dynamic group!)