Top picks from ERS leadership 2024

As ERS Science Council Chair, what are you most looking forward to about this year’s ERS Congress?

The ERS Congress will again represent a unique networking opportunity for researchers from all over the world involved in the respiratory field. A major effort is made to develop aspects related to translational research, which aims to convert results from basic research into practical applications that directly benefit humans.

What in your opinion will be the hot topics for airways disease specialists at the ERS Congress 2024?

The theme of this year’s Congress is Humans and machines: getting the balance right, a topic that is moving extremely fast. Digital innovations offer fascinating perspectives for both clinical practice and research, in all areas of the respiratory field. Of course, artificial intelligence may seem to open infinite avenues for progress but, as for any type of intervention, each AI-based tool needs to be properly evaluated to ensure that its use will be beneficial.

Please tell us your top three picks from the Congress programme and explain why?

1. A fascinating session on cell therapy for lung diseases is organised on Sunday 8 September (08:30 CEST, A2 – live streamed) with a translational tag highlighting how it will provide an opportunity for cross-fertilisation between basic scientists and clinical researchers in this area.
2. On Monday 9 September, a joint session Inhaler technique: actually making a difference (12:45 CEST, STRAUSS 1) will be dedicated to inhaler technique, a crucial issue in the field of airways diseases. In addition to focusing on patient perspectives and service-level strategies, the yield of digital innovations will be addressed in depth.
3. Later on the same day, a mini-symposium will touch on a very different application of digital technologies – telerehabilitation for chronic respiratory diseases, with a very practical approach (15:30 CEST, Monday 9 September, A2 – live streamed)
4. There are so many fantastic scientific and educational sessions to choose from that I could not leave out the symposium Evolution in pulmonary function testing: from telemonitoring to artificial intelligence (15:30 CEST, Tuesday 10 September, C1 – live streamed)

Is there anything else you would like to add?

Be active, enjoy learning, interact with the faculty and with your peers, visit poster sessions and discuss with presenters, take full advantage of the richness and diversity of the Congress. Plus, don’t miss the Lungs on Fire sessions – high-level discussions of clinical cases, hot topics and ALERT sessions (randomised controlled trials).