Back in February 2025, the 7th Forum on Respiratory Tract Infections (RTI) took place at the iconic Glasgow Science Centre - a fitting venue for a scientific conference built on innovation, collaboration and ground-breaking research. Each year RTI continues to grow ...

As part of our Future Leaders series, we spoke with Dr Amy Wolfe, Director of the LSUHSC-Wetmore TB Clinic and Assistant Professor of Medicine at LSUHSC in New Orleans. A specialist in pulmonary and critical care medicine, Dr Wolfe shares how her early experiences in post-Katrina New Orleans inspired her focus on health equity. She discusses the challenges of treating TB in underserved communities, the importance of wraparound care, and promising innovations in pulmonology—from AI-based diagnostics to expanded access to pulmonary rehabilitation and lung cancer screening.

As part of our Future Leaders series, Dr Debasree Banerjee, Assistant Professor at Brown University, shares her journey in pulmonary and critical care medicine (PCCM), highlighting its dynamic, collaborative nature. Passionate about equity, her research addresses how race and racism impact care. Dr Banerjee emphasizes perseverance, multidisciplinary collaboration, and inspiring future physicians through advocacy and meaningful patient connections.

As part of our Future Leaders series, we speak with Dr Helen Gavillet, a post-doctoral researcher at Northumbria University (UK) and Rising Star at RTI 2025. Dr Gavillet's research focuses on the lung microbiome in cystic fibrosis, particularly bacterial and fungal dynamics. Her research also examines the impact of CFTR modulators like elexacaftor/tezacaftor/ivacaftor on respiratory microbiota.

On April 24, 2025, Brussels will host the 4th annual Global Chronic Rhinosinusitis with Nasal Polyps (CRSwNP) Awareness Day, organized by EUFOREA. This year’s theme, "New Ambitions of Care," focuses on enhancing understanding of CRSwNP, improving early diagnosis, and promoting better treatment strategies for those affected by this debilitating condition.

As part of our Future Leaders series, Dr. Shelby MacRae, a pulmonary and critical care specialist at LSUHSC, shares her journey from ICU intern to bronchiectasis and NTM researcher. She discusses challenges in care, lack of awareness, and future advances. Passionate about mentorship, she encourages future pulmonologists to find balance, build foundations, and stay driven by patient needs.

The current treatment landscape for severe asthma faces major challenges despite biologic advances targeting type 2 inflammation. Current biomarkers like BEC and FeNO inadequately predict treatment response. To optimize precision medicine, improved molecular phenotyping and novel non-invasive biomarkers are urgently needed to better identify asthma endotypes and guide therapy.

In this episode, Professor Irene Higginson, Director of Better Health and Care Futures at King’s College London, discusses the complex challenges of managing breathlessness. She explores non-pharmacological strategies, the value of multidisciplinary care, and how the Breathlessness Support Services at KCL are transforming patient support. Tune in for expert insights and a look at future directions in breathlessness research and care.

Brisbane, Australia, will host the 8th World Bronchiectasis Conference (WBC) from 14-17th July 2025, bringing together healthcare professionals, researchers and patients from around the globe to advance the understanding and treatment of bronchiectasis. The event is co-hosted by Lung Foundation Australia, the University of Queensland, and the Australian Bronchiectasis Consortium.