touchRESPIRATORY

touchRESPIRATORY Future Leaders 2026 Following the successful introduction of touchRESPIRATORY Future Leaders 2025, we are delighted to announce that nominations are now open for the 2026 edition. This initiative celebrates the next generation of pioneers in respirology – those whose passion, dedication and innovative thinking are shaping the future of the field.

touchRESPIRATORY coverage from ERS 2025: The ERS Congress 2025 in Amsterdam showcased the latest advances in respiratory medicine, featuring cutting-edge research, interactive workshops, and sessions across 14 specialist assemblies. Highlights included live endoscopy demonstrations, updates on lung cancer projects, and innovative programmes for early career professionals. This year’s congress underscored global collaboration and innovation in respiratory health.

Dr Joseph Lanario is a Research Fellow at the University of Plymouth Faculty of Health and at the University of Birmingham’s Department of Applied Health Research. Dr Lanario specializes in developing patient-reported outcome (PRO) tools that capture the real-world impact of respiratory disease.

July saw important advances in respiratory medicine, including new drug approvals and promising clinical trial results. Notable progress was made in treatments for lung cancer, cystic fibrosis, and pulmonary arterial hypertension, reflecting ongoing efforts to address challenging respiratory conditions. These developments highlight a dynamic period of innovation with the potential to improve patient outcomes and expand therapeutic options.

…does peanut allergy in particular get so much attention? Helen Brough: Food allergy affects around six to eight percent of children globally, with the highest prevalence in countries that are urbanised and more westernised, and it has doubled or tripled over the last few decades in high income countries, and peanut allergy has gained particular attention because it is one of the most common and persistent food allergies, and the reactions can be severe or life-threatening.

The Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) has released its 2025 strategy report, providing updated guidance on asthma diagnosis and management.1 The updates detail changes concerning personalised care, environmental considerations, and treatment approaches that move away from reliance on short-acting beta-agonists (SABA). In this article, we summarise the key updates in GINA 2025, which reflect a more personalised, age-specific, and proactive approach to asthma management.

Dr Hannah Schiff, Senior Clinical Lecturer and Consultant in Respiratory Medicine at the University of Southampton, is advancing the frontiers of tuberculosis (TB) research through innovative approaches in diagnostics. With a background in natural sciences and medicine, she combines a long-standing interest in infectious diseases with expertise in respiratory medicine.

Dr Alexander G. Mathioudakis is a leading figure in respiratory medicine, serving as Senior Lecturer at The University of Manchester and Consultant Respiratory Physician at Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust. Internationally recognised for his work in precision medicine, Dr Mathioudakis combines clinical expertise with academic leadership to advance personalised approaches in treating airway diseases, particularly chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

touchRESPIRATORY coverage of ATS 2025: The annual American Thoracic Society (ATS) International Conference 2025 brought together leading pulmonologists, researchers, and respiratory therapists to explore the latest advances in lung disease diagnosis, treatment, and management.

touchRESPIRATORY coverage of ATS 2025: Medication non-adherence is a persistent challenge in the management of COPD, contributing to frequent exacerbations and poor clinical outcomes, prompting investigation into whether digital interventions can offer a scalable solution to improve adherence and long-term health in routine primary care. In this interview, Prof. David Price (Observational and Pragmatic Research Institute [OPRI], Singapore; University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, UK) and Prof.