Chronic Cough Patient Conference 2024

Marta Maria Dąbrowska, MD, PhD, DSc is the Polish national lead and co-chair of NEuroCOUGH, an ERS Clinical Research Collaboration (CRC). Specialising in internal medicine, lung disease and allergies, Marta is also an expert in the management of chronic cough and chest imaging, leading a cough clinic at the Medical University of Warsaw's Department of Internal Medicine.

Sandeep Pal Kaur Pattar developed cough following a COVID-19 infection. She describes her cough as a continuous burden that drains her energy and stops her living her best quality of life. She has tried a range of drug and non-drug treatments. Sandeep is also a qualified nurse and is currently studying for an MBA.

Caroline Love is a member of the ELF Patient Advisory Committee on behalf of TOFS/EAT, patient support groups that represent patients born with oesophageal atresia and tracheo-oesophageal fistula (OA/TOF).

She was born with OA/TOF and has had chronic cough of mixed cause since birth (tracheomalacia, neurocough, reflux airway disease) which is currently well controlled.

She works as a dermatologist at York Hospital and is currently clinical lead for the department.

Kayleigh has worked in the field of respiratory medicine at Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust since qualifying as a registered nurse in 2009. She started her career working in an acute respiratory support unit before becoming a respiratory research nurse within the respiratory clinical trials unit in 2014. This was driven by a desire to be at the forefront of respiratory research in order to improve outcomes of those living with respiratory diseases. This role sees her lead studies locally in a number of respiratory specialities.

In 2023 Kayleigh took up the role of senior respiratory nurse specialist co leading on a nurse led one stop COPD diagnostic clinic. The clinic provides a unique opportunity for local patients to have a full diagnostic review in order to facilitate timely COPD diagnosis.

Kayleigh now splits her time between the diagnostic clinic and respiratory research.

Kayleigh has specialist interest is chronic cough. She has worked in the Hull Cough clinic alongside Professor Alyn Morice since 2014 and runs a weekly nurse led clinic. Such is her passion in educating others in this often under recognised and debilitating respiratory condition, she commenced a part time PhD in Health Sciences with Hull York Medical School in January 2022, exploring the patient experience of chronic cough. It is hoped the results of the PhD will educate health care professionals on the true impact chronic cough told through the patient voice.

She has published a book chapter on the pharmacological management of cough in 2021 and her first qualitative publication from her PhD on the patient experience of chronic cough was published in April 2023. Kayleigh has co – authored a number of publications in chronic cough as well as other respiratory conditions including idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, asthma, cystic fibrosis and sarcoidosis.

In line with the academic requirements of her role prior to commencing her PhD Kayleigh has gained a number of post graduate qualifications including a BSc in Health Professional Studies and has a PG Cert in both Leadership in Health and Social Care and Research Training. She has completed numerous respiratory courses throughout her career and regularly submits abstracts to local and international conferences.

Angie gained a BSc (Hons) in Nursing Studies from King’s College London in 2003. She started working in the field of women’s health, first as a staff nurse and then as a sister on a Gynaecology, breast care and early pregnancy ward.

Since 2007, Angie has been working in the Urogynaecology Department at King’s College Hospital and is currently a Consultant nurse / nurse cystoscopist. She is actively involved in research and was awarded a PhD in Urogynaecology in 2019 from investigating sexual function in women with overactive bladder. In 2019 Angie was also awarded Royal College of Nusing (RCN) credentialing for advanced level nursing practice. She also works as a Senior lecturer (Professional Practice) in Physiotherapy delivering a multidisciplinary master’s program in Pelvic health at Brunel University.

To date she has published over 60 articles in peer reviewed journals and has written book chapters and contributed to National and International guidelines. As well as her clinical and research activities she provides advice to governmental bodies including NHS England and ICS’s throughout the UK. She is currently the co-chair for the ACP, the chair of the Allied Health Professional’s group within BSUG’s, a member of the Nursing and Education committee for ICS and the past chair of the Nursing and Midwifery special interest group within IUGA.

Alyn Hugh Morice M.D., F.R.C.P., FBPhS was appointed Foundation Chair and Professor and Head of Respiratory Research Group at the University of Hull in 1998. Cough has been described as the 'Cinderella' symptom of respiratory disease and has been his main research interest.

Alyn has investigated the epidemiology, diagnosis and therapeutics of cough which has resulted in the production of national and ERS cough guidelines (ERJ 2020). His research on the neuronal mechanisms of cough has improved our understanding and led to the concept of cough hypersensitivity. This has led to the development of therapies including opiates and P2X3 antagonists. The cough hypersenstivity syndrome is now recognised as its own condition.

Jen Butler qualified as a Speech and Language Therapist (SLT) from Sheffield University in 2010 and has specialised in the assessment and management of throat (laryngeal) disorders throughout her career. She is currently the team lead SLT for voice and lung health at Northumbria Healthcare Foundation Trust.

In 2020 Jen completed a Masters degree in Public Health Research at Newcastle University. She has since contributed to the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapist’s (RCSLT’s) position paper for people with upper airway disorders, and is on the committee for the RCSLT’s upper airway clinical excellence network.

Jen is passionate about supporting people with chronic cough to better understand and manage their symptoms, and improve access to specialist services.

Christian Domingo Ribas received his degree in Medicine and Surgery in 1984 from the Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB) and achieved his Doctor of Medicine degree (M.D.) in 1991. He later specialised in pulmonology and is currently a master consultant medical specialist in respiratory health at Parc Taulí University Health Corporation (CSUPT) in Sabadell (Barcelona) and professor at the Department of Medicine at the Autonomous University of Barcelona.

Christian is also a member of the Catalan (SOCAP), Spanish (SEPAR) and European (ERS) societies of pulmonology. He coordinates a chronic cough group at SEPAR and has helped draft guidelines for the study and management of the condition. Christian is also co-author of the last European guidelines published for the management of chronic cough and member of NEUROCOUGH.

Throughout his career, Christian has supervised 20 doctoral theses and published 179 papers in medical journals, more than 450 abstracts and 19 book chapters. He has been the editor-in-chief of The Open Respiratory Medicine Journal for 12 years.