Throughout the programme, several flagship initiatives supported by the European Respiratory Society (ERS) and European Lung Foundation (ELF) demonstrated how implementation research is already making a difference. Projects including JARED, LungHealth4Life (LH4L), FRESHAIR4Life (FA4L), JA-SAFE and SOLACE showcased practical approaches to improving prevention, diagnosis and care across Europe.
Opening the conference, José Luis Castro, WHO Director-General’s Special Envoy for Chronic Respiratory Diseases, reminded delegates why this work matters.
“Respiratory diseases remain the Cinderella disease of global health: common, costly, devastating, and too often left in the shadows…Respiratory disease does not just attack the lungs. It attacks people’s dignity. It drives them into social isolation.”
While welcoming the growing political recognition of chronic respiratory diseases, he stressed that recognition alone is not enough. The next challenge is implementation. As Castro reminded the audience, “Recognition without implementation changes nothing.”
Professor Ildikó Horváth opened the project presentation session with Joint Action on REspiratory Diseases (JARED), highlighting how the project is helping countries strengthen respiratory care through coordinated EU action. Cláudia Sofia de Almeida Vicente Ferreira presented LungHealth4Life (LH4L), highlighting the importance of promoting lung health from an early age and sharing results from pilot activities in Portuguese schools.
Rianne van der Kleij showcased FRESHAIR4Life (FA4L) and its work to support better lung health through prevention and healthier environments, while Constantine Vardavas presented Joint Action on Health Promotion and Disease Prevention including Smoke and Aerosol Free Environments (JA-SAFE), demonstrating how countries are working together to implement smoke- and aerosol-free environments and move towards a tobacco-free generation.
Professor Martina Koziar Vašáková concluded the project presentations with Strengthening the screening of Lung Cancer in Europe (SOLACE), highlighting efforts to improve equitable access to lung cancer screening across Europe.
Together, the projects illustrated how implementation research is translating evidence into better prevention, earlier diagnosis and improved respiratory care through collaboration between researchers, healthcare professionals, patients, policymakers and communities.
The project presentation session reinforced that research is only the first step. To make a difference, new evidence must be translated into routine practice supported by education, advocacy and meaningful patient involvement. The projects showed that implementation is not a single action but a continuous process that translates knowledge into better patient care.
Another highlight was the panel discussion on equity, which explored how everyone should have the opportunity to achieve the best possible lung health, regardless of where they live or their personal circumstances.
Among the panellists was Kjeld Hansen, former Chair of the European Lung Foundation, who emphasised that successful healthcare policies cannot simply be designed by experts and handed down to patients. Instead, everyone affected by those decisions should have a seat at the table and an opportunity to shape them.
Kjeld explained that lasting change happens when all stakeholders feel a sense of ownership of new policies and initiatives. Patients, healthcare professionals, researchers, policymakers and communities all need opportunities to contribute, influence decisions and see that their voices make a difference. When people are involved from the beginning, they are much more likely to support and help implement change.
His message reflected one of ELF’s core principles: meaningful patient involvement leads to better healthcare and more equitable outcomes.
Across two days, one message came through clearly. We already know a great deal about the burden, prevention, diagnosis and treatment of respiratory diseases. The next challenge is making sure that knowledge reaches every patient.
As José Luis Castro put it: “Policy declarations create possibilities. Implementation creates impact.”
For people living with lung disease, that means ensuring that research outcomes and political commitments are translated into earlier diagnosis, better treatment, less exposure to tobacco and air pollution and overall healthier lives.
