Abstract winners at the ERS Congress 2025

ELF Best Abstract Grant for Healthy Lungs for Life

This year’s award went to:

Tugce Karamustafalioglu for the abstract entitled: The Impact of Extreme Heat Waves and Air Pollution on the Prognosis of Chronic Airway Diseases.

The study followed people with asthma and COPD to understand how extreme heat waves and poor air quality affect their health. Participants were assessed on normal weather days and again during extreme heat events. The research found that hot weather and pollution worsened airway inflammation, reduced quality of life, and increased symptoms in both asthma and COPD patients. These findings highlight the need for extra care and protective measures for people with long-term lung conditions during hot and polluted days.

ELF Travel Grant for Best Abstract in Patient-Centred Research

Two winners were selected for 2025:

Mattia Nigro for the abstract entitled: Performance of artificial intelligence (AI) answering questions on disease management from people with bronchiectasis: results from the AIR-BE study.

Mattia Nigro and Dimitris Kontopidis

The study tested three AI programs, ChatGPT, Google Bard, and Microsoft Copilot, using questions developed by ELF patient representatives. Experts and patients evaluated the AI responses for accuracy, completeness, and clarity. The results showed that ChatGPT gave the most reliable, accurate, and understandable answers overall. Bard and Copilot also performed well, but were slightly behind ChatGPT. The findings suggest that while AI should not replace medical advice, it could be used to support patients in better understanding their disease.

Ali Dehghani for the abstract entitled: Comorbidities caused by occupational exposure to Chromium: the skin-lung axis.

Helen Parks, Ali Dehghani and Dimitris Kontopidis

This study explored how exposure at work to a chemical called chromium, which is used in metal plating and manufacturing, can affect both the lungs and the skin. Workers took allergy tests to see if their skin or their airways reacted to chromium. Tests showed that a small number had allergic reactions. Many also reported symptoms with three-quarters reporting skin issues, over half having asthma-like symptoms and most having runny or itchy noses. The findings suggest that chromium exposure can affect both skin and lungs, supporting the idea of a “skin-lung axis” where allergic reactions in the skin may be linked to lung problems. This highlights the importance of monitoring and protecting workers in high-risk industries.

Why these awards matter

These abstract awards emphasise the value of focusing research on the people affected by lung conditions and on the broader risk factors linked to lung health. Through them, ELF aims to:

• Amplify patient priorities in respiratory research
• Highlight the role of prevention, environment, and workplace safety in lung health
• Encourage researchers to design studies that are relevant, inclusive, and actionable.