Strengthening our lung transplantation activities in 2026 

As part of the ELF Chair’s Campaign, ELF has been putting a focus on transplantation. Led by the ELF Transplantation Working Group, this work has helped to share the patient experience of lung transplantation and map inequalities in Europe. As we move in 2026, the campaign is entering its final phase, which will see activities build on the collaborative work completed over the past two years.  

Work completed to date includes: 

• Developing patient education materials for the ELF website 

• Hosting a roundtable discussion at the European Respiratory Society’s Congress in 2024 with ERN-LUNG 

• Producing videos sharing the lived experience of lung cancer from three members of the ELF’s transplantation working group  

• Developing a printable booklet sharing individual’s journey’s through transplantation  

• Collecting data on lung transplantation from across Europe 

In this final year of the Chair’s Campaign, activities will build on the data already collected with a survey aimed at healthcare professionals working at transplantation centres in Europe. Additionally, more unique insights from people with lived experience of transplantation will be collected through a patient and carer survey. This will inform the production of a Patient Journey map. Similar to those developed in previous years with the ERN-LUNG, these documents plot a patient’s journey, highlighting any potential needs at the different stages. The transplantation journey will focus on assessment, waiting lists, surgery, recovery, and rehabilitation, with emphasis on post-transplant care.  

Alongside this, ELF is developing a new online digital hub, designed to bring together structured information, surveys, and opportunities for patient–professional collaboration. The platform will include AI-assisted Q&A and support ongoing research and engagement in transplantation. The final stage of the campaign will see outreach to policymakers, with an event targeting policymakers and online campaigns to help raise awareness of the inequalities within transplantation care.  

A special thanks go to the members of the ELF Transplantation Working Group who have supported this campaign so far. Together, these activities mark a coordinated step forward in advancing lung transplantation awareness, data, and advocacy across Europe in 2026.