Today, Friday 4 October, UCD School of Medicine and St. Vincent’s University Hospital (SVUH) co-hosted the 15th International Respiratory Conference. This year’s focus was Investigation and Management of Respiratory Disease: State of the Art, highlighting the latest advancements in clinical practice and research. The Conference was held in The Atrium at SVUH and saw over 100 guests attend from Respiratory Consultants and Specialist Registrars to GPs, Respiratory ANPs, CNS Respiratory and Respiratory Physiologists.
As a leading institution in respiratory care and research, SVUH was proud to continue its legacy of hosting world-class events that advance global health. Prof Michael Keane, Interim CEO of SVUH and Dean of Medicine, Head of UCD School of Medicine shared, “At SVUH, we are committed to pushing the boundaries of medical knowledge and care. Hosting this conference underscores our role as a leader in respiratory disease management and a hub for international collaboration.”
With a robust line-up of international speakers, today’s sessions delivered cutting-edge insights. Prof Cormac McCarthy from UCD School of Medicine was co-organiser of the event, and said, “This conference not only fosters innovation but also enhances clinical training for healthcare professionals globally. It’s a privilege to engage with such remarkable expertise.”
Today’s three sessions included:
SESSION 1: Diagnostic Debates: Asthma, COPD and Athletes
Chair: Prof. Eleanor Dunican and Dr. Alessandro Franciosi
- “GLI vs GOLD: Pros, Cons & Implications for COPD Diagnosis and Management” - Prof. Peter Calverley, University of Liverpool, England
- “Bronchodilator Response Testing for Asthma: Solid Starting Point or Shaky Foundations?” - Prof. Helen Reddel, University of Sydney, Australia
- “Respiratory Dysfunction in Athletes: Key Considerations and Diagnostic Approaches” - Prof. James Hull, Royal Brompton Hospital, London, England
SESSION 2: CFTR and Pulmonary Infection
Chair: Dr. Sarah O’Beirne and Prof. Cormac McCarthy
- “CF in the Post-Modulator Era” - Dr. Katherine Hisert, National Jewish Health, Denver, USA
- “CFTR in Respiratory Disease: Is CF the Tip of the Iceberg?”- Prof. Ed McKone, SVUH, Dublin
- “Augmenting the Host Immune Response in Pulmonary Infection – the Future?” - Prof. David Dockrell, University of Edinburgh, Scotland
SESSION 3: Lung Cancer Hot Topics
Chair: Prof. Marcus Butler and Prof. Silke Ryan
- “Lung Cancer Screening – the State of Affairs” - Dr. Arjun Nair, University College London Hospital, England
- “The Growing Role of Radiation Oncology in Lung Cancer Services” - Prof. Gerry Hanna, Trinity College, Dublin
- “Changing Paradigms: Neo-Adjuvant and Salvage Immunotherapy in Lung Cancer” - Prof. Patrick Forde, John Hopkins University, Baltimore, USA
The primary outcomes for this year’s Conference were:
A special thanks to Assoc. Prof Marcus Butler, Assoc. Prof Cormac McCarthy, Dr Alessandro Franciosi and our co-chairs Assoc. Prof Eleanor Dunican, Dr Sarah Beirne, and Prof Silke Ryan for organising this impactful event.