Debating Hazards, Exploring Solutions: Key Themes at the ERS Congress 2025

The European Respiratory Society (ERS) Congress 2025, set to take place in Amsterdam from September 27 to October 1, will bring together clinicians, researchers, policymakers, and patients from around the world to discuss the most pressing issues in respiratory medicine. This year’s agenda promises to deliver thought-provoking debates, practical insights, and forward-looking scientific discussions that aim to shape the future of respiratory care.

One of the most anticipated sessions, scheduled for the opening day on Saturday, September 27, is a pro-con debate on e-cigarettes as smoking cessation tools. This dialogue will weigh the scientific evidence supporting and opposing the use of e-cigarettes for smoking cessation. Beyond evaluating their efficacy and safety, speakers will examine ethical concerns and broader public health implications, including the risks of youth vaping and the uncertainty surrounding long-term health outcomes. The session aims to provide health care professionals and policymakers with evidence-based insights for decision-making around regulation, clinical recommendations, and future research priorities.

Also on Saturday, an expert interview on bronchoscopy safety titled “My worst bronchoscopy ever: what went wrong and how to fix it?” will take a candid look at complications during interventional procedures. Although bronchoscopy remains a valuable diagnostic and therapeutic tool, rare complications do occur. The session will focus on improving clinician awareness of risk factors and reinforcing safe practice strategies to bolster confidence in this essential intervention.

On Sunday, September 28, attention will turn to the patient perspective with a session on inequality in pulmonary rehabilitation. Despite being a cornerstone intervention for people with chronic lung conditions, access to pulmonary rehabilitation remains uneven worldwide. Speakers will explore barriers that limit patient access and strategies to close the gap. That same day, the first ERS guideline on telemedicine in home mechanical ventilation will be unveiled, presenting a structured evidence-based framework for the growing role of digital health in respiratory care.

Another highlight on Sunday will be an expert interview on combating misinformation in respiratory science. With social media playing an increasingly powerful role in shaping public opinion, this session will explore effective communication strategies and innovative outreach approaches to strengthen trust in respiratory science globally.

The conference will also delve into mental health and chronic disease management. On Monday, September 29, a patient-centered session on global access to mental health support will examine how individuals experience psychological challenges during their lung health journey, with an emphasis on disparities in available support. Later that day, a session focused on bronchiectasis will mark a decade of progress in global management, including new therapies, advances in inhaled antibiotics, and emerging non-antibiotic treatment strategies. A hot topics session on precision medicine in acute respiratory failure will also showcase the latest translational science in acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and the potential of immunomodulators to change treatment paradigms.

Global health equity will take center stage on Tuesday, September 30, with a debate on improving access to respiratory medical devices in low- and middle-income countries. The discussion will explore current shortages of ventilators and diagnostic tools and debate strategies to improve availability in resource-limited settings. Closing out the meeting, the European Union’s 3TR (Taxonomy, Target, Treatment and Remission) project session on severe asthma will present cutting-edge insights into immunological treatment targets and propose a paradigm shift away from organ-based disease classifications toward pathway-driven treatment strategies.

With sessions spanning clinical practice, global health, cutting-edge science, and patient perspectives, the ERS Congress 2025 promises to be a pivotal event in shaping the next era of respiratory medicine.