Dear Colleagues,
I am delighted to present the full programme of lectures, major symposia, spoken and poster sessions for
the 2026 BTS Winter Scientific Meeting, to be held this November 25-27th at the QEII Centre in London.
The Winter Scientific Meeting remains a highlight of the respiratory calendar, bringing together the
very best of UK and international expertise. This year’s programme, developed by the BTS Science
and Research Committee, reflects both the breadth of our specialty and the pace at which respiratory
science is advancing.
Across the three days, the symposia showcase a dynamic and evolving field — from fundamental
discovery science through to clinical application and health systems delivery. Key themes include the
growing impact of big data, AI and multi-omics in understanding lung disease, new approaches to
targeting inflammation and infection, and the increasing importance of environmental and occupational
exposures across the life course.
The programme also highlights cross-disease mechanisms and translational pathways, linking early
immune and epithelial responses with disease progression and therapeutic innovation. Sessions span
the full spectrum of respiratory medicine, including asthma, COPD, bronchiectasis, interstitial lung
disease, lung cancer and pleural disease, alongside emerging areas such as digital health, personalised
care and novel models of service delivery.
In this updated version of the programme, we include outline details of our superb spoken, poster and
moderated poster sessions. These abstract sessions provide a wonderful platform to share the most
up-to-date advances in respiratory science.
Congratulations go to the shortlisted participants in the 2026 BTS/BALR/A+LUK Early Career
Investigator of the Year Award competition (abstracts T1 to T6 in the final programme); the BTS
Medical Student Prize awardees Sri Oruganti (abstract S146) and Ashleigh Newman-Jones (abstract
S139) and the winners of the BTS/A+LUK/BALR Mid-Career Lecture Awards, Professor Rob Halifax
and Dr Jonathan Baker. We are also pleased to be collaborating this year with The Lancet Respiratory
Medicine and Thorax to co-host a session highlighting high-quality research published in the field. You
can find full details of all the recipients and their presentation titles in the final programme.
Beyond the scientific programme, the Winter Scientific Meeting continues to provide an invaluable
opportunity to connect with colleagues across disciplines and career stages. It offers a space for
discussion, collaboration and the exchange of ideas that will shape the future of respiratory medicine.
I very much look forward to welcoming you in November.
Professor Mona Bafadhel
Chair, BTS Science and Research Committee