St. Vincent’s University Hospital hosts 15th International Respiratory Conference in collaboration with UCD School of Medicine

4th October 2024

St. Vincent’s University Hospital (SVUH), a leader in respiratory care and research, today co-hosted the 15th International Respiratory Conference with UCD School of Medicine. Held in The Atrium at SVUH, this year’s conference, themed Investigation and Management of Respiratory Disease: State of the Art, brought together over 100 attendees, including respiratory consultants, specialist registrars, GPs, respiratory ANPs, CNS and Respiratory Physiologists.

As a national centre of excellence in respiratory health, SVUH continues to pioneer advancements in clinical practice and international collaboration. Prof Michael Keane, Interim CEO of SVUH and Dean of Medicine at UCD School of Medicine, emphasised the hospital’s role in shaping global health outcomes: “At SVUH, we are committed to pushing the boundaries of medical knowledge and care. Hosting this conference underscores our leadership in respiratory disease management and our position as a hub for international exchange.”

The conference featured a distinguished line-up of international speakers who shared the latest research, clinical insights and diagnostic innovations. Co-organiser Prof Cormac McCarthy, Consultant Respiratory Physician at SVUH and Associate Professor of Medicine at UCD 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.”

Conference Sessions:

Session 1: Diagnostic Debates – Asthma, COPD, and Athletes
Chairs: 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
Chairs: 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
Chairs: 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:

• General respiratory education
• Building research connections with international
• Fostering collaboration

SVUH’s Centre for Respiratory Disease remains at the forefront of patient care in Ireland, offering national referral specialties in adult cystic fibrosis, interstitial lung diseases and sleep-related breathing disorders. In close partnership with UCD, the Centre has solidified its status as a leading international hub for translational research in respiratory disease, while providing unparalleled opportunities for clinical training and innovation.

Special thanks to Assoc. Prof Marcus Butler, Assoc. Prof Cormac McCarthy, Dr Alessandro Franciosi, Assoc. Prof Eleanor Dunican, Dr Sarah O’Beirne and Prof Silke Ryan for organising this impactful event.

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For media inquiries, please contact:
Jennie Cotter | Corporate Communications Manager, SVUH | jcotter@svhg.ie