Periodic Reporting for period 1 - RESPIRE4 (REspiratory Science Promoted by International Research Exchanges 4)
Reporting period: 2020-07-01 to 2022-06-30
The ERS/EU RESPIRE4 (MSCA COFUND) Postdoctoral Research Fellowship programme is an international, intersectoral and interdisciplinary programme that selects, trains and supports the leaders of tomorrow in the respiratory field. Respiratory diseases account for one in 8 deaths and a cost of €380 billion annually in the EU according to the European Lung White Book (https://www.erswhitebook.org/). In spite of the prominence of lung diseases, research in the respiratory field remains largely underfunded compared to the wider burden of respiratory diseases on society in Europe and beyond.
The RESPIRE4 programme thus aims to strengthen the European Research Area (ERA) as well as the respiratory specialty by:
• Promoting excellent science in respiratory research in Europe and worldwide through transnational mobility and transfer of knowledge;
• Enabling Europe to become a hub for the exchange of scientists, actively involved in respiratory medicine in both academia and the non-academic sector;
• Fostering the implementation of novel and innovative techniques and therapies as well as the development of new international collaborations; and
• Gathering expertise from various fields, even those not traditionally associated with respiratory research, as well as fostering career development.
The RESPIRE4 programme is coordinated by European Respiratory Society (ERS), the largest scientific and clinical organisation in respiratory medicine in Europe, and receives funding from the European Union's (EU) Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under the Marie Sklodowska-Curie grant agreements No 847462. RESPIRE4 builds on the success and best practice developed during three previous RESPIRE programmes (two under FP7 and one under Horizon 2020) and on an already established network of host centres worldwide.
The RESPIRE4 programme thus aims to strengthen the European Research Area (ERA) as well as the respiratory specialty by:
• Promoting excellent science in respiratory research in Europe and worldwide through transnational mobility and transfer of knowledge;
• Enabling Europe to become a hub for the exchange of scientists, actively involved in respiratory medicine in both academia and the non-academic sector;
• Fostering the implementation of novel and innovative techniques and therapies as well as the development of new international collaborations; and
• Gathering expertise from various fields, even those not traditionally associated with respiratory research, as well as fostering career development.
The RESPIRE4 programme is coordinated by European Respiratory Society (ERS), the largest scientific and clinical organisation in respiratory medicine in Europe, and receives funding from the European Union's (EU) Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under the Marie Sklodowska-Curie grant agreements No 847462. RESPIRE4 builds on the success and best practice developed during three previous RESPIRE programmes (two under FP7 and one under Horizon 2020) and on an already established network of host centres worldwide.
As of end of August 2022, three calls for applications have been held under RESPIRE4 and thirteen Marie Sklodowska-Curie fellows have been selected while a dedicated Web Host Registry (www.ersnet.org/respire) listing more than 95 host centres in 20 countries has been launched. A number of innovatory elements have been introduced or enhanced compared to previous RESPIRE programmes. First of all, fellows have the opportunity to "design" their own fellowship depending on their needs and career goals by, for instance, integrating secondments in the academic and non-academic sectors. Furthermore, the focus on patient involvement and outreach has been strengthened by introducing lay summaries at the application phase and integrating a patient representative during interviews. A country coefficient criterion is also a new feature, in order to provide high-quality working conditions adapted to local needs and attract the most promising researchers. Finally, RESPIRE4 Marie Sklodowska-Curie fellows also benefit from extensive opportunities in terms of training and networking, notably via a dedicated mentoring scheme as well as attendance at ERS' flagship events (Lung Science Conference & ERS International Congress).
Thirteen Marie Sklodowska-Curie fellows have started or will start their research project in respiratory research as of end of August 2022, thereby advancing science and research in a number of respiratory diseases (e.g. asthma, interstitial lung disease, lung cancer, COPD, respiratory infections) including some rare conditions (e.g. pulmonary hypertension). Research is being undertaken in a number of methods from basic science to epidemiology and pulmonary rehabilitation, fostering innovation and potentially leading to novel findings, techniques and approaches with potential benefits for patients in the longer-term. This is especially important considering that research in the respiratory field remains underfunded and that the current focus on COVID-19 has shifted funding away from other respiratory diseases. The programme is thus allowing the training, to date, of thirteen researchers with the potential to be become future leaders of tomorrow in respiratory research as well as the development of collaborations at European and international level.