European Respiratory Society

Who They Are & What They Do

The European Respiratory Society (ERS) is a leading international membership organisation uniting physicians, healthcare professionals, scientists, and experts in respiratory medicine from over 160 countries.

ERS’s mission is to advance lung health and reduce the impact of respiratory diseases. The organisation focuses on scientific research, education, and advocacy, offering high-quality resources and raising awareness of lung diseases among policymakers. ERS collaborates with the European Lung Foundation to extend its impact to the public and patients.

Lung diseases, including asthma, lung cancer, and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)—the third leading cause of death—affect one in eight people in Europe, translating to a death every minute.