Introducing the new British Thoracic Society, Asthma + Lung UK and British Association of Lung Research Lecture Awards

British Thoracic Society (BTS), Asthma + Lung UK (A+LUK) and the British Association for Lung Research (BALR) are delighted to announce the launch of an important new Lecture Award.

This award will recognise the achievements of established respiratory researchers and celebrate the work of applicants with an excellent track record of achievement and impact in respiratory research. Successful applicants will have evidence of research impact and achievement including high impact publications, alongside plans and potential for future outstanding contributions to respiratory science.

On the awards, James Chalmers on behalf of British Thoracic Society commented,

“We are delighted to launch this new scheme that will recognise the very best of respiratory research in the UK. The UK has so much to be proud of and so much to celebrate in its world leading respiratory research. We hope these awards will recognise our current and future research leaders as well as inspiring the next generation.”

The awards are primarily aimed at mid-career researchers, and it is therefore expected that applicants will be 50 years old or below at the time of application. However, noting that career breaks and other factors may influence career stage, applications from all applicants will be considered.

This year, two separate Lecture Awards will be presented: the BTS/A+LUK award and the BTS/BALR award. Winners of both awards will be invited to give a prestigious lecture as part of a dedicated plenary session at the 2023 Winter Meeting on Wednesday 22 November. Winners will also have the cost of their registration covered to attend all three days of the conference.  

The BTS/A+LUK Award is open to anyone conducting respiratory research in the UK (including all professions, clinical and non-clinical), with the expectation that the applicant should be a BTS member. It is anticipated that the winning applicant will be working within clinical and/or translational respiratory research.

Dr Samantha Walker, Director of Research and Innovation for Asthma and Lung UK said:

“We're proud to support a Lecture Award for a mid-career respiratory researcher. This award will recognise the talent of an outstanding lung researcher, and give them a platform to showcase their valuable contributions to the field and inspire other researchers. We believe that supporting stellar researchers throughout their career is vital to maintain a strong pipeline of respiratory research, which will benefit everyone with a lung condition. This is because research is crucial to improving our understanding of lung conditions, and developing better diagnostic tests, treatments and care.

“Lung conditions are the third biggest killer in the UK, yet only 2% of public funding is spent on research into lung conditions that would help diagnose, treat and manage them much more effectively. We’re fighting for increased funding for research and innovation that could transform and save millions of lives in the UK and across the world.”

The BTS/BALR Award is open to all professions and is focused on translational/basic science, with the expectation that the winning applicant will be a member of BTS or BALR.

Karl Staples, Chair of BALR, added,

“We are thrilled to be able to support these awards, as promoting the next generation of respiratory researchers has always been a core tenet of the BALR. These awards are especially important as a marker of esteem for experienced researchers to assist applications for grants and more senior academic positions.”

Further information on both awards, including eligibility and the application process is available here on the British Thoracic Society website.