Winners of the BTS/BALR/A+LUK Lecture awards 2024

Left: Dr Elaine Soon    Right: Dr Aran Singanayagam    

BTS/A+LUK WINNER

Dr Elaine Soon
Cambridge Institute for Medical Research, University of Cambridge and Cambridge University Hospital NHS Trust, Cambridge, UK

Lecture: Inflammation and genetic mutations in pulmonary vascular disease 

Dr Elaine Soon is an MRC Clinician Scientist at the Cambridge Institute for Medical Research in the University of Cambridge and Honorary Consultant at Cambridge University Hospital NHS Trust. She read Medical Sciences at King’s College, University of Cambridge before undertaking her PhD in the role of inflammation in BMPR2-associated pulmonary vascular disease.

Her current research focuses on how mutations in GCN2 lead to pulmonary vascular disease; and she has developed 2 novel mouse models to further characterise this. From the clinical side she has a particular interest in biomarkers, especially with regard to pulmonary hypertension and SARS-CoV-2. 

BTS/BALR WINNER 

Dr Aran Singanayagam
Imperial College London and Royal Brompton and Harefield Hospitals, London, UK

Lecture: Respiratory viral infections: susceptibility, severity and sequelae 

Dr Aran Singanayagam is an MRC Clinician Scientist Group Leader at Imperial College London and Honorary Consultant in Respiratory Medicine at Royal Brompton and Harefield hospitals. He qualified from the University of Edinburgh medical school in 2005.

Aran's research program employs a reverse translational approach using in vitro and in vivo disease models to understand how pulmonary host-defence is dysregulated in the context of inflammatory airway diseases. He has published extensively in this area (h-index 49) and sits on the Editorial Boards of the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine and European Respiratory Journal.