30th European Respiratory Society International Congress

In his opening address of the 30th International Congress of the European Respiratory Society (ERS), Thierry Troosters, President of the ERS, described how the raison d'etre of the society as a beacon to clinicians and respiratory scientists had been forced into practice by the coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2 infection, COVID-19). A society that brings together knowledge on epidemiology, infectious disease, critical care, imaging, chronic care, rehabilitation and other disciplines, allowed for efficient and rapid cross- and within-discipline dissemination of information. The pandemic also demonstrated the importance of links to societies based in other regions and countries, with mutual support and dissemination of information on the disease areas covered by the ERS. This year the congress was held virtually for the first time. Irrespective of the pandemic, and in line with its slogan 'Breathe clean air,' the ERS had been planning to move toward a greener format this year and in the years to come. Attendees were given a dynamic program that built around 8 major topics in the respiratory field: airway diseases, interstitial lung diseases, pediatrics, pulmonary vascular disease, critical care, respiratory infections and thoracic oncology. Across 3 days, there were over 450 sessions, including e-posters, live scientific sessions and industry symposia, and the presentation of more than 4,200 abstracts.