COPD-iNET
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Next SYMPOSIUM 6-7 November 2025
Prague, Czech Republic
ATS Assembly Award for LHI Director Ali Önder Yildirim
American Thoracic Society awards Önder Yildirim for “Research Excellence and Service by an International Member” for his high impact research, contributing to the understanding and treatment of lung diseases ... read more
Prof. Dr. Önder Yildirim, Director of the Institute of Lung Health and Immunity (LHI/Helmholtz Munich) and Institute of Experimental Pneumology (Ludwig-Maximilian University, Munich) received the ATS Assembly Award on RCMB Research Excellence and Service by an International Member, chosen by the Assembly on Respiratory Cell and Molecular Biology (RCMB) Award Selection Committee.
With this renowned award, the American Thoracic Society (ATS) acknowledges researchers with primary appointment outside of the United States or Canada who have an established record of cutting-edge research that contributes to the understanding and treatment of lung diseases. The ATS also recognizes scientists who follow it’s mission “to promote the long-range goal to decrease morbidity and mortality from respiratory disorders and life-threatening acute illnesses through an improved understanding of the biological basis of lung disease”.
“It is a tremendous honor to receive this recognition from the American Thoracic Society,” said Prof. Dr. Önder Yildirim, who is also Director of the CPC-M, the Munich site of the German Center of Lung Research (DZL). “This award reflects the dedication and excellence of our international team at LHI and CPC-M to advancing our lung research through collaboration, innovation, and a shared vision to improve lung health worldwide.”
The award was presented at the ATS International Conference, May 2025 in San Francisco. Congratulations!
About ATS/RCMB:
Founded in 1905, the American Thoracic Society is the world’s leading medical society dedicated to accelerating the advancement of global respiratory health through multidisciplinary collaboration, education, and advocacy. Core activities of the Society’s more than 16,000 members in 133 countries are focused on leading scientific discoveries, advancing professional development, impacting global health, and transforming patient care.
The Assembly on Respiratory Cell and Molecular Biology (RCMB) serves as a vibrant hub for its diverse membership across the globe, thus enhancing the respiratory science community.
Our vision is to expand the understanding of COPD pathomechanisms and translate our knowledge into novel therapies to reduce the burden of COPD on patients and society.
The network´s primary focus is the advancement of translational COPD research by discussing ongoing projects, cutting edge human in vitro models, state-of-the art systems biology approaches and clinical cohorts. We strive to identify and enable synergies to facilitate the discovery of novel COPD pathomechanisms. By fostering new collaborations and ideas to transform our understanding of COPD, we aim to ignite novel research directions and therapeutic avenues thereby paving the way to eliminate COPD.
To this end, we bring together world-wide experts on basic, preclinical and clinical COPD research in monthly online meetings and in-person meetings at major respiratory conferences. Once per year we bring together all members in a COPD-iNET symposium (2023 in Munich). Developing a database for sharing resources, expertise, education, and mentoring is a priority, in conjunction with collaborative consortia to be competitive in high level funding opportunities.
If you want to join the network, please reach out to us.