ERS Cough Conference 2026

15-17 July, 2026 | London, United Kingdom

Organising committee: Prof. Dr Fan Chung, Prof. Dr Omar Usmani, Prof. Dr Didier Cataldo, Dr Marta Dabrowska, Dr Stuart Mazzone, Dr Esther Palones, Prof. Jana Plevkova and Dr Imran Satia

Overview

Chronic cough is a common condition that affects up to 10% of adults and, not surprisingly, is encountered by healthcare workers in all fields of clinical practice.

Chronic cough can coexist with or without pulmonary and extrapulmonary conditions and can be refractory to therapies that generally improve these associated conditions.

Often chronic cough is not associated with any detectable disease. The basis of chronic cough is now attributable to a state of cough hypersensitivity characterised by increased cough responses to stimuli that affect the airways and vagally innervated tissues as well as by excessive cough responses to innocuous stimuli.

This may be caused by neuroinflammatory and neuropathic mechanisms at both peripheral and central levels. This new concept of chronic cough has impacted on our approach to diagnosis and management. The management of chronic cough starts with the exclusion of associated conditions, followed by use of speech and language therapy and of neuromodulators.

There is increasing interest in developing new antitussive neuromodulators with the introduction of blockers of the ATP receptor P2X3 in the clinic. With this significant progress in our understanding of mechanisms and new treatments, chronic cough is now being considered a disease entity of its own.

The first ERS Cough Conference - July 2026

The ERS Cough Conference 2026 (ERSCC2026) represents the continuation of the biennial London International Cough Symposium that was initiated in 1992 by Professor John Widdicombe, a pioneer in the field of cough physiology and pathophysiology.

The ERS Cough Conference 2026 will gather clinicians and scientists for a review of the latest clinical and research advances, evolving ideas and new approaches to the management of chronic cough.

There will be a review of:

• the diseases associated with chronic cough;
• advances in understanding of different types of cough;
• underlying pathophysiological mechanisms;
• the management of chronic hypersensitive cough.

The conference will consist of:

• state-of-the-art lectures with oral presentations based on abstract submissions;
• round table discussions;
• presentations from industry, with the participation of an international faculty.

Objectives of ERSCC2026

ERSCC2026 will:

• Update physicians and scientists regarding the recent advances in the cough field both at the clinical and scientific levels;
• Provide a forum where patients, clinicians and scientists can exchange ideas about the pathophysiology and treatment about this often debilitating condition;
• Act as a focus for the education of healthcare providers on chronic cough and its management. Its recognition as a disease means that management of this condition should be provided at all levels of medical care.

What will be presented at ERSCC2026?

The theme of ERSCC2026 will be Chronic cough as a disease. The conference will feature:

1. John Widdicombe lecture

The John Widdicombe lecture will be held in memory of the cough pioneer, Professor John Widdicombe, who initiated the London International Cough Symposia in 1992. It will serve to commemorate the legacy of Professor Widdicombe by the nomination of a cough pioneer in the field to deliver a talk on the latest progress in our understanding of chronic cough.

2. State-of-the-art presentations

Presentations on the cutting edge of our understanding of cough as a covering assessment, pathophysiology and mechanisms, heterogeneity and management approaches.

Specific talks will focus on:

• Epidemiology, disease burden and living with chronic cough;
• Assessment of chronic cough and measuring patient reported outcomes;
• Pathophysiological mechanisms;
• Chronic cough and mucus;
• Chronic cough in asthma and COPD;
• Chronic cough in bronchiectasis;
• Chronic cough in pulmonary fibrosis;
• Neurological aspects of chronic cough;
• Management of chronic cough;
• Reflections on the future of chronic cough.

3. Poster presentation and poster discussion

There will be an opportunity for clinicians and researchers to present work in the form of posters that will be discussed during the plenary sessions. Some posters will be selected for oral presentation, and a maximum of 30 posters will be accepted for presentation. There will be an award for the best posters, judged by an expert panel.

Who should attend?

• Clinicians in general practice, internal medicine, respiratory medicine, gastroenterologists, and otorhinolaryngologists;
• Physiotherapists, language and speech therapists;
• Basic, data and clinical scientists, pharmacologists and physiologists;
• Pharmaceutical/Biotech industry clinicians and scientists.