The UK has one of the highest rates of asthma cases in the world and one of the worst asthma death rates in Europe. 5.4 million people  are currently receiving asthma treatment, with higher incidence in children than in adults. Asthma accounts for 2-3% of primary care consultations, 60,000 hospital admissions, and 200,000 bed days per year. An estimated 1.2 million people are living with diagnosed chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and research suggests that prevalence is growing. There is a real need to improve outcomes for people living with asthma and small airways disease.

Professor Clare Lloyd, Vice-Dean (Institutional Affairs) of Imperial College London Faculty of Medicine, will discuss her work in biological mechanisms underpinning asthma and the inflammatory response.

Professor Salman Siddiqui is Clinical Chair of Respiratory Medicine at the National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London and Honorary Respiratory Consultant at Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust. He will present his research on clinical studies to improve outcomes for patients with asthma and small airways disease.