TY - JOUR T1 - ERS Clinical Research Collaborations: underpinning research excellence JF - European Respiratory Journal JO - Eur Respir J DO - 10.1183/13993003.01534-2018 VL - 52 IS - 3 SP - 1801534 AU - Chris Brightling AU - Celine Genton AU - Werner Bill AU - Tobias Welte AU - Mina Gaga AU - Elise Heuvelin AU - Guy Brusselle Y1 - 2018/09/01 UR - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/52/3/1801534.abstract N2 - The European Respiratory Society (ERS) mission is to promote respiratory health in order to alleviate and prevent suffering from respiratory disease. To achieve this mission there remains a number of challenges to be addressed. We need: 1) a better understanding of the burden of lung disease and its natural history, as well as of the fundamental mechanisms underpinning disease; 2) validation and application of accurate diagnostic tests, patient-centred outcomes and biomarkers; and 3) development and testing of new pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions and their optimal implementation in clinical practice. To address these challenges adequately requires collaborative working between clinicians, allied health professionals, scientists, technology and pharmaceutical industries, regulators, healthcare providers and, most importantly, patients.The ERS Clinical Research Collaborations (CRCs) programme provides support to projects in different areas of respiratory medicine, to build and maintain pan-European and/or global collaborations. CRC applications can be submitted annually by October 15. http://ow.ly/34s730lxgnw ER -