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25-28 June 2026 | Bologna, Italy

INSPiRED, My Place to Belong

Preliminary Program

Download Preliminary Program

Pre-Courses

Imaging of the Pediatric Chest

Chair: Robert Paul Guillerman (USA)

08:30–08:40 Welcome and Course Introduction – Robert Paul Guillerman (USA)
08:40–09:10 Pediatric Chest X-Ray Interpretation: The Basics – Robert Paul Guillerman (USA)
09:10–09:40 How to See What You Want to See with Chest CT – Savvas Andronikou (USA)
09:40–10:10 Chest CT Interpretation: When What You Know Isn’t Always So – Andrew Schapiro (USA)
10:10–10:30 Coffee Break / Discussion
10:30–11:00 Fetal and Neonatal Chest Imaging – Christopher Cassady (New Zealand)
11:00–11:30 Imaging of Congenital Lung Malformations – Pierluigi Ciet (the Netherlands)
11:30–12:00 Airway Imaging – David Biko (USA)
12:00–13:00 Lunch Break
13:00–13:45 Little Lungs, Big Insights: Radiologist-Pulmonologist Collaboration to Transform Pediatric Health – Savvas Andronikou (USA)
13:45–14:15 Going Nuclear: Thoracic Scintigraphy, PET-CT and PET-MRI – Helen Nadel (USA)
14:15–14:45 Functional MRI with Hyperpolarized Xe and Proton Techniques – Jason Woods (USA)
14:45–15:15 Real Applications of Artificial Intelligence – Bruno Hochhegger (USA)
15:15–15:45 Advances in Thoracic Interventional Radiology – Seth Vatsky (USA)

Cochairs: Gustavo Nino (USA), Martino Pavone (Italy), Jean-Paul Praud (Canada), Aroonwan Preutthipan (Thailand), Joel Reiter (Israel)

Morning Session

08:15–08:45 The Scope and Mechanisms of Pediatric Sleep-Disordered Breathing – Jean-Paul Praud (Canada)
08:45–09:15 In-Lab Pediatric Polysomnography – Reshma Amin (Canada)
09:15–09:45 Other Diagnostic Tools to Complement or Replace Polysomnography – Martino Pavone (Italy)
09:45–10:30 New Home Sleep Study Devices and Artificial Intelligence: Ready for Clinical Use or Still on the Horizon? – Gustavo Nino (USA)
10:30–11:00 Coffee Break
11:00–11:30 Treatment Options Beyond Adenotonsillectomy – Joel Reiter (Israel)
11:30–12:15 Panel Discussion (All Speakers)
Moderator: Aroonwan Preutthipan (Thailand)
“Questions and Challenges in Setting up Pediatric Sleep-Disordered Breathing Programs”
12:15–13:00 Lunch Break and Visit of the Device Display

Afternoon Session

13:00–14:00 Interactive Clinical Cases – Gustavo Nino (USA) & Sonia Khirani (France)
14:00–14:45 Meet the Devices – Martino Pavone (Italy)
14:45–15:15 Beyond Obstructive Sleep-Disordered Breathing – Sleep Disorders Pediatric Pulmonologists Should Recognize – Joel Reiter (Israel)
15:15–15:30 Wrap-Up & Take-Home Messages
Building and Strengthening Pediatric Sleep-Disordered Breathing Programs: Key Steps Forward

Chairs: Malena Cohen – Cymberknoh (Israel), Renato Stein (Brasil), Manuel E. Soto Martínez (Costa Rica)

08:30–08:40 Welcome (Bienvenida) – Manuel E. Soto-Martínez (Costa Rica) & Malena Cohen–Cymberknoh (Israel)
08:40–08:55 Reinventing RSV Prevention: A New Chapter in Pediatric Pulmonology
(Reinventando la Prevención del RSV: Un Nuevo Capítulo en Neumología Pediátrica)
Renato Stein (Brasil)
08:55–09:10 New Approaches to the Diagnosis and Assessment of Severe Asthma in Children and Adolescents
(Nuevos enfoques en el diagnóstico y manejo del asma en niños y adolescentes)
Erick Forno (USA)
09:10–09:25 Severe Asthma in Children: From Phenotype to Endotype and its Therapeutic Impact
(Asma grave en niños: del fenotipo al endotipo y su impacto terapéutico)
Álvaro Tejeiro (Argentina)
09:25–09:40 Approach to the Child with Recurrent Wheezing
(Abordaje del paciente con sibilancias recurrentes)
Natalia Rivera (Chile)
09:40–09:55 Tuberculosis in Latin America: Changes in Prevalence, Diagnostic Challenges, and New Management Guidelines
(Tuberculosis en Latinoamérica: cambios en la prevalencia, desafíos diagnósticos y nuevas guías de manejo)
Marcelo Scotta (Brasil)
09:55–10:05 Q&A
10:05–10:35 Coffee Break
10:35–10:50 Extrapulmonary Manifestations in the Era of CFTR Modulators
(Manifestaciones extrapulmonares en la era de los moduladores del CFTR)
Malena Cohen–Cymberknoh (Israel)
10:50–11:05 Current Concepts on Primary Ciliary Dyskinesia and the Spectrum of Ciliopathies
(Conceptos actuales sobre la disquinesia ciliar primaria y el espectro de ciliopatías)
Carlos Milla (USA)
11:05–11:20 Diagnostic and Therapeutic Approach to Pediatric Interstitial Lung Diseases
(Abordaje diagnóstico y terapéutico de las enfermedades intersticiales pediátricas)
Antonio Moreno-Galdó (Spain)
11:20–11:35 New Strategies in Noninvasive Ventilation and Respiratory Support in Pediatrics
(Nuevas estrategias de ventilación no invasiva y soporte respiratorio en pediatría)
TBA
11:35–11:45 Q&A
11:45–12:00 Functional Respiratory Disorders, Habitual Cough and Beyond
(Trastornos Funcionales Respiratorios, Tos Habitual y más allá)
Dario Prais (Israel)
12:00–12:15 Respiratory Care in the Extremely Preterm Infant: Preventing Chronic Lung Disease
(Cuidados respiratorios en el prematuro extremo: prevención del daño pulmonar crónico)
Ranniery Acuña (Colombia)
12:15–12:30 Management of Acute Asthma (Asthmatic Exacerbation) in the ED
(Manejo del Asma Aguda en el Servicio de Emergencias)
Jose Antonio Castro Rodríguez (Chile)
12:30–12:40 Q&A
12:40–12:45 Closure

Chair: Robert S. Tepper (USA)

Course Rationale & Statement of Need

Pediatric pulmonary function testing provides a sophisticated array of diagnostic tools for children, from preschool age through adolescence. However, in clinical practice, the emphasis should not be on the novelty of a test but on its ability to answer a specific clinical question and guide patient management. Too often, lung function tests are ordered as a standard battery, leading to data overload without clear clinical relevance. This approach can result in unnecessary testing, increased costs, and potential misinterpretation of results.

This course bridges that gap by reversing the traditional paradigm. Rather than starting with a menu of available tests, we will begin with the patient. Using a case-based format—focused on preschoolers, school-aged children, and adolescents—we will demonstrate how to refine a precise clinical question for both common and complex respiratory diseases. To ensure a strong foundation, we will first briefly review the physiological principles of pulmonary function assessment. This question-driven approach ensures that the selected test is the most appropriate one, delivering clinically meaningful insights that directly influence diagnosis, monitoring, and treatment decisions. The focus remains on real-world application and the practical significance of the results.

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this course, participants will be able to:

  • Formulate precise clinical questions to guide the selection of pulmonary function tests in preschoolers, children, and adolescents.
  • Select the most appropriate lung function tests to assess pathophysiology in asthma, cystic fibrosis, BPD, and PCD.
  • Interpret lung function results within the context of the individual patient's clinical presentation and disease, using the best reference values available.
  • Integrate lung function data with other clinical information to make informed decisions about diagnosis and management.
  • Recognize the strengths and limitations of different lung function tests in various pediatric age groups, from preschool to adolescence.
08:30–08:45 Welcome and Introduction – Robert S. Tepper (USA)
The “Question-First” Paradigm – Setting the Stage: Why the clinical question is paramount in pediatric lung function testing
08:45–09:15 Session 1:
Fundamentals of Pulmonary Function Testing: Key Physiological Concepts
Robert S. Tepper (USA)
09:15–10:00 Session 2: Asthma – Enrico Lombardi (Italy)
  • Case 1: The wheezing preschooler – is it asthma?
  • Case 2: The teenager with poor symptom perception – how do we monitor control?

Clinical Question:
Is there evidence of reversible airway obstruction? What is the degree of baseline airway obstruction and hyperinflation?

Key Tests to Discuss:
Spirometry and Oscillometry (pre/post BD), Plethysmography, Airway Resistance, Residual Volume
10:00–10:45 Session 3: CF & PCD – Nicole Beydon (France)
  • Case 3: Quantifying early airway disease in a preschooler with CF.
  • Case 4: Assessing airway clearance efficacy and/or disease progression in a child with PCD.

Clinical Question:
Is there ventilation inhomogeneity suggesting early small airway disease?

Key Tests to Discuss:
Nasal NO, Lung Clearance Index (LCI), Spirometry, choice of reference value
10:45–11:00 Coffee Break
11:00–11:45 Session 4: The Consequences of Prematurity – Marcus Herbert Jones (Brazil)
  • Case 5: A 13-year-old former preterm infant with BPD presents with exercise intolerance. What is the underlying physiology?

Clinical Question:
Is the limitation due to airway obstruction, reduced lung volumes, or a gas exchange abnormality?

Key Tests to Discuss:
Spirometry, Plethysmography, bronchodilator response, DLCO
11:45–12:15 Panel Discussion & Interactive Q&A
12:15–13:15 Practical Experience with Spirometer and Oscillometry Equipment
13:15–14:00 Lunch Break
14:00–15:30 Hands-on Workshop: Inhaled Therapy in Children In and Out of Hospital – Hettie Janssens (The Netherlands)

Aims of the workshop:

  • Get to know fundamentals of aerosol deposition of inhaled therapies in children
  • Practice hands-on with inhalation devices, selection, and correct use
  • Know how to achieve safe and effective inhaled therapy at home and in hospital
  • Get to know the principles and best practices of inhaled therapy during ventilatory support

Chair: Sigmond Kharasch (USA) & Niccolo Parri (Italy)

08:30-09:00 Welcome and Introductions – Sigmund Kharasch (USA) & Niccolo Parri (Italy)
09:00-09:45 Lung Ultrasound Lecture – Niccolo Parri (Italy)
09:45-10:30 Hands on Lung Ultrasound Training – All Speakers
10:30-11:15 Diaphragmatic Ultrasound Lecture – Sigmund Kharasch (USA)
11:15-12:00 Hands on Diaphragm Ultrasound Training – All Speakers
12:00-13:00 Lunch Break
13:00-13:45 Mastering Pediatric Lung Ultrasound: Clinical Cases and Practical Pearls – Agnieszka Strzelak (Poland)
13:45-14:30 Lung Ultrasound in Chronic Pediatric Disease – Ioana Ciuca (Romania)
14:30-15:00 Wrap Up and Discussion

Course Leads: Andrew Bush (UK) & Eitan Kerem (Israel)
Faculty: Thomas Ferkol (USA), Susanna McColley (USA), Peter Le Souef (Australia), Felix Ratjen (Canada), Quique Bassat (Spain), Marcus Jones (Brasil), Guy Hazan (Israel)

08:30–15:30 Theme: Essential Academic Skills for the Next Generation
Format: Short focused lectures + interactive exercises

Course Objectives

By the end of the course, participants will:

  • Acquire core academic skills essential for launching an independent career in research and education.
  • Learn how to prepare key academic materials, including a professional CV, abstracts, posters, and presentations.
  • Understand the structure and strategy behind writing a scientific paper.
  • Develop effective communication skills for presenting research at congresses and journal clubs.
08:30–08:45 Welcome and Introduction – Eitan Kerem (Israel), Guy Hazan (Israel)
  • Course goals, structure, and introductions
08:45–09:05 From Paragonimiasis to a PhD: My Academic Journey – Iso Oloyede (Nigeria)
  • One woman’s story of her academic journey to show what is possible
09:05–09:35 Building Your Academic Profile: How to Write a CV – Andrew Bush (UK)
  • Key elements, tailoring for academia, grants, and awards
  • Exercise: Quick peer review of CV summaries
09:35–10:05 How to Design and Present a Poster for a Congress – Marcus Jones (Brazil)
  • Writing the abstract
  • Layout, visuals, and communicating results at a glance
  • Exercise: Review of example posters
10:05–10:30 How to Present at a Journal Club, including critical appraisal of papers – Susanna McColley (USA)
  • Key elements, how to review a manuscript
  • Exercise: Journal club, participants to present papers
10:30–11:00 Coffee Break
11:00–11:30 How to Deliver an Oral Presentation at a Congress – Felix Ratjen (Canada)
  • Tips on structure, slides, timing, and confidence
  • Exercise: Short volunteer presentations with feedback
11:30–12:00 How to Write a Scientific Paper – Peter Le Souef (Australia)
  • From data to story: structure, clarity, and responding to reviewers
12:00–13:00 Hands-On Skills Workshop: Practice & Feedback Session – Moderator: Quique Bassat (Spain)
13:00–13:30 Lunch Break
13:30–14:30 Integrating Skills for Career Growth – Panel: All speakers
  • Q&A and discussion: applying these skills in academic life
14:30–15:15 Choosing a Mentor and Making It Work – Thomas Ferkol (USA)
  • Identifying mentors, setting expectations, getting the most out of mentorship
Presentation of the NEXTGEN one-on-one mentorship program
15:15–15:30 Wrap-Up and Next Steps
  • Feedback, mentorship pairing, and closing remarks

Contact Us

The 4th INternational Society of Pediatric REspiratory Diseases Congress

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