European Lung Foundation

European Lung Foundation
Name	European Lung Foundation
Formation	2000
Type	Non-profit organisation
Headquarters	Sheffield, United Kingdom
Region served	Europe
Parent organization	European Respiratory Society

European Lung Foundation is a patient-focused charity established to connect patients, carers and the public with respiratory professionals across Europe. It aims to improve lung health through education, advocacy and collaboration with clinical societies, public institutions and research bodies. The foundation engages with patients, healthcare providers and policymakers to shape respiratory care, clinical guidelines and public awareness campaigns.

History

The foundation emerged from discussions at the European Respiratory Society annual congress and was launched in 2000 to respond to concerns voiced at meetings such as the European Respiratory Society Congress and forums attended by representatives from the World Health Organization, the European Commission, and academic centres like the University of Sheffield. Early activities referenced initiatives in public health seen in campaigns linked to the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control and collaborations with national patient groups such as British Lung Foundation and research networks associated with the European Respiratory Network. Over time the foundation expanded connections with clinical bodies including the European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology and the European Society of Cardiology, while aligning with guideline producers such as the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence and the European Medicines Agency on patient information and safety. Milestones include patient involvement in guideline development, public education materials inspired by programmes from the National Health Service (England), and participation in multi-stakeholder fora alongside institutions like the Council of Europe and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control.

Mission and Activities

The foundation's mission mirrors priorities articulated by organisations such as the World Health Organization Regional Office for Europe, the European Commission Directorate-General for Health and Food Safety, and disease-specific charities like GARD (Global Alliance against Chronic Respiratory Diseases). It develops patient-focused resources, peer-reviewed lay summaries, and educational tools co-produced with clinical societies including the European Respiratory Society, the European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, and specialist groups from the European Federation of Allergy and Airways Diseases Patients' Associations. Activities include public awareness campaigns similar in scope to programmes run by European Lung Foundation partner organisations and collaboration with research funders such as the European Research Council, clinical trial networks like ECRIN, and guideline consortia such as the GRAPPA model in rheumatology for stakeholder engagement. The foundation provides input to policy frameworks developed by the European Commission, advises on patient-reported outcome measures used in studies funded by the Horizon Europe programme, and supports implementation of clinical recommendations from groups like the Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease and the Global Initiative for Asthma.

Governance and Organization

Governance follows a structure compatible with charitable regulations observed in the United Kingdom Charity Commission and non-profit governance standards promoted by bodies like the European Foundation Centre. The foundation operates under the umbrella of the European Respiratory Society with oversight from a board comprising clinicians from institutions such as King's College London, patient representatives recruited via networks like European Patients' Forum, and advisers who have worked with the World Health Organization. Senior leadership liaises with registrars, legal counsels familiar with United Kingdom company law and finance teams experienced with funding mechanisms used by the European Commission, the Wellcome Trust, and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Committees include clinical advisory groups populated by members from universities such as University College London, research hospitals like Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, and representatives from patient organisations including ERS patient organisations.

Programs and Projects

The foundation runs programmes that parallel initiatives by the European Respiratory Society Research Agency, the European Lung Health Group, and public outreach models from institutions like the Wellcome Collection. Projects include co-produced educational modules developed with clinical partners from centres such as Aalborg University Hospital and Hôpital Necker–Enfants Malades, patient involvement in clinical guideline development akin to processes supported by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, and research dissemination activities in partnership with publishers like European Respiratory Journal and academic presses associated with Springer Nature. Other work includes support for clinical trials networks such as ECRF collaborations, participation in multicentre studies coordinated through institutions like University of Oxford and Karolinska Institutet, and training programmes for patient advocates modelled on capacity-building efforts from organisations including the European Patients' Academy on Therapeutic Innovation.

Partnerships and Advocacy

Advocacy efforts mirror coalitions that engage with the European Parliament, the European Commission, and regulators like the European Medicines Agency. The foundation partners with national and international organisations including the British Lung Foundation, the Spanish Society of Pulmonology and Thoracic Surgery (SEPAR), the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Pneumologie, patient networks like the European Lung Foundation partners, and global bodies such as the World Health Organization and the Global Lung Initiative. Joint campaigns have addressed tobacco control in alignment with the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control and air quality issues referenced in policy frameworks from the European Environment Agency and the United Nations Environment Programme. The foundation contributes patient perspectives to guideline development alongside groups like the European Respiratory Society and supports lobbying efforts coordinated with the European Patients' Forum and disease-specific charities including Asthma UK and COPD Europe.

Funding and Membership

Funding sources reflect the mixed model used by many health charities and include grants from European programmes like Horizon Europe, philanthropic support from foundations such as the Wellcome Trust and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, corporate sponsorship subject to governance safeguards similar to those advised by the European Foundation Centre, and membership contributions from affiliated organisations including national societies like British Thoracic Society and academic institutions such as Imperial College London. Membership comprises patients, carers, respiratory professionals drawn from hospitals like Royal Brompton Hospital, research institutes like INSERM, and volunteer patient advocates recruited via networks such as the European Patients' Forum. Financial oversight follows reporting standards used by entities registered with the United Kingdom Charity Commission and auditing practices common to organisations funded by the European Commission.

Category:Health charities in the United Kingdom