Assembly 1. Clinical

Keywords COPD, exacerbations, muscle wasting, pulmonary rehabilitation Name GIAVEDONI, Santiago Project title Investigating the impact of pulmonary rehabilitation and statins administration on skeletal muscle wasting and quality of life in acute exacerbations

Home Country	Argentina
Host Country	United Kingdom
Fellowship End date	July 01, 2008 - July 01, 2009
Contact Email	sgiaved@gmail.com

Assembly 1. Clinical

Keywords Sarcoidosis, single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), genes, progression Name TZOUVELEKIS, Argyris Project title Association of the “Sarcoidosis disease set” with single nucleotide polymorphisms of a defined range of genes involved in innate immunity to both the susceptibility and the progression of the subsets of sarcoidosis

Home Country	Greece
Host Country	United Kingdom
Fellowship End date	October 11 - November 29, 2004
Contact Email	atzouvelekis@hotmail.com

Summary of Fellowship Experience
My fellowship year was a memorable experience mainly due to the intellectual stimulation I gained on a daily basis from my research at the lab and from my colleagues. I was privileged to collaborate with fellows and colleagues that inspired me, motivated me and helped me to improve my way of thinking, which I believe is the most vital thing for a young doctor and researcher and can not be found in the lines of a medical book.

My research project was focused on single nucleotide polymorphisms of a defined range of genetic factors that are likely to dictate disease phenotype and outcome of sarcoidosis patients. We investigated genetic polymorphisms of BTNL2, a member of the immunoglobulin gene superfamily and demonstrated an association of specific BTNL2 genetic variants with sarcoidosis.

In conclusion I would like to attribute special thanks to the ERS Scientific committee for giving me the opportunity to participate in the activities of a prestigious laboratory and to encourage young researchers and fellows to apply for an ERS fellowship.

Assembly 1. Clinical

Keywords interstitial lung disease, pulmonary fibrosis, smoking, imaging Name ANTONIOU, Katerina Project title Diffuse parenchymal lung disease: is smoking-related damage increased in prevalence, and does smoking status influence outcome?

Home Country	Greece
Host Country	United Kingdom
Fellowship End date	June 01, 2005 - June 01, 2006
Contact Email	katerinaantoniou@yahoo.gr

Assembly 1. Clinical

Keywords sarcoidosis, berylliosis, mycobacterial antigen, CD4 T-cell Name CERVIS, Luminata Iuliana Project title Quantification of beryllium, mycobacterium tuberculosis and propionibacterium acnes specific CD4 T-cells in patients with sarcoidosis

Home Country	Romania
Host Country	Germany
Fellowship End date	October 01, 2007 - September 30, 2008
Contact Email	lumicervis@yahoo.co.uk

Assembly 1. Clinical

Keywords COPD-inflammation-chemokines-polymorphism Name YANBAEVA, Dilyara Project title Chemokine and Chemokine Receptor Gene Variants and Risk of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Home Country	Russia
Host Country	Netherlands
Fellowship End date	January 01 - December 31, 2005
Contact Email	d.yanbaeva@pul.unimaas.nl

Summary of Fellowship Experience
The study of genetic background of chronic low-grade systemic inflammation (i.e. increased C-reactive protein, CRP) in COPD patients has been launched within framework of ERS Fellowship.

A total of 265 clinically stable patients with moderate-to-severe COPD patients entering pulmonary rehabilitation and 90 healthy smokers were recruited. The investigation was designed as case-control association study. All COPD patients and control subjects have undergone spirometry to determine FEV1 and FEV1/FVC.

Six tagging single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) within CRP gene have been selected for genotyping from Seattle SNPs database (r2> 0.8, minor allele frequency > 5%) All SNPs were detected by TaqMan.
Pilot results show that carriers of 5237TT genotype (rs2808630) had 50% lower risk of having COPD (p=0.006, recessive model).

In addition, two trends have been shown: homosigosity of 1444A (rs1130864), previously associated with elevated CRP plasma levels, has increased the disease risk by 2.1-fold (p=0.06, recessive and additive models), and carriage of 1059C allele (rs1800947) also was found to be associated with increased risk of COPD (p=0.07, OR=1.93, additive model).

Assembly 1. Clinical

Keywords Stem cells,IPF,Fibroblasts,BALF Name GAZDHAR, Amiq Project title Effect of growth factors and fibrotic lung fluid (BALF) on differentiation of mouse and human ESC derived AEC progenitors

Home Country	Switzerland
Host Country	United Kingdom
Fellowship End date	June 01, 2007 - May 31, 2008
Contact Email	amiq.gazdhar@dkf.unibe.ch

Assembly 1. Clinical

Keywords COPD, exacerbation, antimicrobial polypeptides, respiratory pathogens Name ANDERSON, Rachel Louise Project title The Relationship Between Respiratory Pathogens and Airway Antimicrobial Polypeptides in Patients Hospitalised with Acute Exacerbations of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Home Country	United Kingdom
Host Country	Netherlands
Fellowship End date	October 01, 2004 - September 30, 2005
Contact Email	RachelA@gmx.net

Assembly 10. Respiratory Infections

Keywords procalcitonin, COPD, infection, antibiotics Name ESPERATTI, Elbio Mariano Project title Prospective evaluation of procalcitonin value as a biological marker of lower respiratory infection in exacerbations of Chronic Obstructive Respiratory Disease (COPD)

Home Country	Argentina
Host Country	Spain
Fellowship End date	July 01, 2006 - July 01, 2007
Contact Email	marianoesperatti@gmail.com

Summary of Fellowship Experience
My experience in clinical investigation has been very fulfilling. It has not only permitted me to learn specific tasks of research and gain knowledge in the field of the fellowship project but also it has given me the opportunity of a daily interaction with distinguished researchers in different fields of respiratory medicine at a recognized centre. As a consequence of all this different activities I have acquired a progressive accumulation in scientific, human and ethical learning.

The projected work has not finished yet, it requires the inclusion of a large sample size, so my stay in host institution will be extended till the end of trial.

The amount of experience will be very useful not only for the future research activities in my home institution but it reinforces a very important medical skill: the critical thinking and critical acquisition of knowledge. In my opinion in the “information era”, it is (and will be most in near future) an essential part of medical thinking. Wide knowledge is not enough, but to discriminate the quality of it. Additionally it is the most important to acquire cognitive skills for autonomy in learning. All mentioned is possible if the post-graduate training in assistance is reinforced by research activities.

Assembly 10. Respiratory Infections

Keywords antimicrobial peptides - viral infection - COPD Name RHODE, Gernot Project title Influence of antimicrobial peptides on viral infections in COPD

Home Country	Germany
Host Country	United Kingdom
Fellowship End date	November 01, 2004 - October 30, 2005
Contact Email	gernot.rohde@rub.de

Summary of Fellowship Experience
I spent a magnificent year with Sebastian Johnston and his group. The scientific aim was to develop new methodologies to investigate the role of anti-microbial peptides in virus-induced airway inflammation.

At the beginning of the project a thorough literature search was undertaken in order to find already published detection methods. Based on these results sequences of primers and probes for the detection of human alpha defensins 1-3, human beta-defensins 1-4, the cathelicidine LL37 and Secretory Leukoprotease Inhibitor (SLPI) by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (TaqMan® technology) were designed. Using plasmids cloned from PCR products standards for quantitative measurements were obtained. The study of the regulation of anti-microbial peptides in vitro showed that the expression differed according to virus or cell line investigated. hBD-1 expression was significantly down-regulated during Influenza A infection in H292 cells whereas it was up-regulated in A549 cells. During Rhinovirus 16 infection there was marked up-regulation in A549 cells. hBD-2 was up-regulated during Influenza A infection but also during Rhinovirus 16 infection in A549 cells. For hBD-3 there were no differences in these cell lines but there was a trend for up-regualtion during viral infection in primary bronchial epithelial cells (PBEC). It could be shown in vitro that SLPI expression is significantly increased by fluticasone but there was no effect of viral infection in the cell lines. In PBEC there was a significant up-regulation of SLPI by Rhinovirus 1b infection. LL37 expression was not influenced by any of the stimuli used.

To study the effects of viral infection in vivo experimental Rhinovirus 16 infections in asthmatics compared to healthy controls were analysed. There was no effect on SLPI expression but a significant up-regulation of HNP 1-3 expression in bronchoalveolar lavage supernatants of asthmatics.

During the fellowship a similar project using experimental Rhinovirus infections in COPD patients was carried out and I participated in this project.

This ERS fellowship gave me the unique possibility to work with a world-wide well-established group under supervision of Sebastian Johnston and I am more than thankful to him and his collaborators for the very warm welcome and the personally very enriching experience.

Assembly 10. Respiratory Infections

Keywords Mycobacterium tuberculosis pulmonary infection immune protection innate immunity Name STRASSBURG, Alan Project title Pulmonary correlation of innate and adaptive immune protection against Mycobacterium tuberculosis

Home Country	Germany
Host Country	United Kingdom
Fellowship End date	January 01, 1970
Contact Email	alan.strassburg@gmx.de

Assembly 10. Respiratory Infections

Keywords experimental pneumonia MRSA treatment Name LIAPIKOU, Adamantia Project title Experimental pneumonia by MRSA in a pig model. The efficacyof treatment with linezolid compared with vancomycin.

Home Country	Greece
Host Country	Spain
Fellowship End date	March 08, 2007 - March 08, 2008
Contact Email	mliapikou@yahoo.com

Summary of Fellowship Experience
My name is Adamantia Liapikou, i am coming from Athens, as a pneumonilogist and ERS research fellow, in the field of respiratory infections. I was in the group of A.Torres in the Hospital Clinic of Barcelona . I worked in the investigation group of Ventilator accosiated pneumonia(VAP) I was collecting the new cases of VAP in the ICUS of the hospital (6 ICU). I have learned the way of writing an article and I am waiting for the acceptance of its publication in an international journal. It has accepted as an oral presentation in ATS Congress of 2008. and in ERS Congress 2008.
I have participated in the animal experiment of our research team. One week of every mounth we inoculated MRSA by BAL into 2 intubated pigs and we followed them for 4 days.We administrated them diferrent antibiotics : Linezolid and Vancomycin and we compared all the parameters of VAP in the pigs regarding the antibiotics.When they died we took biopsy samples from the lungs,cultures and blood samples for cytokines.
In the same animal model I have participated to another study which is the comparison of diagnostic methods of MRSA pneumonia . The methods are BAS,BAL and TBNA.
With our animal model we are trying to progress our knowledge in the pathophysiology of VAP and septic shock and the results of differents antibiotics in its management.
My experience of this year in Baecelona was unforgettable and scientific useful. It is the beginning of a new carrer for me.

Assembly 10. Respiratory Infections

Keywords RSV, respiratory epithelial cells, costimulatory molecules, asthma Name TELCIAN, Aurica - Georgeta Project title Role of PD-L1/PD-L2 molecules on respiratory epithelial cells in regulating T-cell responses to RSV infection

Home Country	Romania
Host Country	United Kingdom
Fellowship End date	June 01, 2006 - May 31, 2007
Contact Email	ica_address@yahoo.com

Summary of Fellowship Experience
The twelve months I was a visiting research fellow in Imperial College London, Department of Respiratory Medicine are valuable to my developing research career.

Prof Johnston’s group has been working for the last twelve years investigating the clinical and laboratory interactions between respiratory virus infections and airway diseases focusing on asthma. During the project I improved my skills in techniques like cell culture, virus growth and titration (RSV), cell separation (CD8+ T cells), ELISA, flow cytometry (4 colours), quantitative real-time polymerase-chain reaction.

The time spent by me at The Imperial College London will have a significant impact on my career, thus making it a useful and gratifying experience. I am very thankful for having been awarded an ERS long term research fellowship and I am sure it will positively influence my future career.

Assembly 2. Respiratory Intensive Care

Keywords mechanical ventilation, respiratory mechanics, monitoring, detection Name KHIRANI, Sonia Project title Monitoring respiratory mechanics in ventilator-dependent patients

Home Country	France
Host Country	Italy
Fellowship End date	October 18, 2004 - October 17, 2005
Contact Email	Sonia.Khirani@imag.fr

Assembly 2. Respiratory Intensive Care

Keywords ventilation,predictors, outcome, website Name MILLER, Stanley David Winston Project title Assisted ventilation for acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: The European Predictors of Outcome from Ventilation Study (The EPOV Study)

Home Country	Ireland
Host Country	United Kingdom
Fellowship End date	August 01, 2007 - July 31, 2008
Contact Email	stanmiller@rcsi.ie

Assembly 2. Respiratory Intensive Care

Keywords Acute lung injury, end expiratory pressure, diffusion capacity, end expiratory lung volume Name DI MARCO, Fabiano Project title Effect of different levels of positive end-expiratory pressure on membrane and capillary blood components of diffudion capacity of the lung for carbon monoxiee in acute lung injury patients

Home Country	Italy
Host Country	France
Fellowship End date	September 15, 2005 - September 15, 2006
Contact Email	fabianodimarco@tiscali.it

Summary of Fellowship Experience
I was awarded a Long-Term ERS Research Fellowship in 2005/2006. The aim of my project was to study the effect of positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) on gas transfer properties of the lung in patients suffering from acute lung injury or acute respiratory distress syndrome. I performed this experience in Créteil (near Paris) in the Intensive Care Unit of the Hopital Henri Mondor, working in the Respiratory Team directed by Prof. Laurent Brochard. The Respiratory Team included 5 Medical Doctors interested in conducting clinical research in the field of respiratory failure and 2 Engineers. During the first 3 months I adapted the technique of carbon monoxide lung diffusion test (DLCO), normally used in spontaneous breathing patients, to patients under mechanical ventilation and in the next months I enrolled the patients. The activity during the Fellowship included many research meetings with physicians, engineers and researchers aimed to improve the technique and to analyse, and discuss preliminary results of my study. The Long-Term ERS Research Fellowship contributed to improve my skills in the organisation and discussion of medical researches. I’m still in contact with Prof. Laurent Brochard and the Respiratory Team for the improvement of the technique we developed during the Fellowship.

Assembly 3. Cell and Molecular Biology

Keywords Cytokines; Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension; inflammation; treatment targets Name SOUZA, Rogerio Project title Inflammatory response in pulmonary arterial hypertension

Home Country	Brazil
Host Country	France
Fellowship End date	August 01, 2005 - July 31, 2006
Contact Email	rgrsz@uol.com.br

Assembly 3. Cell and Molecular Biology

Keywords apoptosis, Toll-like receptors, epithelial cells, chronic rhinosinusitis Name BAINSKI, Tomasz Marek Project title The role of the innate immune system in the apoptosis of respiratory sinus epithelial cells in chronic rhinosinusitis

Home Country	Poland
Host Country	Switzerland
Fellowship End date	September 01, 2005 - August 31, 2006
Contact Email	mtbasinscy@poczta.onet.pl

Assembly 3. Cell and Molecular Biology

Keywords acute exacerbation, RSV, IL-15, airway inflammation Name ZDRENGHEA, Mihnea Tudor Project title Molecular regulation of respiratory epithelial cell IL-15 production by respiratory syncytial virus

Home Country	Romania
Host Country	United Kingdom
Fellowship End date	July 01, 2005 - June 30, 2006
Contact Email	zmihnea@hotmail.com

Assembly 3. Cell and Molecular Biology

Keywords Pulmonary Hypertension; Dendritic cell; Chemokines; Inflammation Name PRICE, Laura Project title Inflammation in Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension: Chemokines and Dendritic Cell Involvement

Home Country	United Kingdom
Host Country	France
Fellowship End date	October 01, 2007 - October 01, 2008
Contact Email	lauracprice@hotmail.com

Assembly 3. Cell and Molecular Biology

Keywords IPF, wound repair, BALF, alveolar epithelial cells Name WATTS, Keira Louise Project title The effects of a pro-fibrotic milieu on lung cell behaviour in wound repair; implications for Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF)

Home Country	United Kingdom
Host Country	Switzerland
Fellowship End date	June 01 - August 01, 2006
Contact Email	keira_watts@yahoo.co.uk

Summary of Fellowship Experience
In June 2006 I undertook a short-term research fellowship at the University Hospital Bern, Switzerland. The 3-month fellowship investigated the effects of a pro-fibrotic milieu on lung cell behavior in wound repair and implications for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.

The experience of joining another research team was both stimulating and fruitful and I enjoyed both the work and social aspects of living abroad for this period. The opportunity allowed me to work with experienced researchers in the field of pulmonary fibrosis and I learnt valuable new laboratory techniques including wound repair assays and co-culture models.

The findings from the fellowship are currently being prepared for a manuscript submission and abstracts have been presented at the American Thoracic Society, and Swiss Society of Pnuemologie Annual meetings.

I would like to thank Dr Geiser and Professor Nicod for a very rewarding summer spent under their supervision and look forward to our continued collaboration.

Assembly 4. Clinical Physiology and Integrative Biology

Keywords COPD, Pulmonary Circulation Progenitor Name RODRIGUEZ, Diego Agustín Project title Joint ERS/SEPAR Fellowship: Pulmonary Circulation in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD): Role of Vascular Progenitor Cells into the Mechanisms of Vascular Lesion and Repair

Home Country	Argentina
Host Country	Spain
Fellowship End date	June 01, 2006 - May 31, 2007
Contact Email	diegogalle@hotmail.com

Summary of Fellowship Experience
During my long-term ERS fellowship in London, I worked on a research project on airway remodelling in children with cystic fibrosis under the supervison of Professor Andrew Bush. This fascinating research project allowed me to gain insight into the clinical practice of paediatric respiratory medicine at the Royal Brompton Hospital and to learn various research techniques such as immunohistochemistry, tissue morphometry, cell culturing and immunological assays. In addition of presenting my work at several international conferences and publishing it in internationally reknown journals, I worked with various research groups and built up important collaborations. Last but not least, this fellowship in London has been a fantastic time for our whole family. We made good friends, learned at lot about the english way of life (and about the english food and weather), and even had our second child born here. Many thanks to the ERS for allowing me this unique experience!

Assembly 4. Clinical Physiology and Integrative Biology

Keywords Pulmonary hypertension, angiopoietin-1, serotonin, cell culture Name DEWACHTER, Laurence Project title Role of angipotien and its receptor tie2 in pathogenesis of pulmonary hypertension: interaction with the serotonin transporter

Home Country	Belgium
Host Country	France
Fellowship End date	September 01, 2004 - September 01, 2005
Contact Email	ldewacht@ulb.ac.be

Summary of Fellowship Experience
After a Msc degree in Pharmacy at the Free University of Brussels, I began my PhD thesis in Cell Physiology and Molecular Biology in collaboration with the Pathophysiology Lab in Brussels (Belgium) and the INSERM U651 in Creteil (France) in September 2003. My research work focused on the pathogenesis of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). In this context, I started my ERS Research Fellowship in September 2004 and joined Dr Saadia Eddahibi and Professor Serge Adnot’s group in Creteil, France. In collaboration with the Hopital Antoine Beclere (Paris, France), I had the opportunity to work on human lung specimens obtained from PAH and control patients in order to evaluate the implication of angiopoietin and BMPR2 pathways in lung specimens and pulmonary vascular cultured cells. Therefor I learned and performed primary cell cultures of endothelial and smooth muscle cells from these human lung specimens. The work I have done there led to the Francois Brenot Award in September 2005 in the ERS Annual Meeting (Copenhaguen, Denmark) and to a publication in an international journal in November 2006 (Dewachter & al, AJRCCM, 2006 Nov, 174(9):1025-33). After that I joined Professor Robert Naeije‘s Lab in September 2006 to begin my postdoctoral training and to establish a cell culture laboratory.

Assembly 4. Clinical Physiology and Integrative Biology

Keywords pulmonary arterial hypertension, autoimmunity, dendritic cells, regulatory T cells Name PERROS, Frederic Project title Bmpr2 mutations and dendritic cell function in pulmonary arterial hypertension

Home Country	France
Host Country	Belgium
Fellowship End date	April 01, 2008 - March 31, 2009
Contact Email	frederic.perros@gmail.com

Assembly 4. Clinical Physiology and Integrative Biology

Keywords Diaphragm EMG, respiratory drive, paralysis, diaphragm Name STEIER, Joerg Project title Measurement of neural respiratory drive with diaphragm EMG

Home Country	Germany
Host Country	United Kingdom
Fellowship End date	June 01, 2005 - May 31, 2006
Contact Email	joe_steier@yahoo.com

Summary of Fellowship Experience
The early opportunity to participate in this international program was extremely helpful for my career planning. It offered the chance to focus on interesting key areas of the latest research, deepen my understanding of respiratory physiology and proceed to develop profound skills in planning, organising and undertaking my own research projects.

I learned techniques of respiratory muscle testing and electrophysiological tests of the phrenic nerves. These techniques were further used to assess patients with COPD, asthma, neuromuscular disease, obesity and in normal subjects to monitor breathing and breathlessness at daytime and in sleep.

Besides other projects, I had the chance to organise a study looking at neural respiratory drive in obstructive sleep apnoea. This study was undertaken together with the key national laboratory for respiratory diseases in Guangzhou, China. I visited Prof YM Luo, a former PhD student of my Londoner group, to work with twice.

The exchange with my peer group and the close supervision by Prof J Moxham and Dr MI Polkey were the most impressive experience and helped to make my own ideas come true.

In particular, my skills of networking, preparing a publication and fundraising were improved. This was very useful for the time after the fellowship.

In my case, I stayed in touch with both affiliations – Prof H Teschler at my home hospital in Germany and the one in the UK. I am currently undertaking a PhD thesis in the field of the respiratory muscle pump with special interest in sleep-disordered breathing being supported by my German home hospital.

A planned project of mine will look at sleep-disordered breathing at altitude in the basecamp of the Aconcagua in January 2008.

Assembly 4. Clinical Physiology and Integrative Biology

Keywords Pulmonary Hypertension Gremlin 1 Biobank Epidemiology Name O'CALLAGHAN, Dermot Stephen Project title Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension In Ireland

Home Country	Ireland
Host Country	France
Fellowship End date	August 01, 2008 - July 31, 2009
Contact Email	dsocallaghan@yahoo.com

Assembly 4. Clinical Physiology and Integrative Biology

Keywords Serotonin, Hypoxia, Pulmonary circulation, smooth muscle cells Name PAK, Oleg Project title The role of serotonin in hypoxic vasoconstriction of smooth muscle cells extracted from pulmonary vessels

Home Country	Kyrgyzstan
Host Country	United Kingdom
Fellowship End date	November 01, 2005 - November 01, 2006
Contact Email	cardio@elcat.kg

Assembly 4. Clinical Physiology and Integrative Biology

Keywords Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease-Exercise-Nitric Oxide-Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor-Ventilation-Perfusion Mismatching Name MANRIQUE CHAVEZ, Hernán Abraham Project title Joint ERS/SEPAR Fellowship: Cardiopulmonary function, exercise and pulmonary circulation in end stage chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)

Home Country	Peru
Host Country	Spain
Fellowship End date	August 01, 2005 - July 31, 2006
Contact Email	abrahammanrique@hotmail.com

Summary of Fellowship Experience
In this year as a ERS/LTRF in the pulmonary function laboratory of Hospital Clinic-Barcelona under the group lead by Professor Robert Rodríguez-Roisín, I have acquired new skills in areas related to Pulmonary Gas Exchange with the MIGET technique. I have learned to perform bronchial challenges with direct (MCh) and novel indirect agents (AMP, mannitol, exercise) and assess airway inflammation with minimally invasive techniques (i.e. Induced Sputum and Exhaled Breath Condensate) in different asthma and COPD clinical conditions. Moreover, I was directly involved in the analysis and application of data management with graphical and statistical programs (Sigma Plot and SPSS). Finally, I have participated in the publication of the results in international journals with high impact factors.

In summary, thanks to the ERS/LTRF 185 I had the wonderful opportunity to complement my respiratory clinical background with a high level of respiratory research, and share this research-year with fellows from different countries.

Assembly 4. Clinical Physiology and Integrative Biology

Keywords serotonin, tryptophan hydroxylase, pulmonary hypertension Name BARANOWSKA, Marta Project title Role of Tryptophan Hydroxylase 1 on the development of pulmonary arterial hypertension

Home Country	Poland
Host Country	United Kingdom
Fellowship End date	October 01, 2007 - September 30, 2008
Contact Email	mabar@amb.edu.pl

Assembly 4. Clinical Physiology and Integrative Biology

Keywords Endothelial dysfunction, sleep apnoea, continuous positive airway pressure, cardiovascular risk Name KOHLER, Malcolm Project title Endothelial Dysfunction In Patients With Sleep Apnoea

Home Country	Switzerland
Host Country	United Kingdom
Fellowship End date	November 01, 2006 - October 31, 2007
Contact Email	malcolm.k@bluewin.ch

Summary of Fellowship Experience
After having finished training in Respiratory Medicine at the University Hospital of Zurich, I started my ERS long-term research fellowship in October 2006 in Oxford, UK. As my former research has focused on obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA), my project was a randomised-controlled trial looking at the effects of CPAP on various aspects of endothelial function in patients with mild-moderate OSA. Thanks to the warm welcome and support by the members of the research team, it took only a few weeks before I felt integrated into the Sleep Unit of the Oxford Centre of Respiratory Medicine. During my stay in Oxford I was able to set up and conduct multiple additional studies looking at diverse aspects of vascular function in patients with OSA, some of which have already been accepted for publication by leading journals in the field of Respiratory Medicine. In 2007, I was awarded the first James B. Skatrud New Investigator Award by the American Thoracic Society (ATS) for contributions to the field of Sleep and Respiratory Neurobiology. In 2008, I was invited to become a member of the program committee of the ATS (Sleep and Respiratory Neurobiology), and to speak about my research at major national and international conferences. After completing my ERS fellowship, I returned to the Pulmonary Division of the University Hospital of Zurich, and am planning exciting research projects in collaboration with my colleagues from the Sleep Unit in Oxford. Thanks to the ERS fellowship I had the opportunity to work in a new and stimulating environment, in my opinion the foundation for productive high quality research and lasting friendships.

Assembly 4. Clinical Physiology and Integrative Biology

Keywords coronary artery disease, sleep apnoea, CPAP, randomized controlled trial Name TURGUT CELEN, Yelda Project title Randomized intervention with CPAP in coronary artery disease and obstructive sleep apnoea (RICCADSA): a long-term follow-up.

Home Country	Turkey
Host Country	Sweden
Fellowship End date	September 01, 2007 - August 31, 2008
Contact Email	yelda_turgut@yahoo.com

Assembly 4. Clinical Physiology and Integrative Biology

Keywords sleep apnea, gender, cardiovascular complications Name AYDEMIR, Nese Project title Gender differences and cardiovascular complications in patients with obstructive sleep apena

Home Country	Turkey
Host Country	Sweden
Fellowship End date	September 01, 2005 - September 01, 2006
Contact Email	naydemir@yahoo.com

Summary of Fellowship Experience
I lived for 1 year in Sweden with my family, it was a great experince to me, living in a different country and working in a different university. The weather was so cooler than my country and the winter was so darker but my collagues were so warm and helpful, a long one year passed over quicklly with many nice rememberings, I miss my Goteborg days a lot and I will always miss them. I learned a lot of things about sleep medicine not only my proffessor but also all team in Sahlgrenska Hospital Sleep Laboratory, I want to hank all of them with my all heart in front of you, I miss you a lot ant want to meet again in a time.

Assembly 4. Clinical Physiology and Integrative Biology

Keywords ENaC, Type II pneumocytes, patch-clamp Name SHLYONSKIY, Vadim Project title Integrated study of alveolar ion conductances using a novel in situ lung slice model

Home Country	Uzbekistan
Host Country	Belgium
Fellowship End date	September 01, 2005 - August 31, 2006
Contact Email	shlyonsky@hotmail.com

Summary of Fellowship Experience
Within the frameworks of this fellowship I was able to continue my research of the ion transport properties of alveolar epithelial cells.

The major aim was to elaborate a functional model of alveolar epithelium in situ, which would be suitable for electrophysiological patch-clamp examination. This aim was fully achieved in creation of a model of lung slice preparation. This lung slice model permitted us to study ion transport in alveolar Type II cells. We show that lung slices retain live alveolar Type II cells for up to three days in culture and this cells are accessible for patch-clamp pipettes and can be patched in whole-cell configuration. We characterised basic electrical properties of these cells (capacitance, cell resting membrane voltage) as well as inward cation whole-cell currents, and functional response of whole-cell currents to acute elevation of intracellular cAMP content and to chronic presence of dexamethasone.

On another hand, this fellowship permitted me to collaborate and to share experience with collegues in the host laboratory.

Assembly 5. Inflammatory Airway Diseases and Clinical Allergy

Keywords airways, signal transduction, vagus, methylxanthines Name FREUND-MICHEL, Véronique Project title A novel therapeutic approach for the treatment of cough: identification of novel mechanisms involved in the inhibition of sensory nerve function

Home Country	France
Host Country	United Kingdom
Fellowship End date	September 01, 2006 - August 31, 2007
Contact Email	veronique.michel@u-bordeaux2.fr

Summary of Fellowship Experience
Being granted by an ERS Long Term Research fellowship has been really valuable in my working career, giving me the opportunity to join the group of Pr Peter Barnes and conduct research projects under the supervision of Pr Maria Belvisi. I have in particular been given the opportunity to acquire some expertise in in vivo work, complementary to my previous in vitro experience acquired during my PhD studies. The research projects conducted during this fellowship have been successful and have lead to very interesting results. Some of them have recently been accepted for publication in the European Respiratory Journal, and another manuscript is currently submitted for publication. After this fellowship, I applied for positions back in France, and am now undertaking a permanent position as a lecturer in Pharmacology at the Faculty of Pharmacy in Bordeaux. My experience in Pr Belvisi's Group, thanks to this ERS fellowship, has definately played a major role in my success in this application. My new research group is still in the field of airway diseases, and I have kept excellent contacts with Pr Belvisi, looking at collaborative opportunities between the two groups. Being a past ERS Fellow will also be of valuable help to start making contacts and establish future collaborations with other European airway Groups.

Assembly 5. Inflammatory Airway Diseases and Clinical Allergy

Keywords substance P, NGF, allergen, Ozone Name DINH, Q. Thai Project title Mediation of neuronal responses by nerve growth factor in a mouse model of asthma and ozone exposure: role of substance P

Home Country	Germany
Host Country	United Kingdom
Fellowship End date	December 01, 2006 - November 30, 2007
Contact Email	q-thai.dinh@charite.de

Assembly 5. Inflammatory Airway Diseases and Clinical Allergy

Keywords Osteopontin, tolerance, lung, DCs Name ALISSAFI, Themis Project title Role of Osteopontin in the regulation of dendritic cell biology in the lung

Home Country	Greece
Host Country	Belgium
Fellowship End date	May 20 - November 24, 2008
Contact Email	talissafi@bioacademy.gr

Assembly 5. Inflammatory Airway Diseases and Clinical Allergy

Keywords angiogenesis, remodelling, asthma, COPD Name PUXEDDU, Ilaria Project title The role of ADAM33 in angiogenesis: implications for airway remodelling in asthma and COPD

Home Country	Italy
Host Country	United Kingdom
Fellowship End date	July 01 - October 01, 2006
Contact Email	i.puxeddu@soton.ac.uk

Assembly 5. Inflammatory Airway Diseases and Clinical Allergy

Keywords Smads, Inflammation, Fibrosis, MAPK Name MAGNO, Francesca Project title Role of Smads in bronchial inflammation/remodelling of stable COPD patients of different severity

Home Country	Italy
Host Country	United Kingdom
Fellowship End date	June 01, 2007 - May 31, 2008
Contact Email	francymagno@libero.it

Assembly 5. Inflammatory Airway Diseases and Clinical Allergy

Keywords Asthma Obesity TNF-alfa Airway inflammation Name HEFFLER, Enrico Marco Project title Obesity and Asthma

Home Country	Italy
Host Country	United Kingdom
Fellowship End date	September 15, 2006 - September 15, 2007
Contact Email	enricomarco.heffler@fastwebnet.it

Assembly 5. Inflammatory Airway Diseases and Clinical Allergy

Keywords murine model of non-atopic asthma, immunoglobulin (Ig) free light chains, mast cell, inflammation Name KACZYNSKA, Katarzyna Project title Immunoglobulin free light chain immunotherapy in asthma

Home Country	Poland
Host Country	Netherlands
Fellowship End date	September 01, 2005 - August 31, 2006
Contact Email	kkacz@cmdik.pan.pl

Assembly 5. Inflammatory Airway Diseases and Clinical Allergy

Keywords dendritic cells, proteomics, RNA interference, mouse model asthma Name GERBER, Peter Jules Project title The Hygiene Hypothesis of atopy: the role of dendritic cells

Home Country	Switzerland
Host Country	Netherlands
Fellowship End date	October 01, 2005 - September 30, 2006
Contact Email	peter.gerber@insel.ch

Assembly 5. Inflammatory Airway Diseases and Clinical Allergy

Keywords allergy, children, vaccination, infection Name KARADAG, Bülent Taner Project title Prevention of allergy - Effects of vaccinations, infections and antibiotic use on sensibilisation in children related to farming and anthroposophic lifestyle

Home Country	Turkey
Host Country	Germany
Fellowship End date	March 01, 2005 - February 28, 2006
Contact Email	bkaradag@hotmail.com

Summary of Fellowship Experience
ERS Fellowship programme was a great opportunity for me to get involved in a scientific team and having experience in epidemiolgical studies. At first, I was introduced to the new area of statistics and epidemiology. Then, I enjoyed the happiness of discovering the pearls of the data sets. Everybody working in the team were so helpful and friendly to me.
When I was back to Istanbul, I realised how much experience I got in this one year period. Now, I am the Head of Peadiatric Pulmonology Subgroup in the Turkish Thoracic Society and doing my best to start multicentre studies in Turkey.
I would like to thank ERS for giving me such a great chance.

Assembly 5. Inflammatory Airway Diseases and Clinical Allergy

Keywords Regulatory Cells, Toll Like Receptors, Allergic Inflammation, Tolerance Name KUCUKSEZER, Umut Can Project title Breaking of Allergen-Specific Tolerance by Toll-Like Receptor-Activated B Cells and Dendritic Cells

Home Country	Turkey
Host Country	Switzerland
Fellowship End date	November 01, 2006 - October 31, 2007
Contact Email	windsurferumut@yahoo.com

Summary of Fellowship Experience
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Assembly 5. Inflammatory Airway Diseases and Clinical Allergy

Keywords PI-3K, GRapha, Glucocorticoid and COPD Name MARWICK, John Project title The role of PI-3K signalling on GRalpha function in COPD

Home Country	United Kingdom
Host Country	Italy
Fellowship End date	June 01, 2008 - May 31, 2009
Contact Email	j.marwick@imperial.ac.uk

Assembly 6. Occupation and Epidemiology

Keywords epidemiology,COPD,natural history Name KOHANSAL, Robab Project title Joint ERS/SEPAR Fellowship: An Interdisciplinary Group to explore the Set-up of a population cohort in the Balearic Islands to investigate the Natural History of COPD

Home Country	Austria
Host Country	Spain
Fellowship End date	March 01, 2007 - March 01, 2008
Contact Email	robab.kohansal@wienkav.at

Assembly 6. Occupation and Epidemiology

Keywords air pollution, lung imaging, lung function, airway reactivity Name JANOSI, Tibor Project title Effects of allergens and atmospheric gaseous pullutants on lung responsiveness: structural and functional manifestations

Home Country	Hungary
Host Country	Switzerland
Fellowship End date	March 01, 2007 - December 31, 2008
Contact Email	janositib@yahoo.com

Assembly 6. Occupation and Epidemiology

Keywords respiratory symtomp, passive smoking,COPD, lung function Name PERMANA, Firdy Project title Does ‘common’ exposure to tobacco smoke affect respiratory health of population in Indonesia?