EUROPEAN LUNG FOUNDATION

Their core work

The European Lung Foundation is a patient-focused NGO that bridges respiratory research and public awareness across Europe. They specialize in translating clinical findings into patient education, advocacy, and engagement — ensuring that people affected by lung diseases have a voice in research design and access to evidence-based information. Within EU consortia, they serve as the patient engagement and dissemination partner, handling public communication, patient recruitment support, and ensuring research outcomes reach the people who need them. Their work spans chronic lung diseases (COPD, ILD), tobacco control, tuberculosis, and increasingly AI-driven diagnostics in respiratory medicine.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

In their early H2020 period (2015–2018), ELF focused on traditional respiratory health — tobacco exposure, smoking cessation, pulmonary rehabilitation, primary care education, and household air pollution through projects like FRESH AIR. From 2019 onward, their portfolio shifted markedly toward AI-driven precision medicine (DRAGON, OPTIMA), antimicrobial resistance (FAIR), and advanced clinical trial design (UNITE4TB, 3TR). This evolution reflects a broader transition from public health education toward technology-enabled, data-driven respiratory medicine where patient engagement meets digital health.

ELF is positioning itself as the go-to patient engagement partner for AI and digital health projects in respiratory medicine — expect them in future consortia combining machine learning with patient-centered care.

How they like to work

ELF never coordinates projects — they join as a participant or third party, which is consistent with their role as a specialist contributor focused on patient engagement, dissemination, and public communication. They work in large consortia (212 unique partners across 28 countries), indicating they are a highly networked organization that many different research groups trust to handle the patient-facing side of their projects. Their presence in both RIA and MSCA-RISE schemes shows flexibility across research and capacity-building contexts.

ELF has collaborated with 212 distinct partners across 28 countries, making them one of the better-connected patient organizations in European respiratory research. Their network spans universities, hospitals, pharma companies, and public health bodies across nearly all EU member states.

What sets them apart

ELF occupies a rare niche: they are one of very few pan-European patient organizations specifically focused on lung health with a track record in H2020 research consortia. Unlike clinical partners or universities, they bring the patient perspective — recruitment support, plain-language communication, and advocacy — which is increasingly required by EU funders. For any consortium working on respiratory disease, AI diagnostics in lung health, or tobacco policy, ELF provides a credible, experienced patient engagement partner that reviewers and funders recognise.

Highlights from their portfolio

• DRAGON
  Largest single EC contribution (EUR 280,000) and a flagship project combining AI, deep learning, and precision medicine for pandemic management — directly relevant to post-COVID respiratory diagnostics.
• UNITE4TB
  Major IMI-style project (EUR 270,375 to ELF) building an innovative AI-powered clinical trial platform for tuberculosis — connects ELF to the global AMR and TB research community.
• FRESH AIR
  ELF's earliest H2020 project, focused on smoke exposure and primary care in low-resource settings, demonstrating their long-standing commitment to respiratory health equity.