Silke Meiners takes on the role of Vice-President of the European Respiratory Society

Prof. Dr Silke Meiners, newly elected Vice-President of the European Respiratory Society (ERS). Photo: Doreen Beyer

10.09.2026

A role of great responsibility at European level: Prof. Silke Meiners was elected as the new Vice-President of the European Respiratory Society (ERS) this Tuesday. The election took place during this year’s ERS Congress, which was held in Barcelona from 5 to 9 September 2026. With more than 20,000 participants each year, the congress is regarded as the world’s largest gathering of specialists in respiratory medicine and research.

The European Respiratory Society is one of the leading European professional societies in this field and brings together researchers, doctors and other experts. Their shared aim is to advance lung health through research, training, advocacy and improved patient care. In her new role, Silke Meiners will take on a central role within the Society and will play an active part in shaping its future development and strategic direction over the next four years. As the first basic scientist to hold this office, she aims in particular to strengthen translational lung research and to play a key role in driving the transfer of findings from respiratory research into clinical practice and patient care.

Silke Meiners has headed the ‘Immunology and Cell Biology’ research group at the Borstel Research Centre, Leibniz Lung Centre, since 2021. She is a cell biologist and biochemist and has many years’ experience in the field of translational research into tumour, cardiovascular and lung diseases. With its research focus on pulmonary immunology, her research group aims to understand the mechanisms underlying immune system dysfunction and, in the long term, to identify new approaches for the treatment of chronic lung diseases.

We are delighted and would like to say: CONGRATULATIONS!

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