Respiratory Experts Converge in Perth for Annual Scientific Meeting, Discuss Microplastics, AI, and Lung Health Standards

TSANZSRS Annual Scientific Meeting 2026 Commences in Perth

The Thoracic Society of Australia and New Zealand and Australian and New Zealand Society of Respiratory Science (TSANZSRS) Annual Scientific Meeting 2026 is being held in Perth from March 27-31. The conference brings together clinicians and scientists from Australia, New Zealand, and the international research community to address advancements in respiratory health. Key topics include environmental threats from microplastics, applications of artificial intelligence in diagnostics and treatment, and updates to national lung testing standards.

Conference Overview and Strategic Initiatives

The meeting commenced in Perth with an opening plenary that featured national and international leaders presenting emerging scientific approaches for detecting and understanding lung disease. The Hon Meredith Hammat MLA, Western Australia’s Minister for Health and Mental Health, acknowledged the significance of respiratory research and innovation in improving health outcomes.

During the plenary, the Thoracic Society of Australia and New Zealand Strategic Plan 2026-2031 was launched.

This plan outlines the Society's priorities, which include strengthening respiratory research, supporting the respiratory workforce, and advancing evidence-based advocacy for lung disease prevention and care across Australia and New Zealand.

TSANZ President Professor Natasha Smallwood noted the meeting's role in connecting the regional respiratory community and highlighted respiratory conditions as a major cause of hospitalization and long-term illness.

Environmental Risks and Emerging Respiratory Threats

A symposium titled 'Breathing in the Invisible: Respiratory Impacts of Microplastics and Nanoplastics' is exploring the health effects of airborne microplastics. Presentations are examining how these microscopic particles enter the environment and human body, along with their potential implications for respiratory health. Contributors include:

• Professor Brian Oliver, discussing systemic effects.
• Dr. Nicholas Chartres, sharing findings from a systematic review.
• Dr. Patrick Lelliott, examining cardiovascular and respiratory impacts.
• Professor Michaela Lucas, presenting findings from the Plastic Exposure Reduction Transforms Health (PERTH) Trial.

The implications of microplastic exposure for respiratory health are identified as an emerging area of research.

Artificial Intelligence in Respiratory Care

Sessions are focusing on how data science and computational modeling are reshaping respiratory research and care.

The TSANZ Special Interest Group symposium, 'Can AI Cure Asthma?', is exploring how advanced modeling and digital-twin technologies may enhance understanding of complex respiratory diseases and aid in developing targeted therapies. Speakers for this session include Dr. Yuliya Karpievitch, Associate Professor Michael Menden, Professor Shyamali Dharmage, and Dr. Rhiannon Werder.

Associate Professor Menden described digital twins as virtual copies of patients that integrate clinical and molecular data, capable of simulating disease progression and treatment responses to guide personalized treatment.

Another session, 'Meet the experts: Putting AI under the microscope', is discussing AI's application in respiratory diagnostics, research workflows, and personalized treatment strategies. The panel includes Associate Professor Amy Chan, Professor Guy Marks, and Dr. Anthony Sunjaya.

Associate Professor Chan highlighted AI's potential to enhance respiratory care when combined with patient-centered clinical approaches.

Updates to National Spirometry Standards

A joint TSANZ–ANZSRS session is presenting updates to national spirometry and training standards. Spirometry is a widely used test for diagnosing and monitoring conditions such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The session aims to address variability in training and test quality, which has been identified as a barrier to accurate diagnosis in community healthcare settings.

Jarrod Warner from Resources Safety and Health Queensland is presenting updates on new national community spirometry standards, developed under the Australian Government's Prioritising Improved Care for People with Dust-Related Diseases program. Dr. Jane Muir and Irene Schneider are also presenting.

Improving spirometry quality is stated as essential for accurate diagnosis and appropriate patient care.

Advancements in Lung Disease Research

Scientific presentations included contributions from Professor James Chalmers and Associate Professor Lida Hariri, who discussed bronchoscopic high-resolution optical imaging. This technology is described as allowing observation of disease processes inside the lung in detail and in real time, with potential for earlier intervention.

A discussion focused on breathlessness, a symptom affecting millions with chronic lung and heart disease, which is often reported as poorly recognized. Researchers explored how breathlessness can result from complex interactions between respiratory, cardiovascular, and neurological systems.

Understanding the underlying mechanisms of breathlessness is stated as essential for developing effective treatments.

Pre-Conference Programs

A pre-conference workshop program covered various clinical priorities, including bronchiectasis, interstitial lung disease, and lung transplantation. Additionally, an Early-Mid Career Panel, supported by GSK, focused on the transition to independence in research and clinical leadership.