July 2026 | 5th PRESS RELEASE
06.07.2026
Artificial Intelligence Meets Respiratory Healthcare: Experts Join Discussions to Improve Respiratory Care
Athens, Greece | July 2026
Respiratory diseases remain one of the world's greatest healthcare challenges, affecting hundreds of millions of people and placing a significant burden on healthcare systems. In fact, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is the third leading cause of death worldwide, responsible for 3.4 million deaths in 2023, that is around 6% of all global deaths. Together with other chronic respiratory conditions, the urgent need for earlier diagnosis, personalised treatment, and more efficient decision-making is indispensable.
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AI, without a doubt, has the potential to transform respiratory healthcare by supporting clinicians in analysing complex data, identifying disease patterns, and providing solutions of more personalised treatment. However, for AI to be successfully adopted in healthcare, it must be accurate, transparent, trustworthy, and developed in close collaboration with the people who will ultimately use it.
Since 2024, the AI4LUNGS project has been bringing together researchers, clinicians, legal experts, technology developers, patients, caregivers, and healthcare stakeholders to develop trustworthy AI solutions for lung disease diagnosis and treatment. The project analyse data collected from hospitals in Israel, the Netherlands, Portugal, and Spain. At every stage of development, the legal partner Timelex ensures that data processing complies with the EU AI Act, the General Data Protection Regulation, and together with digital ethical expert Deloitte, developed the ethical principles that prioritise patients privacy and rights.
As AI4LUNGS progresses into the technical development and data analysis phase, the consortium is not only focusing on its AI platform but also working closely with end users to ensure the technology addresses real clinical needs. Through a series of Awareness Workshops, healthcare professionals, patients, caregivers, researchers, policymakers, and technology experts are invited to discuss the opportunities and challenges of introducing AI into respiratory healthcare.
Join the AI4LUNGS Awareness Workshop
Starting from January 2026 through early 2027, the AI4LUNGS Awareness Workshops bring together stakeholders to start dialogue and knowledge exchange. Following two successful editions held in Norway and Israel earlier this year, AI4LUNGS is preparing the third AI4LUNGS Awareness Workshop, taking place virtually on 16 September 2026, from 12:00 to 13:30 CET.
Organised by Deloitte, RPTU, Timelex, and Fraunhofer ITWM, the workshop will showcase the latest developments within AI4LUNGS, including progress on AI-driven tools designed to support the diagnosis and treatment of respiratory diseases. Participants will gain insights into the project's current achievements, future plans, and the collaborative approach that underpins the development of trustworthy AI for healthcare. The workshop is open to healthcare professionals, researchers, policymakers, patient representatives, and all stakeholders interested in the future of AI-enabled respiratory care. Together, these discussions will help ensure that innovative AI technologies are developed responsibly and deliver meaningful benefits for patients and healthcare systems across Europe.
Sign up now for the Awareness Workshop and join us on the 16th of September, use your voice and make a difference! https://www.ai4lungs.eu/awareness-workshops
About AI4LUNGS
The AI4LUNGS project officially started on 1 January 2024, with a duration of 3.5 years. Funded by the European Union under the Horizon Europe Programme (Grant Agreement No. 101080756), the project has received €6.9 million. It focuses on computational models for new patient stratification strategies (RIA) under the HORIZON-HLTH-2022-TOOL-12-01-two-stage call. The consortium consists of 18 partners across 10 countries, working together to develop AI-driven solutions aimed at improving lung health.
Contact Information
For more information, visit www.ai4lungs.eu or contact the project's Dissemination, Communication, and Sustainable Exploitation Leader at emma@futureneeds.eu.
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Funded by the European Commission under the Horizon Europe Programme (Grant Agreement No. 101080756). Views and opinions expressed are those of the AI4Lungs consortium authors only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or its delegated Agency European Health And Digital Executive Agency (HADEA). Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.