In parallel sessions, researchers exchanged ideas on current projects, discussed new approaches, and strengthened collaborations across sites and disciplines. The poster session, featuring 466 contributions, was the most extensive in DZL history – a powerful testament to the growing engagement and relevance of the network.

A festive highlight was the evening event, which included a keynote by Prof. Werner Seeger on the responsibility of science in uncertain times. This was followed by the DZL Poster Awards 2025, each endowed with €500 and presented in a creative live-pitch format by the awardees on stage.

Awardees of the DZL Poster Awards 2025:

Disease Areas / Platforms

Asthma and Allergies: Helen S. Charles (CPC-M)

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD): Efthymios Fousekis-Papakonstantinou (UGMLC)

Cystic Fibrosis & Bronchiectasis: Laurien Czichon (BREATH)

Pneumonia and Acute Lung Injury: Abdelrahman Mohamed Ahmed Abdelalim (UGMLC)

Diffuse Parenchymal Lung Diseases: Ashesh Chakraborty (CPC-M)

Pulmonary Hypertension: Luca Dulz (TLRC)

Regeneration & Organ Replacement: Julia Rückoldt (BREATH)

Lung Cancer: Eiman Elwakeel (UGMLC)

Biobanking & Data Management: Jan Fuge (BREATH)

Imaging: Noah Heldt (ARCN)

Disease-Spanning Working Groups (DSWG)

Artificial Intelligence & Digital Tools: Marcus Oswald (CAPNETZ)

Lung Environment Interaction: Gyde Nissen (ARCN)

Microbiome-Metagenome: Aleksandra Sarnowicz (ARCN)

Single Cell Analysis: Ruth Grychtol (BREATH)

We will be featuring the BREATH poster awardees and their research projects in more detail in a separate news article on our website soon.

The international advisory board, early-career formats, and "Breaking News" talks also contributed valuable momentum and highlighted the diversity within the DZL.

The 2025 Annual Meeting was more than just a scientific conference – it was a vibrant forum for open exchange, academic excellence, and a strong sense of community.

We thank the TLRC site and all contributors for their dedication – and we’re already looking forward to 2026!

Watch the video recap here:  YouTube-Link