Munich and Ingelheim/Germany, 04 September 2006 -The European Respiratory Society (ERS) is pleased to announce that Dr Charles Pilette, currently working in the Pneumology Department, University Hospital of Louvain, St-Luc, Belgium, and Dr. William Man, presently completing his specialist clinical training in Respiratory Medicine and General Internal Medicine in London, UK, are this year`s winners of the Society`s annual award for research in the field of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD).

The ERS COPD Research Award has been awarded for the sixth time and recognises the work of young European ERS members active in pulmonology research. It is sponsored by Boehringer Ingelheim and consists of two sponsorships totalling 50,000 Euros to be used for scientific research projects in the field of COPD.

The first prize of 30,000 Euros goes to Charles Pilette for his exploration of the regulation of immunoglobulin-A (IgA) transport across airway epithelial cells and its impairment in COPD. His research may help the understanding of the role of IgA in the defense of mucosal surfaces and its impairment in COPD. Mucosal defence mechanisms are critical in preventing colonization of the respiratory tract by pathogens and an impairment in this mechanism seems to be associated with the degree of airflow obstruction and neutophil infiltration, a hallmark of COPD.

Dr Pilette graduated from University of Louvain (UCL) and specialised in clinical respiratory medicine at the Cliniques universitaires St-Luc and Mont-Godinne, Belgium. He was awarded a Long-Term ERS Research Fellowship to study Th2 cytokine/chemokine responses in allergen-induced asthma and immunotherapy mechanisms. He is currently working in the Pneumology Department, Cliniques UCL St-Luc, Belgium. His current research focuses on investigating mucosal immune mechanisms relevant to airway diseases.

The second prize of 20,000 Euros was awarded to William Man for his investigation into the link between respiratory and skeletal muscle physiology, particularly in relation to dyspnoea and exercise limitation in COPD patients. He is the first author of several recent publications in this area. Dr Man was the first author of a randomised controlled trial of early community pulmonary rehabilitation in patients hospitalised with exacerbations of COPD.

"The ERS would like to congratulate Charles Pilette and William Man on their excellent work and their highly deserved awards. We would also like to take the opportunity to thank to all applicants for the high standard of work submitted. Thanks are also due to Boehringer Ingelheim, a leader in the research and treatment of COPD, for making this award possible," said Giovanni Viegi, ERS President. "I would also like to take this opportunity to remind all our members that the ERS COPD Award is an ongoing initiative and we look forward to receiving many submissions from young researchers for next years award."

European members of the ERS up to age 35 are eligible to apply for the award. The official online application form can be found on the ERS website on www.ersnet.org/copd-award. The deadline for applications is February 22, 2007. Selection of the successful candidates will be made by the Scientific Committee of the ERS.

Notes to Editors:

The European Respiratory Society
Founded in 1990, the European Respiratory Society (ERS) is a not-for-profit, international medical organisation with more than 7,000 members - scientists, doctors and allied health professionals, coming from over 100 countries. The Society`s mission is to alleviate suffering from respiratory disease and to promote lung health through research, knowledge sharing, medical and public education, and working with patient organisations.

Boehringer Ingelheim
Boehringer Ingelheim has for a long time been in the forefront of treatment and research of COPD with its inhaled anticholinergic bronchodilators, which are recommended in first-line maintenance therapy for the management of COPD by many guidelines. As COPD is underdiagnosed and undertreated, Boehringer Ingelheim has campaigned to raise awareness and understanding of COPD world-wide. It has widely supported COPD research, development and implementation of COPD guidelines, patient and medical education in COPD, public awareness campaigns for COPD etc. An important feature of these activities has been close partnership with healthcare organisations.

Contact:
Boehringer Ingelheim GmbH
Judith von Gordon
55216 Ingelheim am Rhein
GERMANY
Phone: +49/6132/77 35 82
Fax: +49/6132/77 66 01

This news story was brought to you by Boehringer Ingelheim – the largest family-owned pharmaceutical company in the world.