13 July, 2026 — The European Respiratory Society (ERS) has officially inaugurated a transformative initiative aimed at redefining professional development within the respiratory health sector. The newly launched Visiting Mid-Career Investigator Travel (VISIT) Grants programme represents a strategic effort to support professionals who are navigating the critical transition from early-career research to established leadership roles. By providing funding for international mobility, the ERS intends to foster a new generation of global collaborators in pulmonology, clinical practice, and respiratory science.
Main Facts: Empowering the Next Generation of Experts
The VISIT Grants programme is specifically tailored for mid-career investigators, clinicians, and allied healthcare professionals. Recognizing that the "mid-career" phase is often a period of high impact but limited mobility, the ERS has designed this grant to provide the necessary resources for professionals to step outside their home institutions.
The core mechanics of the grant are as follows:
- Duration: Successful applicants are awarded funding for professional stays lasting up to one month.
- Scope: The programme facilitates placements across a wide array of settings, including laboratories, university departments, hospitals, clinical research centres, and international not-for-profit organizations.
- Eligibility: While managed by the ERS, the programme is open to applicants globally, reinforcing the society’s commitment to international cooperation.
- Objective: To enable the transfer of clinical or research expertise, facilitate technical training, and encourage the formation of long-term international partnerships that transcend geographical borders.
Unlike many traditional fellowships that focus on early-career PhD candidates or post-doctoral researchers, the VISIT Grants address a "missing middle" in funding, where experienced professionals often find it difficult to secure support for short-term, intensive skill-building opportunities.
Chronology of Development and Implementation
The conceptualization of the VISIT Grants programme did not occur in a vacuum; it follows years of internal review by the ERS leadership regarding the changing needs of the respiratory community.
- Q1 2025 – Q4 2025: The ERS Fellowship and Awards Committee conducted a global survey of its members. Results indicated a significant demand for shorter, high-impact travel grants that could be balanced with the heavy clinical and teaching workloads typical of mid-career professionals.
- January 2026: Formal approval of the programme budget and strategic framework. The committee prioritized equity and accessibility to ensure that the programme could support researchers from both high-resource and lower-resource settings.
- May 2026: Finalization of the application criteria and the creation of an online portal to manage international placements.
- 13 July 2026: Official launch of the VISIT Grants programme.
- 31 October 2026: The inaugural application deadline.
- Early 2027: First cohort of VISIT Grant recipients expected to begin their placements.
Supporting Data: Why Mid-Career Support Matters
The respiratory field has seen an unprecedented acceleration in complexity since the global health crises of the early 2020s. With the rise of chronic respiratory conditions, the integration of AI in diagnostic imaging, and the evolution of precision medicine, the pressure on respiratory professionals to remain at the cutting edge of clinical practice is immense.
According to internal ERS projections and educational analysis:
- Skill Obsolescence: Clinical research data suggests that specialized techniques in respiratory therapy can become outdated within five to seven years. The VISIT Grants provide a mechanism to prevent this by allowing professionals to learn state-of-the-art diagnostic or experimental procedures in situ.
- Collaborative Barriers: Historically, institutional silos have been a major hurdle for global research. Data shows that cross-institutional collaboration increases the rate of peer-reviewed publication by approximately 40% compared to studies conducted within a single facility.
- Retention: Providing professional development opportunities is a key factor in the retention of high-level talent. The ERS recognizes that the mid-career stage is when many experts choose between academia, private clinical practice, or industry; supporting their growth helps keep them within the respiratory science ecosystem.
Official Responses: A Vision for Global Respiratory Health
Dr. Agnes Boots, the ERS Fellowships and Awards Director, emphasized the strategic importance of this launch. In a recent statement, she articulated the vision behind the programme:
"We are excited to launch the all-new VISIT Grants, which is designed to support mid-career respiratory professionals who are progressing between career stages and wish to further develop their expertise. This grant programme will facilitate continued growth for respiratory professionals who wish to further develop their clinical or research skills outside of their home institution."
Dr. Boots further elaborated on the broader implications of the initiative, positioning it as a pillar of the ERS mission:
"ERS grants and fellowships promote science, education, equity, inclusion, and improved healthcare research, delivery, and advocacy in respiratory health across Europe and the world. The programme is open globally—we encourage mobility and collaboration across institutions, countries, and continents, to further support the advancement of respiratory healthcare and research worldwide."
The sentiment shared by the ERS leadership suggests that the organization is moving away from a strictly "Europe-centric" model toward a more inclusive, international network. By lowering the barrier to entry for global applicants, the society hopes to share best practices in respiratory care, particularly in regions where access to advanced specialized training is limited.
Implications: The Long-Term Impact on the Field
The launch of the VISIT Grants programme is expected to have a ripple effect across the global medical community.
Bridging the Gap Between Research and Clinical Practice
One of the most significant implications is the potential to break down the walls between bench science and bedside care. By funding clinicians to work in research labs, and researchers to spend time in clinical settings, the ERS is fostering a "translational mindset." This is essential for the rapid implementation of new treatments, such as biologics for asthma or novel therapies for interstitial lung disease.
Strengthening Global Equity
The global nature of the grant allows for knowledge transfer from high-income countries to developing ones, and vice-versa. A researcher from an emerging market might visit a top-tier European facility to learn a new bronchoscopy technique, while a researcher from a top-tier facility might learn about resource-constrained clinical management in a different global context. This bidirectional learning is essential for a truly global respiratory strategy.
Synergy with Existing Fellowships
The VISIT Grants program does not exist in isolation. It complements the existing Long-Term Research Fellowships (LTRF), which remain the cornerstone for early-career researchers. While the LTRF provides 6–24 months of support for deep-dive research, the VISIT Grants provide a "surgical" strike of professional development—short, intense, and highly focused.
For many, the path may now look like this:
- Early Career: Participation in an LTRF to establish foundational research skills.
- Mid-Career: Utilization of a VISIT Grant to refine a specific skill, adopt a new technology, or initiate a multi-site clinical trial.
- Established Career: Mentorship of the next generation of fellows, completing the cycle of knowledge dissemination.
How to Apply and Get Involved
As the 31 October deadline approaches, prospective applicants are encouraged to visit the official ERS portal. The application process requires a clear proposal detailing how the visit will enhance the applicant’s current work, a letter of support from the host institution, and a budget outline.
The society has placed a strong emphasis on the "feasibility" of the visit. Applicants must demonstrate that the host institution has the infrastructure to support their learning objectives and that the visit will yield tangible outcomes, such as a joint publication, a new clinical protocol, or the establishment of a collaborative research network.
Moving Forward
The introduction of the VISIT Grants is a bold step by the European Respiratory Society. It signals an understanding that professional development is not a static milestone but a continuous, global process. As respiratory conditions continue to present complex, evolving challenges, the ability for the scientific community to move, share, and collaborate will be the defining factor in the success of future patient outcomes.
For those interested in exploring the breadth of opportunities, the ERS maintains a comprehensive repository of funding resources. Whether you are a clinician looking to master a new diagnostic tool or a researcher seeking to bridge the gap between your lab and clinical practice, the VISIT Grants offer a unique opportunity to expand your horizons and contribute to the global advancement of respiratory science.
For full details on eligibility, application forms, and deadline reminders, please visit the ERS VISIT Grant page. To review all available ERS funding opportunities, visit the Fellowship and Funding portal.
