13 July, 2026 — In a strategic move to bolster the global respiratory research and clinical landscape, the European Respiratory Society (ERS) has officially unveiled the Visiting Mid-Career Investigator Travel (VISIT) Grants programme. This initiative marks a significant shift in the society’s professional development strategy, specifically targeting a demographic often overlooked by traditional early-career funding: the mid-career professional. By providing the financial and logistical support necessary for international mobility, the ERS aims to foster a new generation of leaders capable of addressing the world’s most pressing respiratory health challenges.
Main Facts: Redefining Professional Mobility
The VISIT Grants programme is designed as a short-term, high-impact intervention. It enables mid-career investigators, clinicians, and allied healthcare professionals to embed themselves in an institution outside of their home country for a duration of up to one month.
Unlike long-term fellowships that require extended leaves of absence, the VISIT programme is tailored to the reality of established professionals who hold significant responsibilities in their home institutions. The grants are intended to facilitate:
- Knowledge Exchange: Direct observation and participation in advanced clinical or research environments.
- Collaborative Synergy: Strengthening ties between international laboratories, university departments, and clinical centres to launch future joint ventures.
- Skill Diversification: Acquiring specialized techniques or management practices that are not currently accessible in the applicant’s home setting.
The programme is global in scope, reflecting the ERS’s commitment to breaking down geographical barriers in medical science. Whether the applicant is based in a European hospital or a research centre on another continent, the initiative is designed to encourage cross-pollination of ideas and expertise.
Chronology of Development: A Strategic Roadmap
The introduction of the VISIT programme follows a comprehensive review of the ERS’s existing education and professional development portfolio. For decades, the society has focused heavily on early-career researchers through its Long-Term Research Fellowships (LTRF). However, feedback from the membership indicated a growing "mid-career chasm"—a period where clinicians and researchers often plateau due to a lack of funding for specialized, short-term international development.
- Q1 2026: ERS leadership identifies the need for a mobility grant that fits the complex schedules of senior professionals.
- Q2 2026: Development of the VISIT grant framework, focusing on accessibility, inclusivity, and high-impact institutional partnerships.
- 13 July 2026: Official launch of the programme.
- July–October 2026: Open call for applications.
- 31 October 2026: Final deadline for the inaugural round of applications.
This rollout coincides with the final month of the 2026 Long-Term Research Fellowships call, creating a synergistic effect across the society’s educational offerings. By positioning these two programmes side-by-side, the ERS is effectively mapping out a professional lifecycle for respiratory experts, from their initial research stages to their established careers.
Supporting Data: Why Mid-Career Support Matters
In the field of respiratory medicine, the pace of technological and diagnostic innovation is unprecedented. From the application of Artificial Intelligence in lung imaging to the development of novel monoclonal antibodies for severe asthma, the "skills gap" between what is learned in residency and what is required for clinical leadership is widening.
Data from recent ERS member surveys indicate that:
- Professional Stagnation: Approximately 45% of mid-career members report that their clinical or research methodology has not significantly evolved in the last five years due to a lack of international exposure.
- The Collaboration Deficit: While digital communication has improved, 72% of respiratory professionals cite "in-person observation" as the most effective way to adopt complex clinical workflows or laboratory techniques.
- Global Health Equity: There is a persistent disparity in the distribution of high-level respiratory research infrastructure. The VISIT grant is explicitly designed to act as a bridge, allowing professionals from resource-limited settings to spend time in leading global hubs, subsequently bringing that knowledge back to their home systems.
The ERS has recognized that by investing in this specific cohort, they are ensuring the sustainability of the global respiratory workforce, which is currently facing increased pressure from rising rates of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), post-viral lung complications, and environmental respiratory challenges.
Official Responses: A Vision for the Future
Dr. Agnes Boots, the ERS Fellowships and Awards Director, has been a driving force behind the creation of the VISIT grants. In a formal statement released alongside the launch, she highlighted the necessity of mobility in scientific and clinical evolution.
"We are incredibly excited to launch the all-new VISIT Grants, which are designed to support mid-career respiratory professionals who are progressing between career stages and wish to further develop their expertise," Dr. Boots stated. "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."
Addressing the broader mission of the ERS, Dr. Boots emphasized that the grants are about more than just travel; they are about values. "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 is clear: the ERS views these grants as an investment in the human capital of global respiratory medicine. By removing financial barriers to travel, the society is actively fostering a community where the best ideas are not contained within borders, but shared across them.
Implications: The Long-Term Impact on Respiratory Health
The launch of the VISIT programme carries significant implications for the future of the field. By enabling a mid-career professional to spend a month at a world-class institution, the ERS is catalyzing a ripple effect.
1. Accelerating Clinical Innovation
When a clinician learns a new surgical technique or a diagnostic protocol in a foreign country, they do not just take that skill home—they implement it in their hospital, train their colleagues, and adapt it to their local patient population. This elevates the standard of care far beyond the individual recipient of the grant.
2. Strengthening Global Networks
The respiratory field is often fragmented by local regulatory requirements and institutional silos. The VISIT grants facilitate personal relationships that form the bedrock of long-term collaborative research. These personal connections are often the precursor to multi-center clinical trials, which are essential for producing robust, generalizable medical data.
3. Promoting Equity and Inclusion
By opening the programme globally, the ERS is taking a firm stance against the "brain drain" and the isolation of researchers in developing nations. Providing funding for travel ensures that the opportunity for high-level professional growth is based on merit and potential, rather than the financial capacity of an individual’s home institution.
4. Strategic Succession Planning
Mid-career professionals are the future leaders of respiratory medicine. By supporting them during this pivotal phase, the ERS is ensuring that the next generation of department heads, principal investigators, and policy advisors are globally minded, technically proficient, and well-connected within the international scientific community.
How to Apply: A Path to Growth
For those interested in applying for the 2026 cycle, the ERS has streamlined the process. The focus is on the intent of the visit—applicants must provide a clear proposal detailing how the visit will enhance their current work, the specific skills they hope to acquire, and how they plan to disseminate this knowledge upon their return.
Potential applicants are encouraged to review the full eligibility requirements on the official ERS VISIT Grant portal. The application deadline of 31 October 2026 is firm, and the society has urged prospective candidates to begin identifying host institutions and discussing collaborative goals well in advance.
As the respiratory health landscape continues to evolve in complexity, the ERS VISIT Grants stand as a beacon of forward-thinking professional development. By valuing the experienced, yet growing, professional, the ERS is not merely funding travel; it is building the infrastructure of future respiratory medicine. Whether it is through the refinement of a clinical procedure or the establishment of a new research collaboration, the VISIT grants are poised to leave a lasting mark on the global fight for respiratory health.
For those interested in exploring the full spectrum of ERS funding opportunities—including the ongoing Long-Term Research Fellowships—the society provides a comprehensive directory of fellowships. In an era defined by global connectivity, the ERS is ensuring that its members remain at the forefront of the scientific and clinical frontier.
