WHO WE ARE
The Dyspnea Society is an international multidisciplinary community that promotes collegial exchange amongst scientific and clinical professionals. Our aim is to advance the scientific understanding of dyspnea and it's translation to clinical practice. More about us.
WHAT IS DYSPNEA?
Dyspnea is the clinical term for the feeling of uncomfortable breathing, such as of 'breathlessness' or 'shortness of breath'. It is a common symptom and can severely impact patients' lives. The Dyspnea Society seeks to gain a better understanding of how dyspnea arises and how it can be managed.
MEMBERSHIP
Members of the Dyspnea Society include scientists and clinicians from around the world who are dedicated to improving our understanding and management of patients' breathing discomfort. If you are interested in becoming a member, find out more.
Better Dyspnea Management through Research
Dyspnea 2024, Montreal
June 26th: Welcome reception
June 27-28th: DYSPNEA 2024
The 7th international scientific meeting of The Dyspnea Society is returning to Montreal, Quebec, Canada from June 26-28, 2024.
Join our mailing list below to get meeting updates.
Better Research through Collaboration
Understanding Mechanisms, Measurement and Management
We are delighted to announce that fundraising has started for the Booth Breathlessness Research Prize hosted by the Dyspnea Society. This prize will honour Sara Booth’s immense legacy by rewarding and encouraging highest quality applied research in the field of chronic breathlessness to improve the care of people suffering from this disabling and distressing symptom.
Dr Sara Booth was a pioneering UK doctor who became known internationally for her ground-breaking work on the management of chronic breathlessness. She set up the Cambridge Breathlessness Intervention Service in 2003, to address the relative neglect of this debilitating symptom. This was the first service for people with intractable breathlessness caused by any underlying condition. Underpinned by rigorous research, it has since been emulated in many countries. Patients and their carers receive symptom-direct support with predominantly non-pharmacological self-management techniques, in parallel with optimal medical management of the underlying long-term condition(s) causing the breathlessness.
In 2022, Sara sadly died at the age of 63. Her colleagues, friends and family have set up the Booth Breathlessness Research Prize in Sara’s memory. As a tribute to Sara’s visionary and inspiring work, this prize aims to recognise the next generation of researchers endeavouring to improve the quality of life of the many people suffering from this distressing and debilitating symptom.
KEYNOTE SPEAKER. Dr. Magnus Ekström will give a keynote presentation on the performance and use of normative reference equations to assess exertional breathlessness during cardiopulmonary cycle exercise testing and the 6-minute walk test. Don’t miss Dr. Ekström’s presentation by registering now for Dyspnea 2024!
Because when you can't breathe, nothing else matters
PLENARY SPEAKER. One of the highlights of Dyspnea 2024 will be Dr. Alan Hamilton’s plenary presentation, titled "From Academia to Industry to Patient Advocate - Lessons Learned About Exertional Dyspnea and Activity Limitation Along the Way." Dr. Hamilton is Senior Director of Research and PIVOT Program Lead with the COPD Foundation (USA).
KEYNOTE SPEAKER. Dr. J Alberto Neder's keynote presentation titled "Pathophysiological Mechanisms of Exertional Dyspnea in People with Cardiopulmonary Disease - Recent Advances." Dr. Neder’s clinical, research and teaching interests include dyspnea, COPD, COPD-heart failure overlap, interstitial lung disease, and rehabilitation.
PLENARY SPEAKER: Dr. Paul W. Davenport’s plenary presentation titled “The Evolution of Respiratory Interoception: My career as a Dyspnea Scientist - Past, Present, and Future.” Dr. Paul W. Davenport, PhD is a respiratory physiologist and Distinguished Professor in the Department of Physiological Sciences at the University of Florida, Gainesville, USA. Over the years since 1975, Dr. Davenport has carried out dyspnea-related research in respiratory load compensation, psychophysics, afferent transduction properties, respiratory-related evoked potentials, Red Alert Asthmatics, animal models of load perception, respiratory muscle strength training, the Urge-to-Cough, neural networks for respiratory defensive reflexes, mechanosensory perception, affect and behavioral compensation, respiratory loads as a brain neural processing probe and affective responses to loaded breathing.
Register now and submit your abstracts to showcase your research and connect with dyspnea scientists from around the world. Visit the Dyspnea 2024 website for more information about the scientific programme, speakers, and networking/socializing opportunities!
Abstract submission closes Sunday, May 19, 2024.
Early bird registration closes Friday, May 31, 2024.
We look forward to seeing you in Montreal!
