Modelling the lungs for the benefit of patients

The lung diseases asthma and COPD create an enormous burden on the EU economy through associated disability and health care utilisation. Both diseases may be characterised by structural and functional processes in the small airways that underpin the pathogenesis of spirometric airflow obstruction. The seminar will (i) Outline the role of the small airways in asthma and COPD,(ii) focus upon the challenges of measuring structure and function in the small airway compartment and (iii) the potential value of computational modelling and functional imaging approaches in this field. Finally the opportunity to develop modelling outcomes for the benefit of patients and personalised medicines.