From May 16 to 21, the Chiesi Foundation took part in the 2025 ATS International Conference in San Francisco, the leading global event organized by the American Thoracic Society and dedicated to pulmonary, critical care and sleep medicine. Each year, this conference gathers 14,000 healthcare professionals and researchers from around the world, to explore and discuss the latest scientific findings and innovations in patient care.

This year’s conference has been a key opportunity for the Chiesi Foundation to bring visibility to complex health challenges and innovative solutions related to the management of chronic respiratory diseases (CRDs) across the Global South.

 

Studio Talk: “Quality Management of Chronic Respiratory Diseases in Resource-Constrained Countries”

During the conference, a dedicated Studio Talk, titled “Quality Management of Chronic Respiratory Diseases (CRDs) in Resource-Constrained Countries” was held on May 18 at the Moscone Convention Center. The event gathered a diverse panel of global health experts to explore barriers and solutions related to managing CRDs, such as asthma and COPD, in low- and middle-income countries.

Chaired by Dr. Laura Nicolaou, Assistant Professor at Johns Hopkins University, and Dr. Mario Scuri, Chiesi Foundation GASP Technical Advisor, the session focused on three central challenges: adapting international clinical guidelines, like Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) and Global Initiative for COPD (GOLD), to local realities; overcoming systemic barriers, such as limited funding, lack of political will, inadequate healthcare infrastructure, and lack of human resources; and leveraging the role of the philanthropic sector in supporting healthcare initiatives.

The symposium featured four experts who led insightful presentations – each of them addressing a critical perspective of CRDs crisis in different underserved regions:

Dr. William Checkley (MD, PhD), Professor of Medicine at Johns Hopkins University, explored the difficulty of applying international strategies for managing chronic respiratory diseases (CRDs) – particularly COPD – in low-and middle-income countries, highlighting the need for LMIC-specific guidelines to ensure cost-effective prevention, diagnosis, and management of CRDs in these settings.

Dr. Refiloe Masekela (MD, PhD), President of Pan African Thoracic Society (PATS), focused on the challenges of establishing high-quality care programs for respiratory non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in sub-Saharan Africa, addressing key issues including: workforce development, diagnostics, access to affordable medicines, research and policy implementation.

Dr. Sundeep Salvi (MD), President of Pulmocare Research and Education Foundation (PURE), examined access barriers to care for CRDs, outlining the key factors such as shortage of trained personnel, cost of medications, and cultural beliefs that delay diagnosis and treatment.

Massimo Salvadori, Chiesi Foundation Coordinator, illustrated how philanthropic organizations can act as drivers of systemic change by supporting local programs with flexible funding, technical assistance, and long-term partnerships. Case studies from Latin America, Africa, and Asia demonstrated the effective implementation of the Chiesi Foundation’s GASP (Global Access to Sustainable Pulmonology) Model.

These talks offered valuable insights into how international best practices can be adapted to local realities and how sustainable change can be achieved through international collaboration and authentic partnerships across sectors and borders.

Third Meeting of the GASP Technical Advisory Group (TAG)

In addition to our public contribution, the 2025 ATS Conference also offered a strategic opportunity for internal collaboration: the Chiesi Foundation convened the third meeting with its GASP Technical Advisory Group, a multidisciplinary team of four healthcare experts to provide strategic guidance to our work in chronic respiratory diseases (CRDs) management across the Global South.

The session focused on evaluating and refining the implementation of the GASP (Global Access to Sustainable Pulmonology) Model in Peru and Guyana. With the support of the TAG members, the Foundation identified new opportunities to enhance the program effectiveness and ensure local sustainability.

We are deeply grateful to our TAG members MD, PhD William Checkley and PhD Laura Nicolaou from Johns Hopkins University; MD, PhD Refiloe Masekela from Panafrican Thoracic Society; and MD, CM, FRCPC Robert Levy from University of British Columbia, for their continued guidance in helping us support high-quality respiratory care.

We would also like to extend our congratulations to Dr. Refiloe Masekela on receiving the World Lung Health Award, a testament to her impactful work in advancing global lung health, especially through research, care, education, and advocacy aimed at reducing health disparities.

Strengthening Global Partnerships

Another valuable moment to reflect on key global health initiatives, has been the participation in a high-level meeting with the representatives from the ATS.

During the meeting, we had the opportunity to exchange insights and ideas on new initiatives supported by the Foundation, especially regarding our ongoing partnership with the Pan-African Thoracic Society (PATS) in support of MECOR Africa, a program dedicated to building local research and clinical capacity in respiratory health. The session also marked an important milestone: the formalization of the Chiesi Foundation’s donation to ATS MECOR Southeast Asia, further reinforcing our commitment to supporting health workforce development in underserved regions. Both initiatives reflect the importance of investing in the training of local professionals to achieving long-term, sustainable improvements in care delivery and health equity in the Global South.

We would like to thank Delia Naughton, Director of ATS Philanthropy; Cristina Braz, Managing Director of Membership Engagement and Global Health; and Jadir Oliveira, Senior Manager for Global Health; for their valuable contributions to the meeting and their shared vision of impactful action.

Finally, we extend our warmest congratulations to Dr. Raed A. Dweik, newly appointed President of the American Thoracic Society. We look forward to continued collaboration under his leadership.

Looking ahead

The participation in the 2025 ATS Conference reaffirmed our belief in the power of international collaboration: addressing global health challenges requires shared commitment, localized solutions and sustainable change. The conference served not only as a space to exchange scientific knowledge and innovations, but also as a catalyst for action, reinforcing our commitment to equitable access to healthcare for everyone.