About ERN LUNG
Expertise
patients
clinicians
ERN-LUNG Academy

The ERN-LUNG Academy is a curriculum for medical staff at any stage of their career, who wishes to get a proof of knowledge on rare respiratory diseases. It consists of Webinars and eCases, but also includes on-site training in ERN-LUNG Centers. We call for applications from participants of EU-member States from September to November each year. Classes start in January. If you wish to apply for next yearโ€™s class, please send a letter of motivation to info@ern-lung.eu

ERN-LUNG Online advance system

The EXpert Advisory BOard (EXABO) is a pan-European internet platform, which has been developed in the context of ERN-LUNG in liaison with the Medical Informatics Group of University Hospital Frankfurt, to answer questions on all aspects of rare respiratory diseases. The platform is primarily aimed at patients and care team members but is openly accessible by anyone who wants to ask a related question.

NETWORK
News

5th National Congress on Sarcoidosis Diagnosis and Treatment

DATE:ย  17 Apr 2026 – 18 Apr 2026
TIME: 0:00

17-18 April 2026

The ACSI (Friends Against Sarcoidosis Italy) Association and its President dr Filippo Martone are pleased to announce the

FIFTH NATIONAL CONFERENCE ON SARCOIDOSIS DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT: Evolution and new paradigms.

Sarcoidosis is a rare, chronic, systemic granulomatous inflammatory disease characterised by high clinical heterogeneity. It can be asymptomatic, constituting an incidental diagnostic finding, or it can manifest with multi-organ involvement and a chronic course, often associated with pre-existing or time-dependent comorbidities.
A significant proportion of patients โ€“ estimated between 30% and 50% โ€“ present complex forms, burdened by a high morbidity load, determined not only by the direct manifestations of the disease,
but also by the presence of concomitant or emerging comorbidities and the side effects of prolonged therapies, particularly those based on corticosteroids and immunosuppressants.
These conditions have a significant impact on patientsโ€™ quality of life, with important psychosocial repercussions and reduced working capacity, which also translate into significant socio-economic costs
Despite advances in research, sarcoidosis remains a largely โ€œorphanโ€ disease: little known, often underestimated in its severity and sometimes mistakenly considered a benign and self-limiting condition. This perception contributes to diagnostic delays, inadequate treatment and fragmented management that is not commensurate with the clinical complexity of patients.
The systemic nature of the disease, together with the frequent presence of comorbidities, requires an integrated and multidisciplinary clinical approach, which can only be achieved in reference centres with specific expertise, adequate resources and a strong involvement in scientific research and the development of new therapeutic options.
In recent years, sarcoidosis has received increasing attention thanks to the joint efforts of national European patient associations, leading international scientific societies (WASOG, ELF, ERS) and supranational organisations affiliated with the European Commission, such as the ERN Lung Sarcoidosis Core Network, which are working to accelerate research and redefine diagnostic and therapeutic paradigms.
This is the context for the 5th National Congress on the Diagnosis and Treatment of Sarcoidosis โ€“ โ€œEvolution and New Paradigmsโ€, which represents an important opportunity for multidisciplinary discussion to explore the many aspects of the disease. Thanks to the contribution of authoritative national and international experts, the main clinical and management aspects of sarcoidosis will be discussed, with particular attention to technological innovation, quality of life, the psychosocial dimension and the psychological care of patients.
The aim is to promote an increasingly in-depth understanding of sarcoidosis, its etiopathogenetic mechanisms and its manifestations, in order to improve the diagnostic-therapeutic approach,
enhance care and progress towards a definitive cure.

Check out the Congress poster