THE NEW CHALLENGES OF PULMONOLOGY

ALGHERO – May 29/30, 2026
Hotel Catalunya
Under the patronage of UNISS – University of Sassari.

INTRODUCTION
Chronic respiratory diseases include a wide range of serious pathological conditions that should occupy a central role, due to their severity and prevalence, within our National Health System. They represent one of the main causes of morbidity and mortality and are expected to increase further in the coming years.
According to data from the World Health Organization (WHO), hundreds of millions of people currently suffer from chronic respiratory diseases:
about 300 million with asthma;
80 million with moderate to severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
According to the WHO, the five most important respiratory diseases not only account for 17% of all deaths, but also for 13% of years of life lost in good health, due to disability or death.

The only way to ensure optimal care for patients while keeping public spending sustainable is through the prevention of respiratory diseases, early diagnosis using standardized tools, and the timely use of appropriate therapies capable of preventing or delaying disability. It is also essential to treat chronic patients as much as possible within the community setting. In Italy, respiratory diseases are the third leading cause of death after cardiovascular and neoplastic diseases. Due to the aging population, the prevalence of these conditions is expected to increase further. Despite the existence of effective preventive measures, chronic respiratory diseases are still underestimated, underdiagnosed, undertreated, and insufficiently prevented. Among the most common conditions are: asthma; respiratory allergies; chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD); occupational lung diseases; diffuse interstitial lung diseases; other rare respiratory diseases. It is therefore essential that the pulmonologist maintains a high level of competence and continuous scientific updating. Consider, for example, the evolution of interventional pulmonology over the past twenty years, which has led to the spread of EBUS (Endobronchial Ultrasound), now an indispensable technique for the diagnosis and staging of lung cancer. The main Hot Topics addressed during the congress will be: COPD and bronchial asthma; Interventional pulmonology; Pulmonary oncology; Diffuse interstitial lung diseases; Rare lung diseases. � 18.05.2026 PULMONOLOGY CONGRESS PROGRAM.pdf SCIENTIFIC PROGRAM FRIDAY, MAY 29, 2026 9:30 – Welcome Coffee 9:45 – Participant Registration 10:30 – Opening of the Congress Greetings from the Authorities LECTIO MAGISTRALIS 10:45 “The Mystery Unveiled of Giulia Farnese” Speaker: Francesco Buranelli Former Director of the Vatican Museums I SESSION BRONCHIAL ASTHMA Presidents: Piero Pirina – Pierpaolo Terragni 11:30 Triple Therapy Speaker: Pierachille Santus 11:50 Severe asthma and biological therapy Speaker: Gerolamo Pelaia 12:10 Red Flags in EGPA: biological therapies Speaker: Davide Firinu 12:30 Discussant: Fulvio Braido 12:50 Question Time 13:10 Light Lunch

II SESSION COPD Presidents: Stefano Centanni – Alessandro G. Fois 15:00 Early COPD Speaker: Pietro Pirina 15:20 Triple therapy: a new therapeutic option for general practitioners Speaker: Paolo Onorati 15:40 Mucolytic agents: what role? Speaker: Barbara Piras 16:00 Biological drugs in COPD: deciphering the new therapeutic frontier Speaker: Paola Rogliani 16:20 Question Time III SESSION ILD – Diffuse Interstitial Lung Diseases President: Alessandro G. Fois 16:40 The new classification: what is changing? Speaker: Sara Solveig Fois 17:00 The evolution of therapy in IPF and PPF Speaker: Luca Richeldi 17:20 Smoking-related ILDs: what’s new Speaker Antonella Arcadu 5:40 PM ILD: comparison between an anatomic pathologist and a radiologist Speakers: Alessandra Cancellieri – Giorgia Dalpiaz 6:20 PM Question Time 6:40 PM End of the day's work Social Dinner

SATURDAY, MAY 30, 2026
IV SESSION
INTERVENTIONAL PULMONOLOGY
Presidents: Giorgio Ginesu – Sabrina Sarais
9:00
Nodule Diagnosis: The Challenge of Robotic Bronchoscopy
Speaker: Rocco Trisolini
9:20
The Evolution of EBUS
Speaker: Erika Virdis
9:40
Principles and Techniques of Tracheal Surgery
Speaker: Erino Rendina
10:00
The Anesthetist's Point of View
Speaker: Sandra Magnoni
10:20
Question Time
Discussant: Lorenzo Corbetta
10:40
Coffee Break
V SESSION
BRONCHIECTASIS – LUNG INFECTIONS – ALPHA-1 ANTITRYPSIN DEFICIENCY
Presidents: Paolo Solidoro – Alessandro G. Fois – Nicola Scichilone
11:00
Bronchiectasis: Between Inflammation and Infection
Speaker: Francesco Blasi
11:20
Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency: Diagnosis and Treatment
Speaker: Angelo Corsico
11:40
Lung Infections in Immunocompromised Patients
Speaker: Giordano Madeddu
12:00
Pulmonary Hypertension: The Cardiologist's Point of View
Speaker: Gavino Casu
12:20
Question Time
13:30
Conclusions

SCIENTIFIC RESPONSIBLES Prof. Piero Pirina Professor of Respiratory Diseases Head of the Pneumology and Interventional Clinic Department of Medicine, Surgery and Pharmacy University of Sassari – AOU Sassari Prof. Alessandro G. Fois Full Professor of Respiratory Diseases Head of SSD Bronchial Endoscopy and Interventional Director of the School of Specialization in Pulmonology Department of Medicine, Surgery and Pharmacy University of Sassari – AOU Sassari “18.05.2026 PROGRAM CONGRESS PULMONOLOGY.pdf” SCIENTIFIC SECRETARIAT Francesca Becciu – Sassari Sara Solveig Fois – Sassari Panagiotis Paliogiannis – Sassari Barbara Piras – Sassari Chiara Scala – Sassari Erika Virdis – Sassari “18.05.2026 PROGRAM CONGRESS PULMONOLOGY.pdf” ORGANIZING SECRETARIAT AND PROVIDER Across Sardinia Congressi Provider Standard Agenas n. 311 Viale Italia 12 – 07100 Sassari Tel. 079/2010120 Email: info@acrosscongressi.com Website: www.acrosscongressi.com

CONGRESS VENUE Hotel Catalunya Via Catalogna 22 – 07041 Alghero 18.05.2026 PULMONOLOGY CONGRESS PROGRAM.pdf CME CREDITS The event is accredited by Agenas for 150 Specialist Doctors in the following disciplines: Allergology and Clinical Immunology; Pathological Anatomy; Anesthesia and Resuscitation; General Surgery; Thoracic Surgery; Palliative Care; Epidemiology; Pharmacology and Clinical Toxicology; Gastroenterology; Medical Genetics; Geriatrics; Hygiene, Epidemiology, and Public Health; Respiratory System Diseases; Infectious Diseases; Sports Medicine; Emergency and Acceptance Medicine and Surgery; General Medicine; Internal Medicine; Oncology; Radiodiagnosis; Radiotherapy; Rheumatology.

Clinical documentation.

Diagnostic and rehabilitative clinical-assistance pathways, assistance profiles, and care profiles.  REGISTRATION Registration is mandatory through the completion of the online form on the website: www.acrosscongressi.com The registration fee is €520.00 + 22% VAT and includes: participation in congress activities; congress kit; coffee breaks as per program; 1 working breakfast on May 29; dinner on May 29 at Ristorante Hotel Punta Negra; transfer for the dinner on May 29.  ECM To obtain ECM credits it is mandatory to: attend at least 90% of the training hours; correctly answer at least 75% of the questionnaire; complete the perceived quality evaluation questionnaire.  ATTENDANCE RECORD Attendance will be recorded via barcode present on the congress badge with an optical reader.

Each participant must check their registration both on entry and on exit. LEARNING VERIFICATION The ECM quiz will be carried out online on the website www.acrosscongressi.com after 6:00 PM on May 30. ECM CERTIFICATE The ECM certificate will be downloadable 90 days after the event in the reserved area of the website, following verification of a minimum attendance of 90% and passing the ECM quiz.