National Lung Course 2026

National course on lung diseases and lung research for those early in their careers

When: 9-11 March 2026
Where: Hotel de Werelt, Lunteren
Registration timeframe: 4 November - 15 December 2025.

Preliminary Program 2026
Maximum class size: 30 people, first come basis.

The primary target audience of the course consists of PhD students (or Master's students likely to begin a PhD in the respiratory field within the next year) and early-stage postdoctoral fellows with backgrounds in clinical, translational, and/or basic sciences. No further restrictions on admission apply. The course aims to enhance understanding of the broader field of pulmonary research and foster networking within the national professional community.

Teaching goals

The course employs a combination of reading literature, lectures, group work, and interactive workshops.

At the end of the course the participant has knowledge about:

The structure and function of the lung.
The pathogenesis and pathophysiology of pulmonary diseases, including asthma, COPD, interstitial lung disease, lung infections, lung cancer, and vascular lung disease.
The impact of these lung diseases on healthcare and patients' quality of life.
The use of advanced in vitro models in respiratory medicine research.
Pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatments for these lung diseases.
Career prospects in science in the Netherlands and abroad.

Education Load

The NRS National Lung Course consists of concentrated lectures over three days, totaling 24 contact hours. Preparation through relevant literature review is required before the lectures. For this year's student assignment, participants are expected to collaborate in the form of a Journal Club. Collaboration with fellow participants from other centers is expected (details will be provided after the class is complete). Collectively, this course and preparation are estimated to require a total of 70 hours.

Practicalities

Accommodation: Participants will be allocated shared double rooms, each equipped with separate twin beds. If you would like a single room, there will be an additional 70 euros will be added to your registration fee. You have the option to specify the name of your preferred roommate. Please kindly inform us of your choice by 2 February 2026. After this date, participants who have not paid the single room surcharge will be assigned a roommate of the same sex.
Registration Costs: The cost of participating in the National Lung Course is € 150 for NRS members and €650 for non-members (please make sure you have paid your membership fee in 2025 and 2026). The fee covers the 3-day course including meals and 2 overnight stays at Hotel de Werelt, Lunteren. The fee can be transferred to the NRS bank account, IBAN: NL56RABO0115740902, mentioning "National Lung Course 2026".
Cancellation Policy: After 1 February 2026, the organizers reserve the right to retain the full registration fee to cover administrative and reservation costs.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Registration is only complete once the registration fee has been paid. Please pay your registration fee within 2 weeks of registering for the course, otherwise your name will be erased from our list.

Accreditation

If a student wishes to apply for education credits from the NRS, they must have fully participated in the NRS National Lung Course AND attended a minimum of two NRS symposia. Upon completion of both components, students may apply for 5 ECTS credits. It is also possible to participate in the individual course and symposia, without seeking ECTS accreditation.

Questions concerning the course can be directed at the NRS secretary Michelle Yang at nrs@nrs-science.nl.