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About IRC
Learn about the International Respiratory Coalition’s mission, structure and our key achievements.
Who we are and what we do
The International Respiratory Coalition (IRC) was founded in 2021 to tackle one of global health’s most overlooked challenges: the global burden of respiratory disease. It affects 2.73 billion people worldwide, is a leading cause of death and disability, but a significant proportion of this burden is preventable.
IRC brings together national coalitions of clinicians, patients, scientists and policymakers to drive the development and implementation of national respiratory health strategies that address prevention, treatment and care. The ultimate goal is to reduce respiratory disease-related mortality by a third globally by 2030, in line with the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
Since launching, IRC has grown to 21 national coalitions representing more than 150 organisations. They share data, resources and learning across borders to build the momentum that governments cannot ignore. Supporting that advocacy is IRC’s Lung Facts resource, making WHO European Region data on the burden and costs of respiratory disease freely accessible to coalitions, clinicians and policymakers.
Our structure
IRC is guided by a Leadership Committee comprised of the European Respiratory Society (ERS) and European Lung Foundation (ELF) leadership, representing healthcare professionals and patients across Europe, chaired by Professor Anita Simonds, past-President of the ERS (2020 to 2021) and Honorary Consultant in Respiratory and Sleep Medicine at Royal Brompton Hospital. IRC was chaired by Professor Guy Joos from 2021 to 2025.
Since 2026, IRC has operated under an industry sponsorship model – an evolution that strengthens IRC’s ability to lead on advocacy while reinforcing the independence and integrity that underpins all of its work. Industry remains a vital enabler, and their support is what makes IRC’s global ambitions possible.
Our stakeholders
IRC leadership is provided by ERS and ELF:
Additional stakeholders include the IRC National Coalitions and:
Funding support is provided by:
Get involved
Whether you are a clinician, patient organisation, policy maker or potential supporter, there are ways to get involved with IRC and its national coalitions.