Call for papers: Occupational lung diseases

BMC Pulmonary Medicine warmly welcomes submissions to its new article Collection on occupational lung diseases.
Call for papers: Occupational lung diseases
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BMC Pulmonary Medicine is calling for submissions to our Collection on Occupational lung diseases, which pose a significant public health and economic challenge worldwide. In Great Britain alone, occupational lung disease leads to an estimated 12,000 deaths and 400,000 lost working days each year. Many of these are serious diseases which can lead to substantial disability or even death, but they are also avoidable through preventive interventions in the workplace.

In support of United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 3: Good health and wellbeing and 10: Reduced inequalities, BMC Pulmonary Medicine has launched this new Collection on Occupational lung disease to bring together basic and clinical research to develop our understanding of such conditions and open new avenues for risk stratification and therapeutic intervention.

BMC Pulmonary Medicine is inviting submissions to a collection on this subject. Topics of interest include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Asthma
• COPDs
• pneumoconioses (e.g. asbestosis, silicosis, Coal workers’ pneumoconiosis)
• respiratory cancers
• diffuse pleural thickening and pleural plaques
• allergic alveolitis and byssinosis

Meet the Guest Editors

Renee Carey: Curtin University, Australia

Dr Renee Carey is a Senior Research Fellow in the School of Population Health at Curtin University in Western Australia. After completing a PhD in Psychology, she worked as a project coordinator on a large-scale epidemiological survey investigating current occupational exposure to carcinogens. Renee has since broadened her research focus to examine various aspects of occupational and cancer epidemiology, including the extent of occupational exposures, the (preventable) burden of disease that might result from these exposures in the future, and the effect of interventions to reduce those exposures and prevent disease. 

Alice Turner: University of Birmingham, UK

Dr Alice Turner is a Professor of Respiratory Medicine at the University of Birmingham. Alice works within a regional UK occupational lung disease center where her research interests are predominantly in clinical aspects of alpha 1 antitrypsin deficiency (AATD) and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Alice has published on occupational risk factors of AATD and supervised doctoral students whose projects examine occupational aspects of lung disease.

Gareth Walters: University of Birmingham, UK

Dr Gareth Walters is a respiratory physician with a specialist interest in work-related airways and interstitial lung diseases. He is clinical lead for the supra-regional NHS Occupational Lung Disease Service at Birmingham Chest Clinic, UK, and an Honorary Senior Clinical Research Fellow at the Institute of Applied Health Research, University of Birmingham where he supervises and carries out research into the causes and impact of these diseases. He is a member of both the Group of Occupational Respiratory Disease Specialists (GORDS) UK and the Industrial Injuries Advisory Council. 

Submission guidelines

This Collection welcomes submission of original Research Articles. Should you wish to submit a different article type, please read our submission guidelines to confirm that type is accepted by the journal. Articles for this Collection should be submitted via our submission system, Snapp. During the submission process you will be asked whether you are submitting to a Collection, please select "Occupational lung disease" from the dropdown menu. 

Articles will undergo the journal’s standard peer-review process and are subject to all of the journal’s standard policies. Articles will be added to the Collection as they are published.

The Guest Editors have no competing interests with the submissions which they handle through the peer review process. The peer review of any submissions for which the Guest Editors have competing interests is handled by another Editorial Board Member who has no competing interests.

Submission Status: Open   |   Submission Deadline: 19 February 2024

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Life Sciences > Health Sciences > Clinical Medicine
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Related Collections

With Collections, you can get published faster and increase your visibility.

Cancer and the lung

BMC Pulmonary Medicine is calling for submissions to our Collection on Cancer and the lung. Lung cancer remains one of the most prevalent forms of cancer worldwide, presenting unique challenges in both diagnosis and treatment. The complexity of lung cancer is exacerbated by the interplay between pulmonary conditions and various risk factors, including smoking, environmental exposures, and genetic predispositions. With advances in research, there is a growing understanding of the molecular mechanisms intertwined with lung cancer development and progression. The need for innovative approaches to diagnosis and treatment, as well as effective management strategies for patients, is more critical than ever in the fight against this devastating disease.

Research in the field of lung cancer has witnessed significant progress, particularly with the advent of targeted therapies and immunotherapies that have transformed treatment paradigms. As we gain more insight into the biology of lung cancer, we are better equipped to tailor therapeutic strategies that not only improve survival rates but also enhance the quality of life for patients. Understanding the role of lung cancer in the context of immunosuppression and infection opens new avenues for enhancing patient outcomes, especially in those with comorbidities. Potential research topics can include but are not limited to:

Mechanisms of lung cancer development

Innovations in lung cancer diagnosis

Immunotherapy and lung cancer treatments

Impact of lung infections in cancer patients

Chemotherapy and its effects on lung health

This Collection supports and amplifies research related to SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being.

Publishing Model: Open Access

Deadline: Mar 11, 2026

COPD in the spotlight

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a progressive and debilitating respiratory condition characterized by airflow limitation, primarily resulting from long-term exposure to harmful substances such as tobacco smoke and environmental pollutants. It encompasses two main conditions: emphysema and chronic bronchitis. Despite its prevalence and the significant burden it imposes on patients and healthcare systems worldwide, COPD remains underdiagnosed and undertreated. Research efforts have focused on understanding the pathophysiology of COPD, identifying risk factors, and developing effective management strategies, making this a critical area of investigation for researchers and clinicians alike.

Addressing COPD is paramount due to its increasing incidence and impact on quality of life for millions of individuals. Recent advances in diagnosis, including imaging techniques and biomarker identification, have enhanced our ability to identify and monitor the disease. Additionally, new treatment modalities, such as targeted therapies and personalized management approaches, have shown promise in improving patient outcomes. As we strive to better understand the complexities of COPD, ongoing research will play a pivotal role in reducing complications and co-morbidities associated with this condition, such as lung cancer and heart disease.

Continued research in this area may lead to breakthroughs in novel therapeutic approaches, including combination therapies that target multiple pathways involved in the disease process. Furthermore, as we gain deeper insights into the mechanisms of COPD, there is potential for the development of preventative strategies that could reduce the onset and progression of this chronic disease, ultimately enhancing patient quality of life and reducing healthcare costs.

Advances in COPD diagnosis

New treatments for COPD

Management strategies and quality of life

Comorbidities associated with COPD

Impact of COPD on lung cancer and heart disease

All manuscripts submitted to this journal, including those submitted to collections and special issues, are assessed in line with our editorial policies and the journal’s peer review process. Reviewers and editors are required to declare competing interests and can be excluded from the peer review process if a competing interest exists.

Publishing Model: Open Access

Deadline: Jan 26, 2026