Call for papers: Occupational lung diseases
Published in Healthcare & Nursing and General & Internal Medicine
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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BMC Pulmonary Medicine
This journal is an open access, peer-reviewed journal that considers articles on all aspects of the prevention, diagnosis and management of pulmonary and associated disorders, as well as related molecular genetics, pathophysiology, and epidemiology.
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Artificial intelligence and machine learning: applications in pulmonary medicine
BMC Pulmonary Medicine is calling for submissions to our Collection on Artificial intelligence and machine learning: applications in pulmonary medicine. Advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) have the potential to revolutionize pulmonary medicine by enabling innovative approaches to diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of pulmonary disorders. In this era of rapid technological advancements, AI can assist in early detection, risk assessment, and prognostic evaluation by analyzing large datasets, thus leading to improved patient outcomes and better management strategies.
BMC Pulmonary Medicine is launching this collection in alignment with the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 3: Good health and well-being and SDG 10: Reduced inequalities. The aim of this collection is to consolidate both fundamental and clinical research to advance our comprehension of pulmonary disorders.
BMC Pulmonary Medicine welcomes original research on the design, implementation, optimization, and clinical impact of AI applications in the field of pulmonary medicine. Topics of interest include, but are not limited to, the following:
• Machine learning (ML) algorithms for early detection of pulmonary diseases
• AI applications for diagnostic accuracy studies
• AI systems as an intervention in live clinical settings
• Predictive modeling using AI for personalized risk assessment of pulmonary disorders
• Application of AI in pulmonary imaging analysis
• Utilizing natural language processing and AI for analyzing electronic health records in pulmonary care
• Exploring the potential of AI in optimizing pulmonary surgical procedures
• Wearable devices and AI algorithms for continuous monitoring of pulmonary health
• AI-enabled precision medicine approaches for personalized treatment
• AI-powered automated risk scoring systems for exacerbations of pulmonary diseases
• Ethical considerations and challenges in the implementation of AI in pulmonary medicine
We encourage the use of standardized reporting guidelines for research with AI/ ML components to encourage authors to provide information to allow their work to be evaluated appropriately. Reporting guidelines and checklists have been developed for a broad range of study design and research types with AI/ML components.
Publishing Model: Open Access
Deadline: Jul 29, 2025
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
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