Systemic autoimmune disorders frequently involve the lungs, presenting significant challenges in both diagnosis and management. This special edition of Respiratory Research aims to explore the latest advancements in understanding, diagnosing, and treating pulmonary manifestations of autoimmune diseases, highlighting emerging research that bridges immunology, pulmonology, and rheumatology.

The collection will address the evolving landscape of diagnostic techniques, including imaging, pulmonary function testing, and molecular biomarkers for early detection and disease monitoring. Contributions focusing on novel therapeutic strategies—such as biologics, immunomodulatory agents, and precision medicine approaches—are particularly encouraged. Additionally, we seek insights into the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying lung involvement and interstitial lung diseases in conditions such as systemic sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, and vasculitis, among others.

We welcome original research, systematic reviews, review papers and expert perspectives on topics including:

• Early detection and risk stratification of autoimmune-related lung disease

• Innovations in imaging and functional assessment

• The role of autoantibodies and biomarkers in disease progression and treatment response

• Personalized approaches to immunosuppressive and biologic therapies

• Pulmonary complications of novel rheumatologic treatments

• Multidisciplinary management

• Artificial intelligence in patient-centered care

By bringing together cutting-edge research, this special edition aims to foster a deeper understanding of autoimmune-related lung disease and inform future diagnostic and therapeutic strategies. We invite researchers and clinicians to contribute to this dynamic and rapidly evolving field.

We recognize that many key stakeholders may not have access to such resources and are committed to supporting participation in this issue wherever resources are a barrier. For more information about what support may be available, please visit OA funding and support, or email OAfundingpolicy@springernature.com or contact the Editor-in-Chief.

This Collection supports and amplifies research related to SDG 3, Good Health and Well-Being.

Respiratory Research is calling for submissions to our Collection on Human precision cut lung slices: an ex vivo platform for therapeutic target discovery and drug testing in lung disease. Precision cut lung slices (PCLS) have been utilized in many facets of respiratory research since the late 1970’s, with studies encompassing a multitude of areas including: toxicology, metabolism (both drug metabolism and cellular metabolism), drug discovery, lung cancer biology, obstructive and fibrotic lung diseases, respiratory pathogen exposure, the mechanics of breathing, and vascular lung disease. Whether derived from experimental animal models, or from human lungs, the use of PCLS enabled significant progress to be made in the understanding of responses from an integrated cell system, thereby providing a greater understanding of basic mechanisms underlying aspects of lung biology, but also how the pathogenesis of lung disease(s) occur(s). PCLS provides a platform for therapeutic drug discovery and testing to reverse or prevent the pathogenesis of lung disease.

This collection of articles will include short reports, full length research articles, and reviews of current literature.

This Collection supports and amplifies research related to SDG 3, Good Health and Well-Being.

All submissions in this collection undergo the journal’s standard peer review process. Similarly, all manuscripts authored by a Guest Editor(s) are handled by the Editor-in-Chief. As an open access publication, this journal levies an article processing fee (details here). We recognize that many key stakeholders may not have access to such resources and are committed to supporting participation in this issue wherever resources are a barrier. For more information about what support may be available, please visit OA funding and support, or email OAfundingpolicy@springernature.com or the Editor-in-Chief.