World Bronchiectasis Conference 2026
What is WBC 2026?
Now in its tenth year, the World Bronchiectasis Conference brings together doctors, researchers, healthcare professionals, industry partners and patient organisations from around the world to share the latest developments in bronchiectasis treatment and research.
For PCD Support UK, the conference was a valuable opportunity to reconnect with UK medical professionals, strengthen international partnerships, and introduce our new Chair, Alex Polak, to many of the experts with whom we have worked for more than 35 years.
What did we achieve?
We were delighted to see PCD so well represented throughout the conference programme. Researchers shared the latest work on understanding the genetics of PCD, learning from international patient registries, improving diagnosis, and developing better approaches to treatment and long-term care. It was particularly encouraging to see growing recognition that PCD has unique needs and should not simply be managed in the same way as other causes of bronchiectasis.
There were also exciting updates from translational research, which aims to turn scientific discoveries into better treatments for patients, as well as studies exploring how PCD affects different populations and improvements in clinical care.
PCD Support UK gave two talks during the conference. The first was in the Association and Patient Hub, where we explored some of the changes PCD Support UK has made to meet the growing demand for support driven by increasing diagnosis rates and advances in research. During the session, we were delighted to announce that, thanks to the incredible fundraising efforts of our community, the Board of Trustees has appointed Lucy as Chief Executive on a part-time basis.
"PCD is a very different disease to a lot of other ones represented here, and we feel strongly as a community and a charity that has been running for over 35 years, that we need to respect it as that, and make sure that the clinical and diagnostic care that fits around it is bespoke to the individual needs of PCD." – Lucy Dixon, Chief Executive, PCD Support UK
We also presented to a scientific and clinical audience in the main auditorium, sharing the patient perspective on research priorities in PCD. During this talk, we presented findings from a recent international study between PCD Support UK, other global PCD patient organisations, the University of Southampton and led by the University of Bern. In this study, people living with PCD identified three clear research priorities:
1. Finding a cure.
2. Developing treatments that improve lung function and reduce infections.
3, Identifying the best ways to manage PCD using existing medications.
We highlighted that patients are not asking researchers to pursue a competing agenda. Instead, they want research that makes a meaningful difference to everyday life. Alongside developing new treatments, people with PCD want research that addresses issues such as mental health, fertility, ENT problems and other aspects of living well with the condition.
You can read more about this research here, and we'll also be publishing an easy-to-read summary of the findings soon.
What's next?
Alongside the conference sessions, we met with colleagues from the UK and around the world to explore how we can better address unmet need for people with PCD in the UK. These conversations will help shape our work over the coming year as we continue to strengthen services, support research and improve patient involvement.
We are now preparing for the Global PCD Conference in Montreal this August, where we look forward to continuing these important discussions with the international PCD community. In the meantime, we'll be working hard behind the scenes to ensure that the incredible fundraising efforts of our community continue to make the greatest possible difference for people living with PCD.
Our thanks go to the organisers of the World Bronchiectasis Conference, who kindly sponsored the attendance of our Chief Executive, Lucy Dixon and Chair, Alex Polak.