April 4^th - 5^th 2025, Bled

7^TH SOUTH EASTERN EUROPEAN MEETING

SEVERE ASTHMA FORUM

Registration

Abstracts

April 4^th - 5^th 2025, Bled

7^TH SOUTH EASTERN EUROPEAN MEETING

SEVERE ASTHMA FORUM

Registration

Abstracts

About the meeting

Dear colleagues

Slovenian Respiratory Society organizes 7^th Severe Asthma Forum, South – East European Meeting.

The main aim of the Congress is to bring together respiratory and immunology medical doctors, researches and nurses from the region and offer an opportunity to discuss and present the results of scientific and clinical work.

You are kindly invited to attend the Congress and participate actively by submitting abstracts dedicated for poster session.

We look forward to welcoming you on Bled, Slovenia in April 2025.

Assoc. Prof. Sabina Škrgat, MD
President of Scientific Committee

Prof. Mitja Košnik, MD
President of the Congress Organising Committee

Meet the SAF Committees

ORGANISING COMMITTEE

Mitja Košnik, Robert Marčun, Sabina Škrgat

SCIENTIFIC COMMITTEE

Sabina Škrgat, Peter Korošec, Ramesh Kurukulaaratchy, Stefano Del Giacco, Marina Lampalo, Sanja Hromiš, Peter Kopač, Natalija Edelbaher

Scientific Programme

Friday, 4th April 2025

08.30-08.40: Introduction

08.40-09.45: Basic science in severe asthma: what is new (Peter Korošec, Ramesh Kurukulaaratchy)

08.40-09.05: Peter Korošec: Basic science in severe asthma: Pathophysiology and mechanisms

09.05-09.30: Matija Rijavec: Basic science in severe asthma: Biomarkers and genetics

09.30-09.45: Discussion

09.45-11.15: Problematic case reports with discussion/workshop – 1st part (Ramesh Kurukulaaratchy, Sabina Škrgat)

9.45-10.05: Saša Rink: Development of Allergic Bronchopulmonary Mycosis During Benralizumab Treatment

10.05-10.25: Žiga Piletič: Steroid burden in asthma – a case report

10.25-10.45: Anamarija Štajduhar, Marina Lampalo: Complicated asthma in an obese patient

10.45-11.05: Ivan Čekerevac: Hypereosinophilia and severe asthma

11.05-11.15: Additional discussion time (if needed)

11.15-11.35: Coffee break

11.35-13.20: Perspectives and clinical outcomes in severe asthma (Stefano Del Giacco, Mihaela Zidarn)

11.35-12.05: Ramesh Kurukulaaratchy: Comorbidities and Multimorbidity – Important New Perspectives in Severe Asthma

12.05-12.30: Stefano Del Giacco: Remission in asthma

12.30-12.55: Sabina Škrgat: Outcomes and challenges in severe asthma with fungal senzitisation

12.55-13.20: Discussion

13.20- 13.40: Satelitte symposium AstraZeneca: Stefano Del Giacco, Unlocking Airways: Benralizumab’s Pioneering Role in Severe Asthma Management

13.40-14.30: Lunch

14.30-16.30: Reports from clinics and real life studies (Peter Kopač, Branislava Milenković)

14.30-14.45: Sanja Hromiš: Weight-adjusted biologic therapy – are there some benefits?

14.45-15.00: Mirna Vergles: A new rhythm in severe asthma management: extending the intervals for biologics?

15.00-15.15: Irena Šarc: Biologic Therapy in eosinophil COPD: Insights from Our Clinical Experience

15.15-15.30: Peter Kopač: The Significance of Eosinophil Location in Severe Asthma: Insights from Induced Sputum

15.30-15.45: Luka Kunej, Sabina Škrgat: Clinical and molecular response to dupilumab treatment in patients with eosinophilic asthma

15.45-16.15: Discussion

16.15-16.35: Satelitte symposium AstraZeneca: Mark Kačar, Saša Rink, Natalija Edelbaher: TSLP – This Special Little Protein, what it does and how it can help us

16.35-17.00: Coffee break

17.00-18.15: Problematic case reports with discussion – 2nd part (Ivan Čekerevac, Žarko Vrbica)

17.00-17.20: Marija Gomerčić Palčić: Patient with Severe Eosinophilic Asthma and CRSwNP Who Developed EGPA While Being Treated with Benralizumab

17.20-17.40: Jasmina Bošnjić: Asthma and pulmonary embolism

17.40-18.00: Špela Kosi: The Importance of Diagnosing and Treating OSA in Patients with Severe Asthma

18.00-18.15: Additional discussion time (if needed)

18:15-19:05: Satelitte symposium Sanofi. From Clinical Trials to Real Life: How Dupilumab is Changing Practice (Jure Urbančič)

Jure Urbančič: Introduction: T2I is the common denominator

Mirna Vergles: Severe asthma: Can clinical remission be achieved?

Mihkel Plaas: Is precision medicine possible for CRSwNP?

Panel discussion

20.00: Dinner

Saturday, 5th April 2025

Comorbidities in severe asthma and MDT approach

Part 1 (Matevž Harlander, Natalija Edelbeher)

8.15-8.35: Miodrag Janić: Diabetes/obesity/severe asthma

8.35-8.55: Alojzija Hočevar: EGPA from reumatologist perspective

8.55-9.15: Jure Urbančič: EIT specialist in severe asthma patient

9.15-9.35: Ana Komlenić: Psychologist – Basic personality traits of severe asthma patients and their impact on treatment outcomes

9.35-9.50: Discussion: Part 1

9:50 Satellite symposium Berlin-Chemie Peter Kopač: Airway Remodeling in Asthma and the Effects of Mepolizumab Treatment

Part 2 (Ramesh Kurukulaaratchy, Sanja Hromiš)

10.05-10.30: Kristina Ziherl: The Challenge of Comorbid OSA in Patients with Severe and Difficult-to-Treat Asthma

10.30-10.55: Matjaž Fležar: Functional algorithm for severe airway disease; from diagnosis to follow-up and fenotipization

10.55-11.15: Discussion: Part 2

11.15: End of the conference and closing remarks (Sabina Škrgat)

Farewell cocktail

SAF 2025 Speakers

Jasmina Bošnjić, PhD, MD
Prof. Ivan Čekerevac, MD
Prof. Stefano Del Giacco, MD
Assoc. prof. Matjaž Fležar, MD
Assist. prof. Marija Gomerčić, MD
Assoc. prof. Alojzija Hočevar, MD
Assist. prof. Sanja Hromiš, MD
Assist. prof. Miodrag Janić, MD

Ana Komlenić, PhD, psychologist
Prof. Peter Korošec, Ph.D., CLG
Assist. prof. Peter Kopač, MD
Špela Kosi, MD
Luka Kunej, medical student
Prof. Ramesh J Kurukulaaratchy DM FRCP
Assist. prof. Marina Lampalo, MD
Žiga Piletič, MD

Assist. prof. Matija Rijavec, PhD
Assist. Saša Rink, MD
Assist. mag. Irena Šarc, MD
Assoc. prof. Sabina Škrgat, MD
Jure Urbančič, MD
Prim. Mirna Vergles, MD
Assist. Kristina Ziherl, MD

Venue & Accomodation

Bled

With immense natural beauty, Bled, together with its surroundings, ranks among the most beautiful alpine resorts, renowned for its mild, healing climate and thermal lake water. The beauty of the mountains reflected on the lake, the sun, the serenity and the fresh air arouse pleasant feelings in visitors throughout the year, guaranteeing an ideal base or a relaxing break or an active holiday. Bled attracts businessmen, artists, athletes, explorers, sport enthusiasts, the old and the young, from all over the world, enchanting them to return again and again.

Source: www.bled.si

Rikli Balance Hotel – Sava Hotels Bled

The Rikli Balance Hotel offers guests what the Swiss healer Arnold Rikli found along Lake Bled 200 years ago – balance, tranquillity and well-being. At the Rikli Balance Hotel, we continue his tradition with the desire and commitment to offer our guests the perfect environment to relax and overcome stress. Guests can enjoy beautiful views from rooms which are decorated in the style of local stories, from the restaurant, the pool complex with indoor and outdoor thermal pools, from the saunas, and from the conference rooms. Treat yourself to a few days of relaxation on the shores of Lake Bled!

Source: www.sava-hotels-resorts.com

General Information

Participation fee

Participation fee is free of charge. The number of participants at the meeting is limited.

Congress Language

The 7^th Severe Asthma Forum’s official Congress language is English.

Key Dates

Abstract submission deadline: March 15^th, 2025.
Deadline for registration: March 30^th, 2025.

Certificate of Attendance

After the meeting participants will receive a certificate of attendance and can claim credits for participation.

Hotel Booking

Participants should book hotel accommodation individually. As Bled is a very popular destination, it is for you to book as early as possible. To book a hotel room, please click here to access the official booking website.

Hotel Parking

Guests who are staying at Sava Hotels Bled and using the hotel car parks will be charged a parking fee of EUR 10 per day (one day means 24 hours, starting at 14.00 on the day of arrival and ending at 14.00 on the day of departure).

Contact Us

Do you have a question regarding the SEVERE ASTHMA FORUM or the registration process? Please send us an email or contact us and we’ll do our best to help you.

Questions regarding SAF meeting:

Slovenian Respiratory Society
Golnik 36, 4204 Golnik
https://www.zps-slo.si/

Contact person:

Mrs. Vesna Martinc
E-mail: vesna.martinc@klinika-golnik.si

SAF organising committee: