The Spanish Society of Pneumology and Thoracic Surgery (SEPAR) brings together nearly 6,000 specialists in this field. Its main objective is to promote research, training and the dissemination of information on respiratory diseases, which are one of the main causes of death in Europe.

Recently, the 57th edition of the SEPAR National Congress took place. This event is the most important scientific meeting on respiratory diseases held in Spanish and is a unique opportunity to learn about the latest advances in the prevention and treatment of respiratory diseases. It also hosts the Manuel Tapia Conference, a plenary conference named in honour of one of the most prominent figures in 20th century pneumology and the founder of SEPAR. Each year, an internationally renowned pulmonologist is invited to give a lecture in recognition of his or her research career.

In 2024, the guest was Dr Marc Miravitlles, a specialist in pneumology at the Vall d'Hebron University Hospital and a researcher in the Pneumology group at the Vall d'Hebron Research Institute (VHIR). Miravitlles used the lecture to discuss the main milestones of his professional career at Vall d'Hebron in the field of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency (AATD). This includes the coordination of the three most important national epidemiological studies on COPD and the Spanish clinical practice guideline for the treatment of COPD. He was also a pioneer in the treatment of AATD, founder of the Spanish AATD registry and coordinator of the European clinical guideline for the treatment of AATD and the world's largest AATD registry from the VHIR.

In keeping with tradition, Miravitlles was made an honorary member of SEPAR at this key event, an honour that had previously been bestowed on only one other researcher from Vall d'Hebron, Dr Ferran Morell Brotad.