Thomas Ferkol, M.D. is a Professor of Pediatrics at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. An American Lung Association Edward Livingston Trudeau Scholar and recipient of the Primary Ciliary Dyskinesia Foundation Golden Cilium Award, his research has largely focused on the development of cell and animal models to study cystic fibrosis and primary ciliary dyskinesia, defining genetic and molecular factors that contribute to chronic airway infection, inflammation, and epithelial injury with almost 30-years of continuous funding from the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Dr. Ferkol currently co-leads the NIH-supported Genetic Disorders of Mucociliary Clearance Consortium, an established, multicenter collaborative that is defining the genetics and pathophysiology of inherited, suppurative lung diseases. He has served on numerous international review groups and study sections, and written or co-authored over 200 original articles, scholarly reviews, and book chapters. Finally, Dr. Ferkol was President of the American Thoracic Society, only the second pediatrician to serve in this capacity during the 120-year history of the organization.

Professor Peter Sly is a former Chairman of the Board of Directors for the Pacific Basin Consortium for the Environment and Health, Director, Children’s Health and Environment Program and Director, WHO Collaborating Centre for Children’s Health and Environment. Professor Sly is a NHMRC Senior Principal Research Fellow and a paediatric respiratory physician with extensive research experience in respiratory physiology, developmental immunology and children’s environmental health. Professor Sly’s research aims to understand the mechanisms underlying chronic childhood lung diseases in order to improve clinical management and to delay or prevent their onset, with consequent reductions in adult lung diseases. A combination of basic science, longitudinal cohort studies and translation of research findings into clinical practice, including clinical trials, are included in three main areas: children’s environmental health, asthma, and cystic fibrosis.

Bruce Rubin is Professor and Chair Emeritus of Pediatrics at Virginia Commonwealth University and Professor of Biomedical Engineering. As a Rhodes Scholar, he trained in Biomedical Engineering at Oxford University and then did his fellowship in Paediatric Respirology at Sick Kids in Toronto. He holds the MD and Masters in Engineering degrees from Tulane, and an MBA degree from Wake Forest University Babcock School of Business. Dr. Rubin received the Forest Bird Lifetime Scientific Achievement Award as well as the Jimmy A Young Medal from the AARC, the Prix extraordinaire from CIPP and he is a Prix Galien Laurate. He holds honorary appointments in 4 medical schools, is on the editorial board of 10 journals, has published more than 300 original research papers and chapters (H-index 76), and holds 11 patents. His research focus is applied airway fluid dynamics: the regulation of mucus clearance in health and disease, airway inflammation and immunomodulation, cough, and aerosol delivery of medications. Dr. Rubin is also a magician, with membership in the International Brotherhood of Magicians (Wizard Award) and over the past 30 years has taught medical magic in 40 countries on 5 continents.