What is the BALR?
The BALR has provided a focus for exchange of ideas between all manner of respiratory researchers, basic scientist and clinician alike, to ferment collaboration and to further fundamental pulmonary research for over twenty years, thus fulfilling the initial aims of the society to promote respiratory research throughout the UK. We are also a registered charity (SC010151).
The Association has published a number of consensus statements in peer-reviewed journals, and also two series of review articles in Thorax and Biologist.
Our Aims
To promote interest and encourage studies in the field of experimental research, related to the elucidation of normal lung function and the mechanisms of lung disease.
To promote an interchange of ideas between workers in this field, including the organisation of regular scientific meetings.
To encourage the exchange of materials and techniques between laboratories, for their mutual assistance and as a means of standardisation in appropriate areas of research.
Committee Members
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Elizabeth Sapey
President
Karl Staples
Chair
Kylie Belchamber
Secretary
Amanda Tatler
Treasurer
Alison John
Meetings Secretary
Manuela Platé
Communications
Secretary
Merete Long
Publications
Secretary
Chloe Hughes
PhD Representative
Brintha Selvarajah
Post doc
Representative
Andrew Durham
RSB Representative
Sterghios Moschos
Industrial Liason
Jodie Ackland
Ordinary Member
Bettina Schock
Ordinary Member
Julie Worrell
Ordinary Member
Renata Jurkowska
Ordinary Member
PAST CHAIRS:
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Chris Scotton 2017-2021
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OPEN COMMITTEE POSITIONS
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Secretary
As the secretary, you are responsible for the administration of the BALR, and act as the first contact for enquiries. You will liaise with the Royal Society of Biology team who administer memberships to activate ERS memberships, and respond to incoming queries. You will also organise and minute quarterly BALR committee meetings, ensure tasks are completed by members, and arrange other meetings as necessary. You will also organise travel grants, grant scoring and awarding of grants.
Being secretary really brings you into the heart of the BALR, and you will work closely with the Chair and other committee members to ensure the BALR runs smoothly. Full training, and shadowing will be given by the departing secretary.
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Industrial liaison
The industrial liaison officer is responsible for establishing and maintaining a liaison between the BALR and its industrial sponsors and innovation facilitators, promoting awareness of BALR and its activities, encouraging suggestions and support for further events, and contributing to general running of BALR.
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PhD representative
As a PhD student yourself, you will use your personal experience and links with your peers to help advise the wider BALR committee on the issues that are most relevant to Early Career Researchers – and how the BALR might support career development. There will also be opportunities to help with conference organisation, abstract and grant reviews, and other enabling activities – providing some great experience within the respiratory community.
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If you are interested in applying, we kindly ask you to provide a brief statement (100-200 words only) outlining your activities and motivation for joining the committee. Alternatively, we encourage members to nominate a colleague (with their agreement) for the above committee vacancies. Please provide a brief outline of why the nominee is suitable for the position. Applicants/nominees must be BALR members to be considered.
Please send your statement of interest or nomination to admin@balr.co.uk by 12:00 (noon) on Thursday 3rd October.
If you have any queries, please contact BALR Chair, Dr Karl Staples (K.Staples@soton.ac.uk) for an informal chat.
Committee positions will be discussed and appointed at the AGM on the 4th October 2024.
Privacy and data protection statement
The personal information we collect during British Association for Lung Research (BALR) membership application, registration for short courses and conferences and abstract submission is held and used according to the Data Protection Act 2018.
The information you supply will be held on file and will be shared with the Royal Society of Biology (RSB) which provides administrative support to the BALR. It will be accessible to BALR committee members and delegated employees of the RSB on their computers. Information is used for BALR mailings (including emails), for administrative purposes and for promotion of BALR activities.
Members choosing joint membership of BALR and European Respiratory Society (ERS) agree to their details being shared with ERS for administrative purposes and promotion of BALR and ERS activities.
The BALR use details supplied by all customers who book places on BALR courses and conferences to process applications to attend, to take payment(s), to send related information and to prepare badges, to produce attendance statistics and other management information. The RSB will use data for communications regarding your membership renewal, and will be stored safely according to GDPR regulations. The BALR and RSB will NEVER sell or give access to personal data to third parties for marketing purposes. The information held is also used to analyse membership categories and BALR income and expenditure streams.
The BALR use data supplied by the authors of abstracts for our Meetings, if selected, to produce the Programme booklets.
Communication to BALR Members
The BALR expects to conduct most of its communication with members by email. The BALR will send regular emails containing news and information on BALR education and other activities.
We will assume that BALR members and registered users of the BALR systems and services consent to use of their personal data for the above purposes unless you specifically indicate otherwise by opting-out when you join the BALR. Registered users of BALR systems and services may review and amend their personal data by contacting the BALR at any time.
Demographics
Our server records your visit for demographic reasons and to help us understand how you use the site. We use the information we collect to improve the site and provide better services. The information we collect is treated in accordance with the Data Protection principles outlined in the Data Protection Act 2018.