Professor Mohamed Shamji Assumes EAACI Presidency as Congress 2026 Concludes with Vision Zero Momentum
核心洞察
The EAACI (搜索) Annual Congress 2026 in Istanbul drew 7,429 delegates from 110 countries and featured 2,420 scientific abstracts under the theme "Vision Zero: A Future Free from Allergy and Asthma (搜索) Burden."
Professor Mohamed Shamji officially assumed the EAACI (搜索) Presidency for the 2026–2028 term, succeeding Professor María José Torres, pledging to build a global Academy connecting experts across continents.
The next generation of allergy specialists will be instrumental in advancing precision medicine, biologic therapies, digital health, and AI to improve patient outcomes and disease prevention.
ISTANBUL — The European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (EAACI (搜索)) concluded its Annual Congress 2026 in Istanbul, convening 7,429 delegates from 110 countries for four days of scientific exchange centered on the theme "Vision Zero: A Future Free from Allergy and Asthma (搜索) Burden." The Congress featured 2,420 scientific abstracts and highlighted emerging advances in precision medicine, immunotherapy, disease prevention, environmental health, digital innovation, and patient-centred care.
A defining moment of the Congress occurred during the General Assembly and Closing Ceremony, where Professor Mohamed Shamji officially assumed the Presidency of EAACI (搜索) for the 2026–2028 term, succeeding Professor María José Torres.
"EAACI (搜索) is entering a new era," said Professor Shamji. "My vision is to build a truly global Academy that connects experts, researchers, healthcare professionals and patients across continents, creating a dynamic ecosystem where knowledge, innovation, and collaboration flow without borders."
Reflecting on her tenure, Professor Torres stated: "It has been a privilege to serve as EAACI (搜索) President during a period of significant scientific progress and international collaboration. I am proud of the advances we have made together in strengthening our community and advancing our Vision Zero ambition."
The Role of the Next Generation
Aspasia Karavelia, Chair of the Junior Members Assembly (JMA), emphasized that early-career clinicians and researchers are entering the field at a time of unprecedented advances in precision medicine, biologic therapies, digital health, and AI — all of which have the potential to improve patient outcomes and disease prevention.
"Beyond adopting new technologies, young specialists will play a key role in generating high-quality research, promoting evidence-based practice, reducing healthcare inequalities, and strengthening multidisciplinary collaboration," Karavelia said. The JMA is strengthening junior representation across EAACI (搜索) task forces, working groups, and scientific committees while creating mentorship opportunities that connect emerging talent with established experts.
Guideline Updates in Allergic Rhinitis (搜索) and United Airway Disease
Recent EAACI (搜索) and Allergic Rhinitis (搜索) and its Impact on Asthma (搜索) (ARIA) initiatives continue to emphasize a patient-centred, evidence-based approach to allergic rhinitis management. Key developments include the increasing use of integrated care pathways and precision medicine principles to tailor treatment according to disease severity, symptom control, and patient preferences.
Allergen immunotherapy (搜索) remains the only disease-modifying treatment and continues to play a central role in appropriately selected patients. While core recommendations are broadly applicable across Europe, local adaptations may be necessary depending on allergen exposure patterns, healthcare systems, treatment availability, and reimbursement policies.
The concept of united airway disease has fundamentally changed how respiratory disorders are understood and managed. Conditions such as allergic rhinitis (搜索), chronic rhinosinusitis (搜索), and asthma (搜索) are now recognized as closely interconnected through shared inflammatory mechanisms. "In clinical practice, this means adopting a more holistic approach, assessing both upper and lower airway involvement rather than treating each condition in isolation," Karavelia noted. "Effective management of upper airway disease can positively influence asthma control and overall patient outcomes."
Under-Recognized Conditions
Karavelia highlighted olfactory dysfunction (搜索) as one of the most under-recognized conditions in upper airway medicine. "Loss or impairment of smell can profoundly affect nutrition, safety, emotional wellbeing, social interactions, and overall quality of life, yet it is often underestimated in routine clinical practice." Similarly, chronic rhinosinusitis (搜索) is frequently perceived as a minor condition despite its substantial impact on sleep, productivity, mental health, and daily functioning — with a burden comparable to that of many other chronic diseases.
Looking Forward
Throughout the meeting, discussions reinforced the importance of prevention, innovation, and equitable access to care. Participants explored how advances in science and technology can be translated into meaningful improvements in patient outcomes while supporting the long-term ambition of substantially reducing the burden of allergic and respiratory diseases.
The Congress also marked the beginning of a new Executive Committee term. Under its new leadership, EAACI (搜索) remains committed to advancing science, fostering education, supporting healthcare professionals, and improving the lives of patients affected by allergic diseases worldwide.