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Session includes an in person invitee/speaker with CF

Discipline Group Session

PT&RT

DG17-- Thoracic Park: The Lost World of Lower Airway Samples

Friday, October 9, 2026
7:45 AM - 9:45 AM EDT
Food Available for Session Attendees
Welcome to Thoracic Park, where the once abundant sputum sample is becoming an endangered species. In the era of highly effective modulator therapy (HEMT), clinicians across CF centers are navigating a rapidly changing respiratory landscape as spontaneous sputum production declines and traditional approaches to microbiologic surveillance evolve.
This interactive forum will explore the “lost world” of lower airway sampling and the new challenges emerging in clinical practice. How are centers adapting when sputum is no longer readily available? What innovative approaches are being used to monitor airway pathogens and guide treatment decisions? And what unanswered questions remain as we redefine standards for respiratory surveillance in the HEMT era?

Through shared experiences, practical strategies, and collaborative discussion, participants will examine evolving sampling practices, discuss real-world barriers, and explore creative solutions being implemented across centers. Join fellow clinicians and researchers as we journey into the next frontier of respiratory monitoring in CF care.