WCBIP 2026 – Melbourne, Australia

Dear Friends and Colleagues,

We are pleased to share a message from Rahul Thomas, our editor and one of the organisers of the pediatric sessions at this year’s World Congress of Bronchology and Interventional Pulmonology (WCBIP):

Founded in 1978 by Shigeto Ikeda, the inventor of the flexible bronchoscope, WCBIP takes place every two years and brings together global leaders in the field.

This year, the congress will be held in Melbourne, Australia, from December 3–6, 2026, marking the first time this global meeting comes to Australia.

Pediatric Programme Highlights

A dedicated pediatric track has been designed with both learning and flexibility in mind:

• December 3 (Day 1):
  Half-day hands-on workshop, with planned use of animal models for practical experience

• December 4 (Day 2):
  Two pediatric-focused symposiums covering key topics in the field

All paediatric sessions are scheduled within the first two days, allowing attendees to participate without needing to stay for the full congress.

International Faculty

The programme will feature distinguished international speakers, including:

• Erik Hysinger (Cincinnati, USA), a leading expert in pediatric bronchoscopy in the United States

• Dirk Schramm (Düsseldorf, Germany), a recognised leader in Europe

Who Should Attend?

These sessions will be particularly valuable for:

• Clinicians involved in pediatric flexible bronchoscopy

• Those interested in advancing their skills in interventional techniques

• Trainees seeking hands-on experience and expert insight

We encourage you to share this with colleagues and trainees who may be interested.
If you have any questions, please feel free to get in touch, or visit the site HERE

We would also like to take this opportunity to encourage submissions to Pediatric Interventional Pulmonology. We warmly welcome high-quality contributions as we continue working towards our goal of achieving journal indexing.

We look forward to seeing many of you in Melbourne later this year!

Matej Šapina, MD, PhD
Editor-in-Chief
Pediatric Interventional Pulmonology
www.pipj.org