The lungs are essential organs for life and diseases of the respiratory system represent a major challenge in medical care, causing multiple socio-economic problems. But the fact that pulmonary diseases are one of the leading death causes worldwide is not well known by the public.
The statistics published by the World Health Organization indicate that of all 50.5 Mio deaths registered worldwide in 1990, 9.4 Mio (18.7%) were due to respiratory diseases.
In addition, a further increase of these numbers is predicted between now and 2020: of 68.3 Mio deaths worldwide, 11.9 Mio will be caused by lung diseases. Among these, lower respiratory tract infections (pneumonia), chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases (COPD), Tuberculosis (Tb) and cancers of the trachea, bronchus and lungtissues play a major role. They range among the top ten leading causes of mortality worldwide.
In Europe, respiratory diseases rank second after cardiovascular diseases in terms of mortality, incidence, prevalence and costs. In some countries, i.e. the UK, they are already the leading killer.

The complex etiologic nature of lung diseases requires an integrated scientific approach to be able to understand the underlying disease processes.
Successful therapeutic intervention ultimately depends on the molecular investigation and knowledge of allergic and toxic injuries, routes of infection and host defense mechanisms, pathways of inflammation and tissue remodeling, vascular biology and cancerogenesis.
The scientists and clinicians at the UGLC in Giessen approach to elucidate such disease mechanisms in a systematical fashion interfacing pulmonary medicine and molecular biology. This common aim is achieved combining the interdisciplinary expertise in respiratory medicine in basic research projects with pre-clinical (animal models) and clinical trials.
To advance knowledge of the disease processes they maintain a strong network on and off campus connecting various groups with long lasting national and international cooperations

For details refer to European Lung White Book, 2003