title: [50 years WATL (Scientific Working Group for the Therapy of Lung Diseases)].
abstract: On the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the Scientific Working Group for the Therapy of Lung Diseases (WATL) the history is described from its foundation to the present situation. Research topics during this long period are specified and the studies are briefly outlined. In the beginning, WATL was engaged mainly in studies on tuberculosis, later on, the spectrum of WATL was broadened considerably to diseases like sarcoidosis, pulmonary Langerhans' cell histiocytosis, pulmonary emphysema due to α1-antitrypsin deficiency, chronic obstructive bronchitis and bronchial asthma as well as nontuberculous mycobacterioses. Finally, realising that the methodological capabilities of WATL were not sufficient to conduct large trials in classical lung diseases considering current requirements, WATL has begun to acquire competence in rare lung diseases such as lymphangioleiomyomatosis and alveolar proteinosis. In addition, WATL is dedicated to educative aims by organising conferences on topics which are not part of main stream respiratory medicine.
authors.affiliation: Abteilung Pneumologie, Universitätsklinikum Leipzig AöR.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wirtz
authors.affiliation: Petersberg.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kropp
authors.affiliation: Medizinische Klinik und Poliklinik V, Klinikum der Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Behr
authors.affiliation: Abt. Pneumologie/Allergologie, Ruhrlandklinik, Universitätsklinik Essen.
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Costabel
authors.affiliation: Zentralklinik Bad Berka GmbH.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bonnet
authors.affiliation: Lungenklinik Heckeshorn, Berlin.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Schönfeld
authors.affiliation: Klinik für Pneumologie, Universitätsklinikum Freiburg.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Prasse
authors.affiliation: Gemeinschaftspraxis Pneumologie, Klinik Maingau, Frankfurt/M.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kardos
authors.affiliation: Berlin.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Seehausen
authors.affiliation: Berlin.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Loddenkemper
mesh_terms: D026683:Advisory Committees / Q000458:organization & administration*; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000628:therapy*; D015272:Pulmonary Medicine / Q000639:trends*