In 1971, the International Society of Aerosols in Medicine (ISAM) (named Internationale Gesellschaft für Aerosole in der Medizin [IGAeM] at the time) was established. The motivation was to promote scientific interaction between scientists from the then “Eastern European block” and those from “Western” countries working in the medical aerosol field. The primary goal of the Society was to organize International Congresses and national symposia and to establish so-called commissions on special topics such as the safety of aerosols produced and technical equipment to characterize aerosols. This year, 2025, celebrates the 25th Congress, and it is time to reflect on how it all began and where we are today. ISAM is the international academic powerhouse of aerosol science and pulmonary drug delivery, with its dedicated peer-reviewed, scientifically indexed journal, the Journal of Aerosol Medicine and Pulmonary Drug Delivery (JAMPDD).
The International Society for Aerosols in Medicine (ISAM) promotes and advances aerosol science focusing on the health effects of inhaled aerosols, including inhaled drug delivery to patients for the prevention and treatment of disease. ISAM designs and promotes international scientific congresses, symposia and workshops and builds research networks. Through our journal, JAMPDD (https://www.liebertpub.com/loi/JAMP), newsletters, and webinars, ISAM fosters global cooperation, education, and dissemination of new research results.
The history of ISAM congresses:
The first International Congress was held in 1973 in Baden near Vienna, Austria. Austria was chosen because of its neutrality, good infrastructure, and connections to the Eastern European block. The Congress was a success and initiated smaller symposia in several European countries, Japan, Australia, and North America. Since the first congress in 1973, ISAM has used its conferences as a cornerstone for advancing the field of aerosol medicine (Table 1). These gatherings foster global collaboration, share cutting-edge research, and inspire innovation in aerosol science and technology.
Status-Quo:
The bi-annual Congress has established itself as one of the world’s largest pulmonary and nasal drug delivery and respiratory health conferences, bringing together aerosol scientists from all over the world. The attendees include aerosol scientists and academics from universities, industry, and hospitals in the disciplines of airway modeling, lung biology, formulation pharmaceutical science, aerosol characterization, and pulmonary imaging, together with respiratory health care professionals, inhalation toxicologists and engineers, product development, and regulatory experts. The conference chairs, the ISAM board, and the scientific organization committee always work closely to offer a diverse and attractive program highlighting cutting-edge research and advancements in aerosol medicine. The event traditionally begins with several specialized pre-conference workshops, providing attendees with an in-depth understanding of foundational and emerging topics. The main conference provides a robust scientific schedule, including plenary talks and thematic sessions addressing current and hot topics. Sessions range from fundamental research to translating research findings into clinical practice. Besides the technical program, networking opportunities, poster sessions, and a lively exhibit area with companies showcasing the most recent developments are offered.
Networking groups:
The networking groups, initiated in 2009 at the Monterey Congress, represent an essential part of ISAM, enabling interaction between members and making the society live and active. There are currently seven networking groups (https://isam.org/page/NetworkingGroups), each chaired by one or two members. The networking chairs are elected at the Congress. They coordinate activities between Congresses, such as workshops and webinars. They also play an important role in the Congress organization, from developing scientific sessions and workshops to identifying speakers.
Equity and inclusion:
While the society has always promoted equity, diversity, and inclusion within its community, it has taken a more formal approach with the creation of the Young Investigator—Early Career networking group in 2009 and, more recently, the Women in Aerosol Research networking group (2021). Each Congress now includes dedicated lunch sessions for women in science and young investigators. Offering a diverse program and opportunities to connect with society engages attendees and encourages networking.
Organization:
In the beginning, the International Congress was organized every second year by the president-elect. Over the years, this has changed, and Congress chairs have been selected who were not necessarily members of the ISAM board. One reason for this decentralization was to allow for the Congress to be organized with a local committee in different places worldwide to become truly international, and naturally, the organization and responsibilities were distributed among a team more familiar with the location. The ISAM board continues to assist the Congress organizers in their efforts to prepare and deliver an outstanding congress, and going forward, the board will form part of the organizing committee.
The journal:
The Journal of Aerosol Medicine and Pulmonary Drug Delivery (JAMPDD) is the official journal of ISAM. The founding editor was ISAM member Gerald Smaldone, and the first volume was published in 1988 by US publisher Mary Ann Liebert under the journal's former name, Journal for Aerosol Medicine. The current editor is Thomas O’Riordan. ISAM members have free access to the journal. All the abstracts from the ISAM congresses are published in the journal and accessible to all. Congress speakers are also encouraged to publish their findings in the journal. The JAMPDD editorial luncheon during the congress allows the editor and the publisher to share important developments with the associate editors and editorial members.
Unforeseeable events:
Several Congresses had to be organized under challenging situations. The 9th Congress in Garmisch-Partenkirchen in 1993 was initially planned to occur in Berlin. Because of the difficult political situation brought by the German reunification, it had to be transferred on short notice to Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany. The 13th Congress in Interlaken, Switzerland, in 2001 was scheduled to take place shortly after the 9-11 disaster in New York. For many people, it was extremely difficult to travel at that time. Nevertheless, the Congress was a great success. With the COVID-19 pandemic, the 23rd Congress in Boise, US, in 2021, also encountered extreme challenges, as most of the non-US attendees were not allowed to travel to the US at the time. ISAM introduced hybrid and virtual formats, maintaining its scientific outreach while embracing digital transformation.
Current challenges:
ISAM remains a not-for-profit body, reliant upon its membership and Congresses to generate financial stability to host the Congresses. Indeed, as described, ISAM faced several challenges in organizing international congresses, just as other societies experienced during the pandemic. The board is continually exploring new revenue sources and exchanging and collaborating with other societies to bridge these challenges. The ambition is also to keep the membership fees and registration costs as low as possible, allowing the next generation of scientists, our student members, and those from underrepresented and low-middle-income countries to participate in keeping with our commitment to diversity and inclusivity.
The Silver Jubilee:
As ISAM celebrates its 25th conference, this historical overview appreciates the legacy and impact of these events. It will celebrate over five decades of progress, reflecting on the past while looking toward the future with all the opportunities and challenges it offers. It will honor the society’s resilience to global challenges and its dedication to fostering collaboration, innovation, and excellence in aerosol medicine. This milestone reinforces ISAM’s role as a globally leading member society in shaping the science and clinical applications of aerosol medicine and in inspiring the next generation of researchers in academia, industry, and clinical settings. Indeed, in the spirit of celebration of the 25th ISAM Congress and diversity, ISAM will hold 3 Congresses in successive years across three continents: the Americas (Washington, D.C., 2025), Asia (Taipei, 2026), and Europe (Dublin, 2027).
We thank all ISAM members, past and present, especially the Board, who willingly and actively take on the challenges of organizing a successful Congress. We would also like to thank all attendees, sponsors, and exhibitors for their trust and look forward to ISAM 2025 in Washington, DC, on June 21, 2025.
To stay in touch with ISAM, to become a member, or to learn more about the society, please visit the ISAM website: https://isam.org/
