The Winter Scientific Meeting is a highlight of the year for BTS members and for many other professionals involved in improving outcomes for people with lung disease. It gives me great pleasure to present to you the full programme of named lectures, major symposia, spoken sessions, poster discussions and joint activities with other organisations which are scheduled for the BTS Winter Scientific Meeting in 2010. The Science and Research Committee is delighted to welcome some outstanding international speakers to the Meeting this year to join our national experts in many symposia. We have developed a programme that provides you with a wide range of opportunities to see the very latest developments in the clinical, translational and basic science of lung disease.