Professor Cottin’s research interests include rare ‘orphan’ pulmonary diseases, including lymphangiomeiomyomatosis, idiopathic interstitial pneumonias and especially idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. More specifically, he has contributed to characterise and individualise the syndrome of combined pulmonary fibrosis and emphysema. He is an Investigator and member of the Steering Committee, or Data Safety Monitoring Board, of many clinical trials on idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, and is conducting personal research on combined pulmonary fibrosis and emphysema.