CARS — Central Asian Respiratory School

Co-director

Prof. Konrad E. Bloch

MD, Co-director CARS

Department of Pulmonology, University Hospital Zurich (USZ) · Switzerland

Senior pulmonologist at University Hospital Zurich with a long-standing research programme on respiratory health at high altitude. Specific interests include COPD, sleep-disordered breathing and pulmonary hypertension in highland populations. Recent work (2026) on self-monitoring of altitude illness in COPD patients. Active in the Kyrgyz-Swiss High-Altitude Medicine and Research Initiative.

Co-director

Prof. Talant M. Sooronbaev

MD, Co-director CARS

National Center of Cardiology and Internal Medicine, Bishkek · Kyrgyzstan

Leading pulmonologist in Kyrgyzstan, head of pulmonology at the National Center of Cardiology and Internal Medicine in Bishkek. Recent work includes a 2026 ERJ Open Research trial on oxygen therapy for highlanders at the Aksay plateau, and the FRESH AIR programme on chronic lung disease in Kyrgyzstan. Co-leader of the Kyrgyz-Swiss High-Altitude Medicine and Research Initiative.

Faculty

Prof. Konrad E. Bloch

Prof. Talant M. Sooronbaev