About me
Welcome to my website! I set it up to present some of my activities in a single location. If you have similar interests and would like to work together, get in touch!I'm a pulmonologist specializing in interstitial lung diseases (ILD). ILDs are conditions often associated with pulmonary fibrosis (lung "scarring"), which can worsen over time. I'm particularly interested in ILD with a genetic predisposition (i.e. familial forms).Although I practice in the UK, my research and educational activities have an international focus, as collaboration and integration are essential in this "niche" field. I'm very grateful to have had the opportunity to work in several different countries, with amazing people from so many different backgrounds. Luckily, the world is smaller than it seems and we now have unprecedented opportunities to work together to raise awareness, understand and find better ways treat respiratory conditions.For a few years I have been creating educational medical content online, in an easy-to-understand format. This started as a hobby and experiment to put myself out there (showing how to use inhalers), but it grew to a much larger audience than I expected! It seemed there were large information gaps related to respiratory conditions, and I found it quite enjoyable to play a role in fixing this by providing general information in easily accesible language. The content library keeps growing and is available through several YouTube channels, Spotify podcasts, websites and social media (see the Medical Info Content section).My goal is to further contribute to better outcomes in my field by progressively bringing together my clinical, research and educational activities, with a strong focus on international collaboration. Respiratory diseases are not limited by country borders, politics or ethnicity so I strongly believe we all need to work together to bring real improvement to the field.
Medical info content
Below you can find a summary of my latest videos, podcasts and links to social channels. If you find the information useful, consider subscribing / following to get updates. All the materials are free to access.
The information that I provide is not perfect (there may be unintentional errors or omissions), it is not peer-reviewed, and may simply constitute my personal opinion on certain medical topics (not that of my employer or organizations I work with). I strongly encourage you to always consult a healthcare provider in your local area if you have any health problems, to be able to get practical advice and receive appropriate treatment if necessary in your particular situation. The information that I share is not medical advice for your specific case.
My main YouTube channel (@DrStefanCristianStanel) includes over 180 videos mainly on respiratory conditions - causes, and possible treatments, risk reduction, prevention, symptom management etc. I also demonstrate how to use the main types of dry powder and metered dose inhalers.
Latest videos on my main YouTube channel:
Interstitial Lung Disease (ILD) Info (@InterstitialLungDisease) is specifically dedicated to learning about pulmonary fibrosis causes, treatments and symptom management.ILD Info YouTube channel playlist:
ILD Info podcast:
I also share written posts and shorter tweets on the ILD Info X page, which allows me to engage more directly with you:
And you can also visit:
Please note that my content is created as a one-man operation, in my spare time. Therefore, some of the materials may not compare with a professional media production. This is a limitation, but also gives me more freedom to address certain topics in a more direct and natural way. I also make an active effort to be as neutral and unbiased as possible.I have no specific financial disclosures (from pharma, industry, government etc.) regarding the educational content that I produce, except that I do receive a share of ad revenue from YouTube / Google AdSense or voluntary donations (e.g. BuyMeACoffee, YouTube Super Thanks). I don't control the ads that may be shown alongside some of my content. Feel free to use adblockers or other similar tools if you wish. I don't expect any financial contribution from those who watch my content. Any sponsored content in the future will be marked as such.In due course I am planning to diversify the content, enlist other collaborators, interview experts and people with unique viewpoints, as well as develop apps and tools that will aid communication and education about respiratory conditions.If you want to work with me on this, do reach out!
Research
My research focuses on familial ILD / pulmonary fibrosis and how to diagnose these conditions earlier. I am particularly interested in clinical implementation of recent advances in the field including:1. Identifying patients with genetic predisposition to ILD and using this information for early diagnosis in relatives2. Defining best practices for genomic testing in ILD3. Improving the value of genomic testing for ILD4. Developing pathways for early diagnosis of respiratory conditions in primary care, leveraging new tech, including AI and novel medical devices.Being in the field of ILD has been a fantastic opportunity! Pulmonary fibrosis research actually has very broad applicability in other specialties and organ systems, given that many disease-causing mechanisms are shared with other conditions. This research may yield unexpected opportunities to develop innovative treatments going well beyond the scope of ILD.My research involves several institutions and organizations around the world, such as Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust - UK, University of Sydney - Australia, University of Manchester - UK, Centre of Research Excellence in Pulmonary Fibrosis - Australia, Respiratory Effectiveness Group (REG), European Respiratory Society (ERS). In addition to academic research, I also support a number ILD clinical trials, for some as principal investigator (PI). Previously I also worked in early-stage respiratory human trials (phase 1, first-in-human and dose escalation studies) and trained in medicines evaluation at the European Medicines Agency (EMA). My doctorate was completed in 2025 at the University of Manchester, UK.
Connect
The best way to reach me* is by connecting through X or LinkedIn:
* Please note that I do not provide medical advice online or through private messages. The information I share through my content on any website or platform is for general information only, and does not represent medical advice for your specific situation.
If you have a medical problem, I strongly recommend that you consult a healthcare professional in your local area for practical advice and to receive treatment if necessary. This is the safest way to receive medical advice that is tailored to your particular case. Thank you for understanding.
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