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A crisis is a time of intense difficulty, a turning point when an important change needs to take place. Here, we argue that the UK is approaching a critical point in clinical research capacity, following years of decline in medically trained research staff.1 The British Thoracic Society (BTS) respiratory consultant and trainee surveys (2024) highlighted the problems facing respiratory research. The surveys identified a strong interest in research, but also a lack of opportunities. This editorial outlines the results of these surveys and several initiatives the BTS, National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) and Asthma+Lung UK are taking to revitalise respiratory research.