"There's always someone who knows more about a rare disease than you yourself" Coordinator of ERN-LUNG Thomas Wagner and his co-Guest Editor Michael Kreuter talk to Deputy Chief Editor of the ERS Monograph, Christian Laursen, about their issue: Rare Diseases of the Respiratory System. The editors explain how knowledge exchange through the Network, as well as reference to the Monograph, is beneficial to trainees, experts and patients alike. Christian also asks the Guest Editors about the major breakthroughs of the last 10 years, possible future developments, their recommendations to young researchers in the field, and the ways in which they support their patients in everyday practice.