Professor Pavord identified eosinophilic, type-2 high airway inflammation as a key treatable trait in patients with asthma and COPD and recognised that this pattern of airway inflammation is associated with an increased risk of exacerbations of airway disease and corticosteroid responsiveness. He discovered and validated simple, clinically accessible biomarkers of type-2 high inflammation and demonstrated their clinical value, resulting in new management guidelines for severe asthma and COPD. His team carried out the first proof-of-concept study of the biological agent Mepolizumab (anti-IL-5), showing that it was highly effective when given to patients with eosinophilic, type-2 high inflammation. He has been a key driver of the successful clinical development of 4 other biological agents targeting this process, including Dupilumab. In 2004 he delivered the European Respiratory Society (ERS) Cournand Lecture and in 2016 received the ERS gold medal for research in asthma. He chaired the 2018 Lancet Commission on asthma.