Dr Johanna Feary
Continuous laryngoscopy during provocation in the assessment of inducible laryngeal obstruction
Transient paradoxical closure of the larynx, occurring in the absence of any underlying structural or neurological defect, is a recognized cause of paroxysmal breathlessness and wheeze. This phenomenon, most commonly termed vocal cord dysfunction and more recently termed inducible laryngeal obstruction (ILO),1 is often misdiagnosed and mistreated as asthma.2, 3 This may be explained by the lack of a robust, accepted diagnostic methodology.4, 5
Dr Johanna Feary
Honorary Consultant in Occupational Lung Disease and Asthma
Jo is an Honorary Respiratory Consultant in occupational lung disease and asthma at Royal Brompton Hospital and Senior Clinical Research Fellow at the National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College.
Her research is primarily focused on the respiratory heath of working populations including firefighters and individuals exposed to silica. She has been awarded funding to establish a UK Silicosis Registry. She is clinical advisor to the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Respiratory Health (silicosis). She is a member of the Group of Occupational Respiratory Disease Specialists (GORDS) and recent Chair of the British Thoracic Society Occupational and Environmental Lung Disease Specialist Advisory Group (2021-2024).
- Qualifications: BMedSci, BM BS, MSc, MRCP, PhD
- See a list of recent publications by Dr Johanna Feary
- See Google scholar articles
- ORCID ID: 0000-0003-2903-6907
Dr Johanna Feary speaking at Fire Committee assembly
Tue, 16 Sep 2025
Dr Johanna Feary took part in a live panel discussion as part of the Fire Committee with the London Assembly today. Dr Feary speaks about the Grenfell Firefighters Study from 01:11:10 (1hr 11mins). Watch the full discussion online at the Mayor of London website: https://webcasts.london.gov.uk/Assembly/Event/Index/23eb223f-e51f-4ebd-9043-9db7d6c77144
Read more about our work on firefighters' lung health.
Environmental and occupational exposures in interstitial lung disease
Purpose of review
We highlight recent advances in the understanding of how environmental and occupational exposures increase the risk of developing interstitial lung disease (ILD), and how to evaluate a patient for potential exposures.
Recent findings
EPICOH 2025 conference
Sun, 05 Oct 2025
Dr Johanna Feary recently presented at the EPICOH 2025 conference held between 5-9th October 2025 in Utrecht, the Netherlands on artificial stone silicosis.
They did talks alongside leaders in the field from Australia and the UK (L-R: Malcolm Sim, Martie Van Tongeren, Johanna Feary, Ryan Hoy, Deborah Glass, Karen Walker-Bone).
Read more about education and training we provide.
Exacerbation patterns in adults with asthma in England. A population-based study
Rationale: Asthma is heterogeneous and knowledge on exacerbation patterns is lacking. Previous studies have had a relatively short follow-up or focused on severe disease.
Objectives: To describe exacerbation patterns over a prolonged follow-up in a population that includes patients of all disease severity.
Follow-up survey of patients with occupational asthma
Health & Wellbeing At Work 2025 conference
Tue, 11 Mar 2025
Dr Johanna Feary recently did a talk at the Health & Wellbeing at Work conference on 11th March 2025 in Birmingham, UK.
They featured in the programme section "Hot topics in Occupational Lung Disease". Taken from the conference programme, "contemporary work-related risks to lung health in the UK [were] summarised in a case-based presentation, taking into account challenges for occupational health professionals, employers and industry."
Read more about on the conference website.
Read more about education and training we provide.
Jo Feary featured in i Paper campaign on artificial stone silicosis
Tue, 16 Dec 2025
The i Paper has recently published several articles about silicosis due to artificial/engineered stone. The articles are part of a wider campaign to raise awareness of the dangers of working with this type of stone, and to improve health surveillance and accountability of UK employers which are still using these products. The i Paper is ultimately calling for ban of artificial/engineered stone in the UK.
People who cut, grind or polish artificial/engineered stone are at increased risk of developing silicosis due to this type of stone, an irreversible occupational lung disease.
The articles highlight the stories of two of our clinic patients who recently died due to artificial stone silicosis.
Dr Jo Feary has done a huge amount of work in raising awareness of artificial stone silicosis in the UK. They have been quoted in the i Paper article 'There may be many more': The doctor treating young workers with incurable silicosis (17 December 2025).
- 'His death was preventable': The father-of-three killed by kitchen worktop dust
- Ban killer kitchen worktop dust to save young workers
- 'There may be many more': The doctor treating young workers with incurable silicosis
Read about our work on artificial stone silicosis.
If you have ever worked with silica, stone dust, artificial stone or quartz and you are worried about silicosis, please contact us.
Jo Feary speaks at All Party Parliamentary Party Group on artificial stone silicosis
Mon, 03 Nov 2025
Dr Johanna Feary recently spoke to MPs and peers at the All Party Parliamentary Party Group (APPG) on Occupational Safety & Health on Monday 3 November 2025, about the increasing number of patients in the UK diagnosed with silicosis caused by artificial/engineered stone.
Industry experts at the Westminster meeting including clinicians, politicians, union leaders and legal teams came together to discuss the dangers of artificial/engineered stone. Many are calling for a UK-wide ban on these stones with such high silica content.
The meeting was hosted by Thompsons Solicitors and the Trade Union Congress.
Read press coverage of the meeting here:
