The article highlights that lung organoids—three-dimensional "mini-lungs" made of human cells—are a key tool for studying respiratory viruses and preparing for the next pandemic. Organoids can faithfully mimic the structure and function of human lung tissue, including different types of airway cells and alveoli. Thanks to this, they make it possible to investigate in detail how viruses infect the lungs and how the human body reacts to them, and to test the effectiveness and safety of drugs or vaccines in conditions close to reality. The authors describe that current access to these technologies is uneven – developed countries have much better infrastructure, finances and know-how than low- and middle-income countries. The article therefore points to the need for "global research equality", i.e. wider access to lung organoids, technical equipment and training of scientists around the world. It also emphasizes the importance of standardized protocols and data sharing so that results from different laboratories are comparable and usable for the rapid development of therapies. According to the authors, building these capacities is a necessary condition for an effective and fair response to future respiratory pandemics.