Grantees

We’ve invested over $92 million in Alpha-1 research and have funded 128 institutions in 14 countries worldwide. 

Research funded by the Alpha-1 Foundation has greatly improved our understanding of the biological underpinnings and clinical manifestations of Alpha-1 and has identified novel drug targets likely to lead to new therapeutic solutions.

Research Grantee Spotlight

2020-2024 In-Cycle Grant Recipients

2024 Research Grants

Adel El Boueiz, M.D.
Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Inc.
Imaging and Multi-omics Analyses of Emphysema Patterns in MM and MZ smokers

Bibek Gooptu, M.D., Ph.D.
University of Leicester
Structural Studies of Misfolded and Polymeric Alpha1-Antitrypsin in ERAD and ERLAD

James Irving Ph.D.
University College London
Rational Design of Better Diagnostic Reagents

Lela Lackey, Ph.D.
Clemson University
Misregulation of Polyadenylation during Stress Contributes to A1AT Deficiency Phenotypes

Jungnam Lee. Ph.D.
University of Florida
Mechanisms of a-Defensins Mediated Bacterial Infection in AATD Individuals

Nunzia Pastore, Ph.D.
Fondazione Telethon ETS
Revealing the Role of Lysosomes in the Pathology of the AATD-Related Liver Disease

Carmine Settembre, Ph.D.
Fondazione Telethon ETS
Exploring the Role of FAM134B-MEDIATED ER-PHAGY in Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency

Richard Sifers, Ph.D. 
Baylor College of Medicine
Identification of ESLD Prognostic indicators

2024 Pilot and Feasibility Grant

Ariel Curiale, Ph.D.
Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Inc.
AI Approaches to Define Emphysema Progression Risk in PiMZ and PiMS Heterozygous Subjects

Emer Reeves, Ph.D.
Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland
Exploring Pro-Resolving Lipid Complexes to Realize the Full Therapeutic Impact of Alpha-1

2023 Research Grants

Lisa Cabrita, Ph.D.
University College London
Modulating the Co-Translational Misfolding and Polymerisation of Antitrypsin

Tomás Carroll, Ph.D.
Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland
A Family Affair – Clarifying the Risk of Lung Disease in ZZ AATD

Monica Goldklang, M.D.
Columbia University Irving Medical Center
Longitudinal Evaluation of Lung Disease Progression in PiMZ Patients

Valerie Gouon-Evans, Ph.D.
Boston Medical Center
Engineered and Edited Patient-Derived iPSC for AATD-Associated Liver Disease Cell Therapy

Brian Hobbs, M.D.
Brigham and Women’s Hospital
Inflammatory Protein Biomarkers of Reduced Lung Function in AATD

Joseph Kaserman, M.D.
Boston University
Mechanisms of Hepatic Heterogeneity and ATF6 Mediated Metabolic Dysfunction in AATD

Jarrett Morrow, Ph.D.
Brigham and Women’s Hospital
Blood and Lung Microbiome in Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency

Pasquale Piccolo, Ph.D.
Telethon Institute of Genetics and Medicine
Mitochondrial Dysfunction in A1-Antitrypsin Deficiency-Associated Liver Disease

2023 Postdoctoral Research Fellowship

Francesco Annunziata, Ph.D.
Telethon Institute of Genetics and Medicine (TIGEM), Naples
Identification and Modulation of Local and Systemic Environmental Factors in AATD

Shah Hussain, Ph.D.
University of Alabama at Birmingham
Severity and Progression of Airway Dropout in AAT Knockout Transgenic Ferret Model of COPD

Georgios Sophocleous, Ph.D.
University College London
Structural and Biophysical Dissection of the Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Polymerisation Pathway

2023 Ab Rees Fast Track Grant

Igor Barjaktarevic, M.D., Ph.D.
UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine
Exploring the Role of Nasal Transcriptome in Bioprofiling A1AT Deficiency

Monica Goldklang, M.D.
Columbia University
Alterations in Inflammation and Proteases during Acute Exacerbations of COPD in AATD

Karina Serban, M.D.
National Jewish Health, Denver
Longitudinal Biomarker Study of Disease- Upper Airway and Plasma Metabolomics

J. Michael Wells, M.D., MSPH
University of Alabama at Birmingham
Molecular Profiling AATD Respiratory Specimens: A Pilot

2023 Scientific Meeting and Conference Grant

Pasquale Piccolo, Ph.D.
Telethon Institute of Genetics and Medicine
Molecular Therapies for Liver Disease in Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency

2022 Research Grant

Daniel Anderson, Ph.D.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Prime Editing Therapy for Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency

Annamaria Fra, Ph.D.
University of Brescia, Italy
Molecular Bases of Alpha-1-Antitrypsin Functional Deficiency

Scott Gordon, Ph.D.
University of Kentucky Research Foundation
High-Density Lipoprotein Targeting Protease Inhibitors for Preservation of Lung Function

Stefan Marciniak, M.D., Ph.D.
University of Cambridge, UK
Investigating the Role of Alpha-1-Antitrypsin Solidification in Disease

Sheikh Tamir Rashid, M.D., Ph.D
Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine, UK
The Role of LRRK2 in Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency

Emer Reeves, Ph.D.
The Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland
C3d: a key driver of inflammation in patients with alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency

Karina Serban, M.D.
National Jewish Health
Mannose-Binding-Lectin Function in Alpha-1 Deficiency with Mycobacteria Pulmonary Disease

Juncheng Wei, Ph.D.
Northwestern University
Role of HRD1-METTL14 Axis in Alpha 1-Antitrypsin Deficiency Induces Liver Disease

2022 Pilot and Feasibility Grant

Stefanie Krick, M.D., Ph.D.
The University of Alabama at Birmingham
Targeting Mucociliary Clearance Pathways in Alpha 1 Antitrypsin Deficiency

Lela Lackey, Ph.D.
Clemson University
Regulation of A1AT Expression via Nuclear Retention of SERPINA1 mRNA

Jungnam Lee, Ph.D.
University of Florida
A High Concentration of A-Defensins Impairs Macrophage Differentiation and Function

2022 Alpha-1 Foundation/CHEST Foundation Clinical Research Award in COPD and Alpha-1

John Rotondo, Ph.D.
University of Ferrara, Italy
Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Protein (AAT) as a Possible Marker of Disease Progression in COVID-19 Patients

2021 Research Grants

Phillip Bird, Ph.D.  
Monash University, Australia  
Use of Transgenic Zebrafish to Identify Modulators of Z-Antitrypsin Induced Pathology

Jeanine D’Armiento, M.D., Ph.D.
Columbia University 
Direct Effect of Mutant Alpha-1 Anti-trypsin on the Lung

Monica Goldklang, M.D.
Columbia University 
In vivo Functional Imaging in Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency

Bibek Gooptu, M.D., Ph.D.
University of Leicester, UK
Structural Studies of Immunomodulation in Alpha1-Antitrypsin

Craig P. Hersh, M.D.
Brigham and Women’s Hospital
Is COPD in Alpha-1 Antitrypsin MZ Carriers the same as COPD in Non-Carriers?

Maurizio Molinari, Ph.D.
Fondazione per l’Istituto di Ricerca in Biomedicina Bellinzona, Switzerland
The Role of ER-to-Lysosome-Associated Degradation in Clearance of Polymerogenic ATZ

Nunzia Pastore, Ph.D.
Telethon Institute of Genetics and Medicine, Italy
Investigating the Effects of Mutant a1-Antitrypsin on Liver Cell Fate and HCC Development

Keith Robertson, Ph.D.
Mayo Clinic
Discovery and Validation of Non-Invasive Epigenetic Biomarkers for AATD Liver Disease

Richard Sifers, Ph.D. 
Baylor College of Medicine
Investigation of Infantile End-Stage Liver Disease Factors

2021 John W. Walsh Translational Research Award in Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency

Nazli Khodayari, Ph.D.
University of Florida
Novel Biomarkers for Alpha-1-Antitrypsin Mediated Liver Disease in Circulating Exosomes

2021 Out of Cycle Grants

Andrew Wilson, M.D.
Boston University, BU Medical Campus
Alpha-1 Foundation CRC Registry Data Transfer 

Monica Goldklang, M.D.    
Columbia University    
Columbia University Alpha-1 Foundation Clinical Resource Center Physician Assistant

2021 Alpha-1 Foundation/CHEST Foundation Clinical Research Award in COPD and Alpha-1

Paul Ellis, MBChB 
University of Birmingham, UK
Cardiovascular Outcomes and Phenotypes in Pulmonary Exacerbations of Alpha-1 Antitrypsin

2020 Research Grants

Nicola Brunetti-Pierri, M.D.
Telethon Institute of Genetics and Medicine, Italy
Role of JNK/c-JUN and CHOP Pathways in Liver Disease Induced by Mutant Z-AAT

Morten Dahl, M.D., Ph.D.
Zealand University Hospital, Denmark
Risk of Cardiovascular Disease in Persons with Alpha-1-Antitrypsin ZZ Deficiency

Dawn DeMeo, M.D., M.P.H.
Brigham and Women’s Hospital
Accelerated Aging and Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency

Robert Foronjy, M.D.
State University of New York (SUNY)
The Influence of A1AT on HuR Translocation and Airway Epithelial Cell Senescence

Patrick Geraghty, Ph.D.
State University of New York (SUNY)
Chemical Activation of Protein Phosphatase 2A to Treat Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency

Valerie Guoun-Evans, Ph.D.
Boston Medical Center Corporation
Edited Stem Cell-Based Therapy with Modified mRNA for AATD-Associated Liver Disease

Gerlic Mordechay, Ph.D.
Tel Aviv University, Israel 
Cell Death Mechanisms in the Liver Pathophysiology of Alpha-1 Antitrypsin-Deficiency

Stefan Marciniak, M.D., Ph.D.
University of Cambridge, UK
Probing Biophysical Changes in the Endoplasmic Reticulum during a1-Antitrypsin Deficiency

2020 Pilot and Feasibility Grant

Scott Gordon, Ph.D.   
University of Kentucky Research Foundation     
High-Density Lipoprotein Targeting Protease Inhibitors for Preservation of Lung Function

Julia Heck, Ph.D., M.P.H.       
University of California, Los Angeles     
Birth Outcomes among Alpha-1 Families

2020 Postdoctoral Research Fellowship

Kylie Belchamber, Ph.D.
University of Birmingham, UK
Investigating Macrophage Phenotype and Function in Alpha -1 antitrypsin deficiency

Ross Edgar, M.Res.
University of Birmingham, UK
The Development of a Disease Specific Patient Reported Outcome in AATD

Arlene Glasgow, Ph.D.
Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland
A Role for Mitochondrial Danger-Associated Molecular Patterns (mtDAMPs) in AAT deficiency

Lela Lackey, Ph.D.
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Developing an Accurate Model of A-1-Antitrypsin Protein Expression through RNA Structure

Riccardo Ronzoni, Ph.D.
University College London, UK
Z Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Polymers: Kinetics of Intracellular Accumulation and Secretion

2020 Out of Cycle Grants    

Jeffrey Teckman, M.D.
Saint Louis University School of Medicine    
Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency Adult Clinical and Genetic Linkage Study

Richard Sifers, Ph.D.   
Baylor College of Medicine   
Early Onset End-Stage Liver Disease Parameters and Model Generation

2020 Alpha-1 Foundation/CHEST Foundation Clinical Research Award in COPD and Alpha-1

Derek Russell, M.D.   
University of Alabama at Birmingham 
Neutrophil-Elastase Positive Exosomes and Emphysema in Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency

2020 Alpha-1 Foundation/American Thoracic Society Research Grant

Lynn Fussner, M.D.    
The Ohio State University
Role of Alpha-1 Antitrypsin in Anti-PR3 Positive Vasculitis