The Alpha-1 Foundation is enthusiastic to join the American Thoracic Society for the International Conference from May 16-21, 2025, in San Francisco, CA. This year A1F celebrates its 30th anniversary, a milestone that commemorates and honors the legacy of those who have impacted the Alpha-1 community, especially the Alphas and their families who A1F serves. For three decades, with the insight of the Alpha-1 community, A1F has designed and launched innovative patient-focused programs and services supporting Alphas along their journey; including a solid infrastructure to promote pioneering scientific research and the establishment of collaborative partnerships to advance the development of novel therapies.
Nearly 14,000 pulmonary, critical care, and sleep professionals from all over the world will gather to attend, present and learn about the latest advances, meet with colleagues from around the world and create new collaborations. Throughout the conference key opinion leaders in the Alpha-1 field will present in over 40 sessions and thematic poster sessions.
A1F is excited to highlight Alpha-1 Breakthroughs: New Discoveries in Mechanisms, Diagnosis & Treatment of Lung Disease in Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency. The session will take place on Monday, May 19th from 9:15 AM- 10: 45 AM PT. The session is co-chaired by ATS President Irina Petrache along with Dr. Bruce Trapnell (University of Cincinnati College of Medicine) and Dr. James Stoller (Cleveland Clinic). Speakers include Alpha-1 experts Dr. Craig Hersh (Brigham & Women’s Hospital), Dr. Karina Serban (University of Florida), Dr. Francesca Polverino (Baylor College of Medicine), Dr. Michael Campos (University of Miami Miller School of Medicine), Dr. Charlie Strange (Medical University of South Carolina) and A1F scientific director, Dr. Andrew Wilson (Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine).
This prestigious group of physicians and researchers are represented on A1F committees including A1F Medical and Scientific Advisory Committee: Dr. Bruce Trapnell, Dr. James Stoller, Dr. Craig Hersh, Dr. Michael Campos, Dr. Karina Serban and Dr. Andrew Wilson and A1F Grant Advisory Committee: Dr. Andrew Wilson, Dr. Karina Serban and Dr. Charlie Strange.
LINK HERE TO VIEW ALL ALPHA-1 RELATED SESSIONS
A1F is proud to partner with the American Thoracic Society (ATS) Public Advisory Roundtable (PAR) at their annual patients and experts forum. On Saturday, May 17th, the meeting will join patient advocates and key opinion leaders from the medical community for a robust discussion. The AATS PAR is an essential part of the medical society’s structure. Founded by Dr. William Martin II, former A1F board member and President of ATS at the time, had the vision “to create something quite different that would include patients in the heart of its organization.”
Comprised of CEOs and other executive staff of 12-15 respiratory-related patient interest organizations, the group works collaboratively to advance the mission of the ATS. It is a mutually beneficial relationship where collaboration advances lead to shared educational, research and advocacy goals. PAR brings the patient perspective to the ATS and provides strategic guidance at multiple levels throughout their governance structure to keep patients as a central focus of all activities and programs.
Jon Hagstrom, Chair of the A1F Board of Directors, is currently a member of PAR. As a ZZ Alpha-1 patient and bilateral lung transplant recipient, Jon is an ideal member for this roundtable. Jon serves in a variety of roles for the Foundation, spanning all aspects of our mission. He is a fierce advocate for fellow Alphas, actively lobbying Congress for better care, championing patient interests to the FDA, and promoting early detection.
“I’m proud to be able to add Alpha-1 to the many patient voices represented on the ATS Public Advisory Roundtable. The PAR brings patient perspectives to the highest levels of respiratory health discourse, and it is important to add the unique challenges of the Alpha-1 community to the mix”, stated Jon Hagstrom.
Each year the John W. Walsh PAR Award for Excellence in memory of A1F co-founder to a person affected by pulmonary disease or a professional or group that has improved the lives of patients. The inaugural award was presented to Dr. Mark Brantly. This year’s award is presented to Dr. Wes Ely, professor of medicine at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine.
A1F will be hosting the annual Alpha-1 Biomarkers Consortium (A1BC) meeting on Saturday, May 17th. The Alpha-1 Biomarker Consortium (A1BC) Study aims to improve our understanding of Alpha-1 and accelerate the discovery and development of new treatments. The A1BC Study follows patients enrolled in the Alpha-1 Research Registry to identify biomarkers that can be used to advance Alpha-1 clinical trials.
Each year, A1F hosts the Grants Award Reception to honor the newly awarded Alpha-1 research grant award recipients including in-cycle research grants, pilot and feasibility grants and postdoctoral research fellowship grants. This year the reception will take place on Monday, May 19th at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art. We are proud over to present 22 grants totaling over $3.75 million dollars this year to both lung and liver researchers. Grants from the Alpha-1 Foundation support rigorous scientific research to advance Alpha-1 treatment and care and draw us closer to a cure. The Alpha-1 Foundation also funds research into ethical, legal, and social issues impacting people with genetic conditions. The A1F Grant Advisory Committee (GAC) meets annually to provide scientific review for all research grant proposals submitted. A1F uses the same rigorous scoring process at the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
“The A1F ATS Grants Award Reception is the ideal forum to honor our founder’s vision of investing in research and science, recognize our most recent grant recipients, while also celebrating having distributed more than $100 million in grant funding over three decades,” said Scott Santarella, A1F President & CEO.
A1F also partners on an annual matching research grant with ATS titled ATS/A1F Young Investigator Grant in Alpha-1 and is targeted to provide support for early-career investigators who are starting their research careers and intend to pursue a career in Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency (Alpha-1) research. Applications will be accepted from candidates holding an MD, PhD, or equivalent degree who are interested in conducting basic science, clinical research, or ethic, legal, or social issues studies related to Alpha-1.
Since 1995, A1F has invested over $100 million to support Alpha-1 research and programs at over 130 institutions in North America, Europe, the Middle East and Australia, making A1F the largest private funder of Alpha-1 research in the world. We continue to invest boldly and wisely, funding only the most promising science to accelerate treatments for the underlying causes of Alpha-1 and to find a cure for everyone diagnosed with this condition.
On Tuesday, May 20th from 11:45 AM- 1:00 PM PT, Alpha and double lung transplant recipient, Len Geiger will be the Plenary Session speaker. This cornerstone event embodies the spirit of innovation, collaboration, and patient-centered care, uniting the global respiratory community to spotlight the stories shaping the future of respiratory medicine.
The Alpha-1 Foundation (A1F) works strategically with federal agencies, memberships, and coalitions—focusing on the issues that matter most to Alphas—to inform legislators of the burdens of the patient community, to advance its public policy agenda for the benefit of the Alpha-1 community, and to move its research agenda forward.
For more information, visit alpha1.org
Contact: Jeanne Kushner
Senior Director of Communications & Policy
877-228-7321
