The annual A1F Grant Awards Reception took place last night in Orlando, FL during the American Thoracic Society (ATS) International Conference. Over 200 people gathered to celebrate the 22 in-cycle grants that A1F awarded totaling $3.75 million. Congratulations for the 2026 grantees. A1F was proud to recognize all in the Alpha-1 space for their accomplishments and their continued commitment to advance research and bring us closer to a cure.
There was tremendous excitement, energy and hopefulness surrounding the clinical trials in the Alpha-1 space throughout the ATS International Conference. There were an outstanding 30 Alpha-1 related sessions and thematic poster sessions. A1F was proud to partner with the ATS Patient Advisory Roundtable (PAR) and congratulate them on their 25th anniversary.
The investments A1F has made solidify its position as the global leader in funding Alpha-1 specific research projects. A1F has invested well over $100 million in research at more than 130 institutions worldwide, making it the largest private funder of Alpha-1 research.
Patty Tew, ZZ Alpha shared her Alpha-1, her story of diagnosis, participation in clinical trials, a special thank you to the researchers and the hope of a cure on the horizon inspired the crowd and brought them to their feet with a standing ovation. Patty is a proud member of the new A1F Fred C. Walsh Speaker Bureau, representing the Alpha-1 patient community to ensure Alpha patients everywhere are heard.
This April, the Grants Advisory Committee awarded twenty-two (22) in-cycle grants to well-deserving applicants totaling over $3.75 million. Our research portfolio continues to balance its focus on lung and liver research, with 57% focused on lung and 43% on liver. 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.
“This annual gathering allows us to pause and reflect on the accomplishments made in the field, to recognize those who have advanced it, and to recognize those who will continue to advance research and bring us closer to a cure,” said Dr. Wilson, A1F Scientific Director.
In-Cycle Research Grant Awardees:
- Amy Attaway, MD from Cleveland Clinic Foundation
- Joseph Chambers, PhD from the University of Cambridge
- Massimo D’Agostino, PhD from University of Naples Federico II
- Annamaria Fra, PhD, from University of Brescia
- Shah Hussain, PhD, MBA from the University of Alabama at Birmingham
- Leonard Riley, MD, from the University of Kansas
- Ricardo Ronzoni, PhD from University College London
- Brian Vestal, PhD, from National Jewish Health
- Martin Wagner, MD from Medical University of Graz
- Huiliang Wang, PhD from The University of Texas at Austin
- Bin Zhang, PhD, from the Cleveland Clinic Foundation
2 PI Research Grant Awardee:
- Matthew Moll, MD from Brigham and Women’s Hospital
Pilot & Feasibility Grant Awardees:
- Francesco Annunziata, PhD from Fondazione Telethon ETS
- David Deritei, PhD, from Brigham and Women’s Hospital
- Patrick Hume, MD, PhD, from National Jewish Health
- Katrin Panzitt, PhD, from the Medical University of Graz
- Janos Zempleni, PhD from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Postdoctoral Research Fellowship Grant Awardees:
- Christopher Fell, PhD, from Brigham and Women’s Hospital
- Hind Ghazalah, MD from Boston University
- Woei-Yuh Saw, PhD, from Brigham and Women’s Hospital
- Mikyoung Seo, PhD from Brigham and Women’s Hospital
John W. Walsh Career Development Awardee:
- Raymon Wade, MD from the University of Alabama at Birmingham
Thank you to the event sponsors: AlphaNet, CSL, Grifols, Sanofi and Takeda.
