A1F National Conference

The Alpha-1 Foundation (A1F) National Conference is the largest annual gathering of the Alpha-1 community, providing opportunities for learning, networking, advocacy, and industry publicity

Over the course of three days, attendees have access to topical sessions, in-person meet-and-greets, and Q&A sessions with Alpha-1 experts.

This annual conference provides Alpha-1 patients and their families the opportunity to meet others affected by Alpha-1, learn important information, network with Alpha-1 experts and industry members, and take home resources about living with Alpha-1.

Educational sessions include topics on Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency 101: Lung, Liver and Pediatrics, genetics and family testing, transplantation, caregiving, Alpha-1 children, updates on current Alpha-1 research and initiatives, how to participate in Alpha-1 research, public policy, & how to advocate for Alphas around the world. 

2026 A1F National Conference Agenda

10:00 am –
5:00 pm
Early Conference Registration
7:30 pm –
8:00 pm
Alpha Angels Reception
8:00 pm –
9:00 pm
Alpha Angels Memorial Service
8:30 am –
10:00 am
Breakfast & Exhibit Hall Grand Opening
8:30 am –
5:00 pm
Registration
10:15 am –
10:40 am
A1F Conference Kickoff: A1F Welcome & Opening Remarks
Scott Santarella, President & CEO, Alpha-1 Foundation  
10:40 am –
11:40 am
Alpha Empowerment Hour
Hosted by the A1F Fred C. Walsh Speaker Bureau 
Moderated by: Lisa Sideris                                                                 
Detection & Getting Tested  |  Betrice Coleman-Sweet & Joe Masnack 
Alpha-1 Liver and Transplant  |  Robin Diamant & Catriona Garry 
A1F CRCs and Clinical Trials  |  Mary Ryan, DNP, APRN, FNP-C & Betsy Scher 
Finding your A1F Family  |  Brian Hodges & Patty Tew 
Thriving with Alpha-1  |  Lianne McLean-Schaaf & Carol Segal, PhD 
11:40 am –
12:10 pm
Alpha-1 Research Registry and the A1F Therapeutic Development Network (TDN)
Alison Keaveny, Director of Clinical Research, Alpha-1 Foundation
Nadine Nuchovich, Clinical Research & Global Manager, Alpha-1 Foundation 
Michael Campos, MD, Professor of Clinical Medicine at the University of Miami School of Medicine
12:10 pm –
1:00 pm
Platinum Sponsor Presentations
AlphaNet | Robert Sandhaus, MD, PhD, FCCP, Executive Vice President and Senior Medical Director 
CSL | Larry Silva, CSL Director, Established Products Group 
Grifols | Chris Healey, Senior Vice President of Corporate Affairs 
Sanofi | Nathan Thibault, PharmD, Global Medical Lead 
Takeda | Aja Rich, Head of Alpha-1 Franchise 
1:00 pm –
2:00 pm
Lunch
2:00 pm –
2:40 pm
Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency 101: Liver
Alyson Fox, MD, Medical Director, Adult Liver Transplant, Columbia University
2:45 pm –
3:25 pm
Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency 101: Lung
Brooks Kuhn, MD, University of California, Davis Medical Center, Sacramento, CA
3:30 pm –
4:10 pm
Advances in Genetic Testing & Understanding the Genetic Risk for Alpha-1
Victor Ortega, MD, PhD, Pulmonary Disease Specialist & Genetic Epidemiologist, Mayo Clinic, Phoenix, AZ
5:30 pm –
6:00 pm
Alpha-1 Kids Room Meet & Greet
We invite Alpha-1 parents to join Alpha-1 Foundation staff and meet other Alpha-1 parents attending the conference.
7:00 pm –
9:30 pm
Dinner Reception: Piano Bar Glam 
Think classic, elevated style with a touch of sparkle and sophistication. Take inspiration ranging from sleek black outfits and satin finishes to statement accessories, bold lipstick, or a hint of vintage flair. Whether you go full glam or keep it simple with polished elegance, the goal is to have fun and enjoy a stylish night “out” with the community. 
7:30 am – 
9:00 am 
Breakfast
8:00 am –
2:00 pm
Registration
9:00 am – 
9:45 am 
The Future of Alpha-1 Detection 
Scott Santarella, President & CEO, Alpha-1 Foundation 
James Stoller, MD, MS, Board Member, Alpha-1 Foundation and AlphaDetect 
Julie Murray, President & CEO, AlphaDetect 
9:45 am –
10:45 am
Alpha-1 Research Panel                                                    
Moderated by: Brad Drummond, MD, Associate Professor of Medicine, Director, Alpha-1 Clinic at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill 
Igor Barjaktarevic, MD, PhD, Medical Director, COPD Program, David Geffen School of Medicine at University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) 
Arpan Mohanty, MD, MSc, Director of Clinical Research, Boston Medical Center 
Jeffrey Teckman, MD, Professor of Pediatrics & Biochemistry, Saint Louis University; Pediatric Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital
J. Michael Wells, MD, Medical Director UAB, Alpha-1 Pulmonary CRC, Associate Professor, Division of Pulmonary, Allergy, and Critical Care Medicine 
Andrew Wilson, MD, Scientific Director, Alpha-1 Foundation 
10:45 am – 11:05 amResearch & Clinical Trials 101 
Andrew Wilson, MD, Scientific Director, Alpha-1 Foundatio
11:05 am – 11:20 am Break 
11:20 am – 
12:50 pm
Emerging Therapies in Alpha-1    
Introduced by: Jon Hagstrom, Board Chair, Alpha-1 Foundation 
Moderated by: Andrew Wilson, MD, Scientific Director, Alpha-1 Foundatio

AIRNA | Jacob Elkins, MD, Chief Medical Officer – “AIR-001: An Optimized RNA Editing Approach for AATD” 
Beam Therapeutics | Nic Currier, MD, Senior Medical Director, Clinical Development – Update on BEAM-302: A potential base editing therapeutic for alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency (Alpha-1)
Prime Medicine | Mohammed Asmal, MD, PhD, Chief Medical Officer 
Sanofi | Nathan Thibault, PharmD, Global Medical Lead, AATD – “Efdoralprin alfa clinical program: Assessing normalization of AAT levels in Alpha-1 patients, the ElevAATe Study” 
Takeda | Tami Nussbaum, MD, MBA, Sr. Medical Director, GI Pipeline – “Overview of REDWOOD Study – Explore a new path for Alpha-1 liver disease” 
Tessera Therapeutics | David Davidson, Chief Medical and Development Officer 
Wave Life Sciences | Kelly Damm, Associate Director of Patient Advocacy – From Z to M: RNA Editing for the Treatment of AATD 
1:00 pm – 
2:00 pm 
Lunch & Exhibits
TimeTrack 1Track 2Track 3
2:00 pm –
2:35 pm
The Benefits of Pulmonary Rehab, Practical Breathing Tools, and PFT Insights
Rajat Suri, MD
Professor of medicine in the Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care, Sleep Medicine, and Physiology at UC San Diego School of Medicine
What’s New in 
Alpha-1 Research?
Charlie Strange, MD
Professor of Pulmonary & Critical Care Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina
Alpha-1 Pediatric Research – What’s New and What’s on the Horizon
Jeffrey Teckman, MD 
Professor of Pediatrics & Biochemistry, Saint Louis University; Pediatric Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital
2:40 pm –
3:15 pm 
Advanced Lung Disease and Preparing for a Lung Transplant
Rajat Walia, MD 
Division Chief of the Pulmonary and Critical Care Section, the Division Chief of Pulmonary Medicine, Division Chief, Pulmonary Disease, and the Medical Director of Lung Transplantation at Norton Thoracic Institute, St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Cente
r
Understanding the Importance of Clinical Trials
Alice Turner, MBChB, PhD, 
Board Member, Alpha-1 Foundation
Ask The Expert: Alpha-1 Pediatric Liver Q&A
Jeffrey Teckman, MD 
Professor of Pediatrics & Biochemistry, Saint Louis University; Pediatric Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital
3:15 pm –
3:35 pm 
Break 
3:35 pm –
4:10 pm 
Alpha-1 Liver Transplant: Basics, Latest Techniques, and What You Need to Know 
Jason Hawksworth, MD, 
Surgical Director of Adult Liver Transplant, Columbia University
The Big Fat Reference Guide (BFRG) by AlphaNet 
Charlie Strange, MD,
Medical Director, AlphaNet
 
Robert Sandhaus, MD, PhD, FCCP,

Executive Vice President and Senior Medical Director, AlphaNet
 
Christine Lanser Yllanes,

Vice President of Marketing and Strategic Engagement, AlphaNet
 
Kristen Holm, PhD, MPH,

Clinical Research Director, AlphaNet
Alpha-1 Pediatric Liver 101 
Rohit Kohli, MBBS, MS 
Chief, Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition Associate Director, The Saban Research Institute and Clinical Scholar and Professor of Pediatrics, Keck School of Medicine of USC
4:15 pm –
4:50 pm 
Breathing Life into Policy – Why You Should Engage in Advocacy 
Miriam O’Day 
Senior Policy Advisor, 

Alpha-1 Foundation
Current and New Therapies in Alpha-1 Lung: Asthma, Bronchiectasis, & Emphysema
Oliver McElvaney, MD, PhD, MRCPI
Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, University of Washington
Fatty Liver Disease in Children
Rohit Kohli, MBBS, MS 
Chief, Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition, Associate Director, The Saban Research Institute, and Clinical Scholar and Professor of Pediatrics, Keck School of Medicine of USC
7:30 pm – 
9:30 pm 
Dinner Reception: Elegance in Purple
We’re celebrating the signature Alpha-1 color PURPLE and invite you to wear it all day long. Keep it going into the evening by wearing elegant purple attire to dinner as well! Fair warning: you may not be allowed in without your PURPLE on. 
9:00 am –
10:30 am
Farewell Brunch

Conference Details

A1F has reserved a block of rooms at a discounted rate of $199/night plus taxes and fees for Alpha-1 patient attendees. Please book directly via our reservation link below.

Be sure to edit the dates of your stay and click “UPDATE” to see the correct rate.

Reserve Your Hotel Room(s)

  1. The deadline to make a reservation with the discounted rate is May 5, 2026.
  2. Please contact the hotel directly with any ADA needs or special accommodation requests.

To keep expenses for the conference as low as possible, A1F has negotiated the best possible hotel rate and we encourage all attendees to book your hotel within our room block.

It is important that you identify yourself as attending the 2026 Alpha-1 Foundation National Conference and should be reserved under the Alpha-1 PATIENT Attendee block. Any request for special accommodations must be made at the time of this call.

Hotel Information:

Sheraton San Diego Resort – 1380 Harbor Island Drive, San Diego, CA 92101

Industry representatives and exhibitors should not book through the patient attendee block linked above. Industry and exhibitor accommodations must be reserved through the Industry room block titled “Industry and Alpha-1 Foundation”, which is available on the Industry registration page. Scroll down to the Industry Members & Exhibitors tab for more information.

Airport

San Diego International Airport (SAN)

Transportation

Airport Shuttle

Complimentary airport shuttle service to and from San Diego International airport runs daily every 30-40 minutes from 4:45 AM – 12:00 AM. Confirm next available time with the front desk. If you’re driving, self-parking is available and valet is available.

All persons who are employed by an industry company must register to attend as an exhibitor even if they will not be participating in the exhibit booth, including MSLs and healthcare providers.

To register as an Industry Member or Exhibitor, please contact Angela McBride at amcbride@alpha1.org.

Please note – Industry representatives and exhibitors should not book through the patient attendee block linked above. Industry and exhibitor accommodations must be reserved through the Industry room block titled “Industry and Alpha-1 Foundation”, which is available on the Industry registration page.

Conference Registration Desk Hours of Operation

Visit the conference registration desk on the Ballroom Level to pick up your conference name badge, registration bag and materials.

Thursday, June 4th: 11:00 am to 5:30 pm
Friday, June 5th: 9:00 am to 5:00 pm
Saturday, June 6th: 8:00 am to 2:00 pm

Exhibit Hall Hours

Grand Opening – Friday, June 5th – 8:30 am to 10:00 am

Friday, June 5th: 8:30 am to 5:00 pm
Saturday, June 6th: 8:00 am to 5:00 pm

This year, the Alpha-1 Kids Room will not be available, as no children have been registered for the National Conference. We remain committed to offering this space when there is a need and look forward to providing it at future events.

COVID-19 Safety Acknowledgement

For those planning to attend in person, please read the COVID-19 Safety Acknowledgment – Event Liability Waiver and Release of Claims.

Official Conference Name Badges

All official conference name badges MUST be worn at all times while in the conference areas. Please be advised that A1F National Conference name badges must be worn at all times in order to enter the exhibit hall, attend sessions and meals. Anyone not wearing an official conference name badge will be asked to leave the conference area.

Patient Confidentiality

Due to the sensitivity of health information, we encourage you to make an informed choice about whether or not to provide your personal information to the organizations exhibiting and participating at this conference.

Photography

Please be advised that the Alpha-1 Foundation (A1F) is taking photos and video throughout the conference. All photos and video taken by the official photographer and videographer may be used in A1F publications or reproduced to be used for newsletters, promotional materials, inclusion on websites or any other purpose. You release A1F from any liability connected with the taking of photographs and video. If you do not wish to have your picture used in any publication, please let A1F know in writing.

Special Dietary Requests

The conference can reasonably accommodate special dietary needs including vegetarian, vegan and gluten free. Please indicate if you will need a special accommodation at the time of registration. 

The hotel will clearly indicate allergens at buffets, if applicable. Meals provided with your registration may contain certain allergens. During plated meals, it is the responsibility of the attendee to ask hotel staff if there is a question about any ingredients.

Participants who have made a special dietary request will have it noted on their name badge in the bottom right hand corner. Please make sure to let the banquet server know that you need a special meal and show them your name badge.

Cell Phones/Electronics

Please silence cell phones and other electronic communication devices during the general and breakout sessions.

Dress Code

Dress is casual for all conference meetings, sessions and dinners.
You may want to bring a sweater or light jacket, as the hotel ballrooms may be cold.
Please avoid wearing perfumes, colognes or other scented items. This can trigger a serious asthma attack for some Alphas.

Will the educational sessions be recorded and available for later viewing?

Yes, sessions will be recorded and available to view on-demand on the virtual environment (VE) for one month following the conference. The VE will close one month after the close of the conference. Educational sessions will be available to watch in the A1F Video Library on ALPHA1.ORG by Monday, one month following the conference.

The Alpha-1 Foundation National Conference offers a virtual option on the Alpha-1 Foundation’s virtual environment (VE) for those who are unable to attend in person.

The Alpha Angels Memorial Service on Thursday, and sessions on Friday and Saturday will be available to view live on the VE. Register to attend virtually at the link above.

For general questions about the Alpha-1 Foundation National Conference, email
nationalconference@alpha1.org.

For questions about conference registration:
Kim Caraballo, Patient Outreach Manager
1-877-228-7321, Ext. 323
kcaraballo@alpha1.org

Sponsorship and exhibit opportunities:
Alexis Artiles Ojeda, Senior Director of Marketing and Patient Programs
aojeda@alpha1.org

Thank you to our 2026 A1F National Conference Sponsors!

Platinum Sponsors

AlphaNet | CSL | Grifols | Sanofi | Takeda

Gold Sponsors

Advanced Infusion Care | AvevoRX | CSI Pharmacy | Evernorth Health Services – Accredo Specialty Pharmacy

View educational sessions from past Alpha-1 Foundation National Conferences.

View photos from past A1F National Conferences