The Alpha-1 Foundation announces the selection of two new members of the board of directors, Erin Carr and Alice Turner, MBChB, PhD. Both new members assume the position on the board with a strong passion and commitment to the Alpha-1 community.
Erin Carr
Member – North Carolina
Erin Carr is a mother and advocate who understands the daily struggles individuals and families impacted by Alpha-1 face. Born out of personal experience and unwavering love for her children Jack and Tess, her journey took a profound turn when Tess was diagnosed with Alpha-1 as an infant. This pivotal moment ignited her passion for advocacy and drove her to become deeply involved in the Alpha-1 community. At the core of Erin’s advocacy is a simple yet powerful belief in the importance of compassion, resilience, and determination. She firmly believes that by coming together as a community, we can overcome any obstacle and create a brighter future for those affected by Alpha-1. Whether organizing support group meetings, participating in awareness campaigns, or providing guidance and support to newly diagnosed families, she remains steadfast in her commitment to making a difference.
Alice Turner, MBChB, PhD
Member – Birmingham, England
Alice Turner graduated from the University of Leicester and has done postgraduate training via the Universities of Dundee and Birmingham, and Ashridge-Hult business school, completing a PhD focused on COPD and Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency (AATD) and postgraduate qualifications in medical education, leadership, and quality improvement (QI). She is now a professor in respiratory medicine at the University of Birmingham and works as a consultant in respiratory medicine at Heartlands and Queen Elizabeth hospitals, where she is lead for COPD and AATD services respectively. In addition, she is a member of the NIHR research prioritization committee and has past experience on a NICE health technology appraisal committee. She has published widely in COPD and AATD, and has ongoing research projects, mainly clinical trials, and observational clinical studies, in AATD and COPD funded by the NIHR and others.
To see a complete list of the Alpha-1 Foundation Board of Directors, click here.
