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Alpha-1 Foundation Inc

Annual Giving
$3.0M
Grant Range
$1K - $0.1M
Decision Time
3mo

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $3+ million
  • Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
  • Decision Time: 2-3 months
  • Grant Range: $1,000 - $100,000
  • Geographic Focus: International (130+ institutions worldwide)

Contact Details

Website: https://alpha1.org/
Phone: (305) 567-9888 or (877) 228-7321
Email: info@alpha1.org
Grant Program Contact: Vanessa Valencia, Grants Administration Manager - vvalencia@alpha1.org, ext. 242
Application Portal: ProposalCentral (https://proposalcentral.com/)

Overview

The Alpha-1 Foundation Inc, established in 1995 as a Florida not-for-profit corporation, is the world's largest private funder of Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency (AATD) research. With over $100 million invested since inception, the Foundation supports research at more than 130 institutions across North America, Europe, the Middle East, and Australia. The Foundation maintains a 100% score on Charity Navigator and operates with a mission to find a cure for AATD while improving the lives of affected individuals worldwide. Founded by three individuals diagnosed with Alpha-1, the Foundation uniquely maintains a board where the majority of directors are either diagnosed with Alpha-1 or have affected family members.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

  • Research Grants: Up to $100,000 over two years (basic and translational research)
  • Pilot and Feasibility Grants: Up to $100,000 over three years (new hypothesis testing)
  • Postdoctoral Research Fellowship Grants: Amount varies (early-career researcher support)
  • John W. Walsh Career Development Grant: Up to $100,000 over three years
  • Out-of-Cycle Grants: Variable amounts (large clinical projects needing immediate funding)
  • Conference Support Grants: Up to $5,000 (scientific meetings and workshops)
  • Travel Support Grants: Up to $1,000 (conference attendance)
  • The Alpha-1 Project (TAP): Investment program for pharmaceutical/biotech companies

Priority Areas

  • Lung disease research (COPD caused by Alpha-1)
  • Liver disease research
  • Drug discovery and development
  • Basic science (molecular mechanisms of AATD)
  • Clinical research (diagnosis and treatment improvement)
  • Translational research (lab to clinic transitions)

What They Don't Fund

  • Applications from pharmaceutical companies, biotechs, or industry entities
  • Industry collaborations on any proposals
  • General medical research unrelated to AATD

Governance and Leadership

President & CEO: Scott Santarella - Over 25 years of senior executive experience, previously CEO of Global Lyme Alliance

Board Chair: Jon Hagstrom (since July 2022) - Active member since 2019, previously served on Investment and Development Committees

Key Scientific Advisory: The Grant Advisory Committee includes prestigious physicians and researchers such as Dr. Bruce Trapnell, Dr. James Stoller, Dr. Craig Hersh, Dr. Michael Campos, and Dr. Charlie Strange. The committee uses NIH-equivalent rigorous scoring processes for grant review.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

Applications must be submitted through ProposalCentral (https://proposalcentral.com/) using a two-stage process:

  1. Letter of Intent (LOI): Submit at the beginning of the annual grant cycle
  2. Full Application: By invitation only after LOI review

Eligibility requirements include holding M.D., Ph.D., or equivalent degrees. For certain grants, applicants must commit 50% of their time to AATD research or clinical practice.

Decision Timeline

  • LOI Deadline: Late September (September 26 for recent cycle)
  • Full Application Deadline: Early February (February 6 for recent cycle)
  • Review Period: 2 months from receipt
  • Grant Advisory Committee Meeting: April
  • Award Announcements: May (typically at ATS International Conference)

Success Rates

Success rates are not publicly disclosed, though the Foundation awards approximately 20-25 grants annually from the pool of applications received.

Reapplication Policy

Unsuccessful applicants may reapply in subsequent grant cycles. The Foundation encourages researchers to review feedback and strengthen proposals before resubmission.

Application Success Factors

Based on the Foundation's funding patterns and stated priorities:

  • Strong AATD focus: Proposals must directly relate to Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency research
  • Institutional diversity welcomed: The Foundation funds institutions worldwide, from major research universities to specialized medical centers
  • Early-career support: Multiple grant categories specifically support postdoctoral and career development
  • NIH-style rigor: Applications are reviewed using NIH-equivalent standards, requiring strong methodology and preliminary data
  • Collaboration encouraged: Multi-PI proposals are accepted with up to $100,000 per year per institution
  • Industry restriction awareness: Ensure no pharmaceutical or biotech entities are included as applicants or collaborators

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • The Alpha-1 Foundation is the world's largest private funder of AATD research with over $100 million invested to date
  • Multiple grant categories available from $1,000 travel grants to $100,000 research grants
  • Two-stage application process requires initial LOI submission before full application invitation
  • Industry entities cannot apply or collaborate on in-cycle grants programs
  • Foundation maintains high standards with NIH-equivalent review processes
  • Strong preference for researchers who can commit significant time (50%) to AATD research
  • International applications welcomed - the Foundation funds research globally

References

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