This year for the fourth time CSL Behring Germany awarded two Alpha1 Science Awards to aspiring clinicians for their innovative research projects in the field of alpha1 antitrypsin deficiency (AATD). The call for applications included Germany, Austria, and Switzerland.
The scientists’ applications were reviewed and decided upon by our scientific committee, consisting of five internationally renowned AATD experts. Each of those two award winning projects are supported with a monetary award of EUR 5,000. The Award Ceremony took place during the CSL Behring Satellite Symposium at the Annual Meeting of the German Respiratory Society (DGP) on April 10th in Leipzig.
Patrick Sommerer, MD, MBA, Senior Director, Medical Affairs, DACH, states: “The Alpha1 Science Awards underline CSL Behring’s commitment to improving the lives of patients living with AATD. This program is meant to drive scientific progress and innovations addressing patients’ needs by supporting the scientific efforts of the next generation of AATD specialists.”
Granting these Awards, we hope to inspire many early career clinicians and scientists to dedicate their carriers to improve the lives of patients with AATD.
Dr. Philipp Höger has been awarded one of the two best clinical research prizes with an Alpha1 Science Award 2025 by our scientific committee. He works as a resident physician in the Department of Pulmonology at the Thorax Clinic of the University Hospital Heidelberg and conducts research on radiological changes in AATD. So far, there is limited data on the use of quantitative computed tomography to phenotype emphysema in AATD. The study conducted by Dr. Höger provides new insights into the distribution of emphysema with lobar-specific analysis, challenging the previously accepted paradigm of localization in the lower lobes.
Dr. Inga Jarosch has been awarded one of the two best clinical research prizes with an Alpha1 Science Award 2025 by our scientific committee. She works as a research associate in the Department of Pulmonology at the Schoen Klinik Berchtesgaden and is a CEO of the Pneumo Factory which offers a personalized therapy program consisting of physical training, respiratory physiotherapy, and education. In her work, she compares the training methods of high-intensity training (HIT) with moderate-intensity training (MIT) in AATD patients. Both training conditions showed comparable improvements in physical performance, health-related quality of life, and exercise-induced dyspnea. The subgroup of AATD patients with anxiety or depression experienced a clinically relevant improvement in psychological symptoms only through HIT, implying a personalized approach.
Experts of the scientific committee for the Alpha1 Science Awards 2025:
- Prof. Dr. Claus Vogelmeier, University Hospital Marburg (Chair)
- Prof. Dr. Daiana Stolz, University Hospital Freiburg
- Prof. Dr. Joachim Ficker, University Hospital Nuremberg
- Prof. Dr. Rembert Koczulla, Schoen Clinic Berchtesgadener Land, Schoenau
- Prof. Dr. Winfried Randerath, Hospital Bethanien gGmbH, Solingen
Recording Symposium at DGP: "ABC“ der Pneumologie – Asthma, Bronchiektasen und COPD" (DocCheck)
DEU-RPZ-0400
