Cure HHT names 46 young investigator travel award recipients for 2026 conference

Cure HHT has selected 46 emerging investigators for travel support to attend its 16th HHT International Scientific Conference in Cape Cod, Massachusetts, from Oct. 12-16, 2026. The awards are designed to help early-career researchers present new work, build collaborations and strengthen the pipeline for hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia research and care.

Why it matters: - The travel awards help early-career researchers and clinicians attend the largest global conference focused exclusively on hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia, or HHT. - The support reduces a financial barrier that can keep young investigators from presenting their work and joining the international HHT research community. - Cure HHT says the program helps build the next generation of experts working toward better treatments and a cure.

What happened: - Cure HHT announced the Palmer Family Fund for Young Investigator Travel Award recipients for its 16th HHT International Scientific Conference. - The conference will take place in Cape Cod, Massachusetts, from Oct. 12-16, 2026. - Diagonal Therapeutics is presenting this year’s conference. - Forty-six investigators will receive travel support to attend, present and participate.

The details: - The Palmer Family Fund supports promising young investigators from around the world. - Eleven award recipients were named in the release, including researchers from the United States, the Netherlands and Belgium. - Andrej Shoykhet of Leiden University Medical Center will present work on non-invasive functional ultrasound imaging and vascular alterations after endothelial SMAD4 depletion. - Anirban Ray of Tulane University will present research on endothelial FOXO1 modulation and pathological angiogenesis in endoglin-deficient HHT mice. - Elaine Kim of the University of California, San Francisco, will present a retrospective analysis of sex-based disparities in HHT diagnosis. - Eleanor Steiner of the University of North Carolina will present work on pulmonary AVM recanalization rates in pediatric HHT. - Elisavet Koutala of Leiden University Medical Center will present work on ALK1-BMPR2 bispecific antibody agonist therapy in HHT mice using super-resolution ultrasound imaging. - Finn Timmermans of Leiden University Medical Center will present research on endothelial SMAD1/5 deficiency, pericyte dysfunction and neurovascular uncoupling. - Jan Pieter van Veen of St. Antonius Hospital in Nieuwegein will present research on pulmonary right-to-left shunting on TTCE and risk of cerebral complications. - Joline Michiels of KU Leuven will present a retrospective cohort study of Staphylococcus aureus infections in HHT patients. - Ons Mamai of the University of California, San Francisco, will present work on PTPN14, SMAD4 and arterial endothelial cell identity. - Sartaaj Walia of the University of California, San Francisco, will present initial results comparing ferumoxytol-enhanced MRI with gadolinium-enhanced MRI for detecting brain arteriovenous malformations. - Yue Qi of Stanford University will present research on modifier genes contributing to pulmonary arterial hypertension in HHT patients. - An additional 31 travel grants were funded by the Grace Nolan Foundation, Cure HHT and, for the first time, Cure HHT Canada. - Together, the awards will support 46 investigators. - Cure HHT said the program helps researchers overcome financial barriers to attending international scientific meetings.

Between the lines: - The mix of topics points to broad scientific activity across diagnosis, imaging, genetics, vascular biology and treatment approaches in HHT. - The growing number of applicants suggests more early-career researchers are entering the field, which can expand collaboration and speed progress. - Conference travel awards can have outsized value in niche disease areas because they connect new investigators with established leaders and multicenter networks.

What's next: - The award recipients will travel to Cape Cod in October to present their work and meet with researchers, clinicians, industry partners and patient advocates. - Cure HHT’s biennial conference will continue to serve as a forum for sharing emerging research and translating findings into patient care. - The organization will keep using travel support to help expand the pool of HHT specialists and researchers.

The bottom line: - Cure HHT is using conference travel funding to broaden participation in HHT research now and strengthen the field’s future pipeline.