Warren Alpert Foundation

The Warren Alpert Foundation is a private American philanthropic organization established by the late businessman and philanthropist Warren Alpert. It is headquartered in Providence, Rhode Island, and is funded solely by The Warren Alpert Estate; it does not solicit outside funds. The foundation's flagship activity is the Warren Alpert Foundation Prize, created in 1987 and administered in association with Harvard Medical School in Boston, Massachusetts. The prize recognizes one or more scientists, physicians, or researchers whose scientific achievements have led to the prevention, cure, or treatment of human disorders, or whose seminal research holds great promise to change the ability to treat disease. It is awarded internationally and carries a value of U.S. $500,000, split equally if there are multiple recipients. An annual scientific symposium is held each fall at Harvard Medical School in honor of the recipients. Recipients are selected by the foundation's Scientific Advisory Committee, composed of internationally renowned biomedical scientists and chaired by the Dean of Harvard Medical School. Since its inception, sixteen Nobel Prize winners have received the award. The foundation also supports innovative individuals and organizations dedicated to understanding and curing disease through groundbreaking research, scholarship, and service. Its founder, Warren Alpert (1920–2007), was born in Chelsea, Massachusetts, the son of Lithuanian immigrants. He earned a bachelor of science degree from Boston University in 1942, served in military intelligence during World War II, and was awarded the Purple Heart in 1945. He later completed the Harvard Business School Advanced Management Program and received an MBA from Harvard Business School in 1947. In 1950 he started his own business, which grew into Warren Equities, Inc., a privately held company that markets petroleum and food items and has been listed by Forbes among the top 500 privately owned companies in the United States. At the time of his death in March 2007, he was the sole owner of Warren Equities, Inc. The foundation continues his philanthropic legacy, with the prize remaining its most visible public program.

The Warren Alpert Foundation was established by Warren Alpert, a businessman and philanthropist who founded Warren Equities, Inc. The foundation's flagship program, the Warren Alpert Foundation Prize, was created in 1987. The prize is administered in concert with Harvard Medical School in Boston, Massachusetts, while the foundation itself is located in Providence, Rhode Island. Since its inception, the prize has been awarded internationally, and sixteen Nobel Prize winners have received it. The foundation supports innovative individuals and organizations dedicated to understanding and curing disease through groundbreaking research, scholarship, and service. It does not solicit funds and is funded solely by The Warren Alpert Estate. Warren Alpert was born in Chelsea, Massachusetts, in 1920, the son of Lithuanian immigrants. He earned a bachelor of science degree from Boston University in 1942, served in military intelligence during World War II, and was awarded the Purple Heart in 1945. He completed the Harvard Business School Advanced Management Program and received an MBA from Harvard Business School in 1947. In 1950 he started his own business, which became Warren Equities, Inc., a privately held company marketing petroleum and food items with annual sales exceeding one billion dollars. Forbes magazine annually listed Warren Equities, Inc. among the top 500 privately owned companies in the United States. At the time of his death in March 2007, Warren Alpert was the sole owner of Warren Equities, Inc. The foundation continues to operate, with the prize remaining its most prominent activity. The 2026 prize was awarded for enabling curative genetic therapies for individuals with sickle cell disease and beta-thalassemia. Nominations for the 2027 prize are open with a deadline of November 9, 2026.

• 2026

  The 2026 prize is awarded for enabling curative genetic therapies for sickle cell disease and beta-thalassemia.

• 2026

  Nominations open for the 2027 prize with a submission deadline of November 9, 2026.

• 2007

  Warren Alpert passes away in March; he was the sole owner of Warren Equities, Inc.

• 1987

  The Warren Alpert Foundation Prize is established by Warren Alpert and the foundation.

A private philanthropic foundation that honors and supports breakthrough biomedical research through its internationally recognized prize, awarded in partnership with Harvard Medical School.

• Warren Alpert Foundation Prize

  An international prize of U.S. $500,000 awarded in association with Harvard Medical School to scientists, physicians, and researchers whose work has led to the prevention, cure, or treatment of human disorders.

• Annual scientific symposium

  A symposium held each fall at Harvard Medical School in honor of the prize recipient(s).

1. 1Home Page - Warren Alpertwarrenalpert.org
2. 2Prize - Warren Alpertwarrenalpert.org
3. 3About us - Warren Alpertwarrenalpert.org
4. 4Warren Alpert Foundationwikidata.org