Alex Manfull was in the prime of her life—a graduate of Phillips Exeter Academy and Princeton University, a gifted writer, avid reader, artist, photographer, runner, and unapologetic fashion lover. She had launched a successful career as a financial analyst in New York City and had recently moved to Washington, D.C. Alex’s sharp humor and boundless kindness left a lasting impression on everyone who knew her.

Only weeks before her death, Alex received a formal diagnosis of PANDAS—one she had long suspected. PANDAS and PANS are serious, infection-associated neuroimmune disorders that can cause sudden-onset obsessive-compulsive behaviors, anxiety, tics, and other neuropsychiatric symptoms in children and young adults. Alex was relieved and hopeful to finally begin treatment with a leading specialist. She planned to use her voice as a writer to raise awareness so others would not have to endure the years of suffering she experienced. Tragically, she passed away just days before treatment was set to begin.

The Alex Manfull Fund was created in her memory to ensure that no life is ever again cut short or derailed by PANS or PANDAS. Through advancing research, supporting clinician education, and raising awareness across medical disciplines, the Fund works toward a future where earlier recognition and effective care are the norm—not the exception.

TILT: Stories on the Edge is part of that mission. Join us for an evening that honors Alex’s legacy through truth-telling, connection, and the shared belief that even when life doesn’t follow the script, hope can still emerge.

TILT: Stories on the Edge- Berkeley

Berkeley, CA