Lupus Foundation of America Accepting Applications to Expedite Progress in Lupus Research
The Lupus Foundation of America announces 2016 peer-reviewed research funding to study stem cells in lupus, environmental triggers of lupus and health outcomes in children and teens, in addition to funding for researchers who experience a gap in external funding of ongoing lupus research projects.
“This funding is critical for advancing research on a complex disease that doesn’t conform to conventional wisdom,” said Sandra C. Raymond, President and CEO of the Lupus Foundation of America. “Through our efforts, we are challenging what isn’t working by funding research that will help to uncover the causes of lupus, understand its progression, and identify smarter and more efficient ways to accelerate the search for treatments and cures that ultimately will end lupus forever.”
Grants, fellowships and awards include the following:
- LIFELINE Grant ProgramTM — Provides one year of salary support for faculty who lose funding for a study due to the decreased funding available from government sources. Since its inception in 2014, this program has kept important lupus research projects on track while investigators reapply for larger federal grants.
- Stem Cells in Lupus — Aims to accelerate the discovery of potential therapeutic benefits of adult stem cells in lupus and how it might be used to develop life-saving treatments for the disease.
- Environmental Triggers of Lupus — Enhances the current understanding of the role of the environment in the development of lupus and lupus flares.
- Health Outcomes in Pediatric Lupus — Improves the short and long-term health outcomes of children and teens with lupus. This grant is available through the Foundation’s Michael Jon Barlin Pediatric Research Program. It was established with the generous support of the Wallace H. Coulter Foundation. The Foundation is the first and only voluntary health organization in the United States with a dedicated pediatric lupus research agenda.
- Career Development Award — Facilitates the professional development of fellows in the early part of their career who are interested in becoming lupus clinician-scientists.
- Gina M. Finzi Memorial Student Summer Fellowship Program — Seeks to cultivate an interest in lupus research among young scientists by funding lupus research studies conducted under the supervision of an established investigator.
Through a rigorous peer-review process, the Foundation will fund the most promising research focused on improving the quality of life for people with lupus. In addition to these efforts, the Foundation aims to make lupus a national health priority by raising awareness of the importance of public and private funding to generate faster progress in lupus research.
More information and complete guidelines are available for all of the grants, fellowships and awards at lupus.org/rfa. Applications are due April 8, 2016.
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Media Contact
Tracy Cooley, cooley@lupus.org, 202.349.1162
About Lupus
Lupus is an unpredictable and misunderstood autoimmune disease that ravages different parts of the body. It is difficult to diagnose, hard to live with and a challenge to treat. Lupus is a cruel mystery because it is hidden from view and undefined, has a range of symptoms, strikes without warning, and has no known cause and no known cure. Its health effects can range from a skin rash to a heart attack. Lupus is debilitating and destructive and can be fatal, yet research on lupus remains underfunded relative to diseases of similar scope and devastation.
About the Lupus Foundation of America
The Lupus Foundation of America is the only national force devoted to solving the mystery of lupus, one of the world’s cruelest, most unpredictable and devastating diseases, while giving caring support to those who suffer from its brutal impact. Through a comprehensive program of research, education, and advocacy, the Foundation leads the fight to improve the quality of life for all people affected by lupus. Learn more about lupus, Lupus Science & Medicine Journal and the Lupus Foundation of America at lupus.org. For the latest news and updates, follow us on Twitter and Facebook.