Lupus Foundation of America Awarded Multi-million Dollar Grant to Build Awareness and Improve Quality of Life for People with Lupus
WASHINGTON, D.C. (October 28, 2015) — The Lupus Foundation of America (Foundation) has been awarded a multi-million dollar grant from the United States Centers for Disease Control (CDC) to improve symptom recognition, diagnosis and improve the quality of life for people with lupus.
“This is an unprecedented opportunity to build on the sustainable and meaningful programs and services we provide people with lupus and their physicians,” said Conrad Gehrmann, Chair of the Lupus Foundation of America’s National Board of Directors. “As an organization committed to resolving the challenges that have plagued lupus diagnosis and care, this award fits perfectly with our mission and we look forward to working with the CDC.”
The funding will be used to:
- develop and implement an evidence-based national awareness and education campaign targeted at health care providers, individuals at risk for lupus and people with lupus;
- establish new resources and support for people at risk for and living with lupus and their caregivers; and
- build upon existing community-based partnerships with health care providers to help diagnose lupus more quickly.
On Thursday, the Lupus Foundation of America, the National Association of Chronic Disease Directors and the CDC will unveil the first-ever National Public Health Agenda for Lupus at a briefing on Capitol Hill. It will identify public health priorities, strategies and recommendations that are relevant and complementary to efforts in lupus biomedical research and clinical care and serve as a model of a comprehensive approach to lupus care and treatment.
The Foundation is also currently conducting research among people with lupus, their caregivers and various physician groups/specialists, to better understand the barriers in obtaining a lupus diagnosis.
The National Public Health Agenda for Lupus, along with the Foundation’s research findings, will guide the creation of campaigns and tools to reduce the time to an accurate lupus diagnosis and help develop programs and services that will benefit people with lupus, their caregivers and health care providers.
The Foundation will work closely with the CDC and also in collaboration with the American College of Rheumatology who also was awarded funding for this grant.
For information on this announcement or the release of the National Public Health Agenda for Lupus, please contact Nicole Dueffert at dueffert@lupus.org or 202-349-1162.
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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 the Lupus Foundation of America at lupus.org. For the latest news and updates, follow us on Twitter and Facebook.
