Fifteen scientists with highly promising novel research studies in lupus have been awarded 3-year, $300,000 grants, bringing the total number of researchers funded since the nonprofit LRI started 5 years ago to 56, and the financial support to lupus investigation to $14.5 million. The LRI Novel Research Peer Review Committee rigorously reviewed a record number of applications (81 in all) to select the recipients, who hail from institutions around the country and offer expertise in research areas from basic immunology to nephrology, neurology and cardiology. A remarkable number—nearly half—are bringing their scientific talents to the study of lupus for the first time.

While often high-risk (9 of the grants qualify as such), many of the 15 studies have already shown the potential for "high-reward," or the capacity to surge ahead in understanding lupus and identifying prevention and treatment strategies. Nearly half (seven) of the recipients will be conducting research in humans—a powerful sign of progress and hope in lupus investigation. The scientists awarded the $300,000 grants are working in the following key areas:

Click on the link to learn more about the rationale behind each project, the research plan, and what the findings will mean for the estimated 1-1.5 million Americans who suffer from lupus.

Biomarkers

The LRI funds the largest number of private sector studies seeking predictors of disease activity. While several 2005 grant recipients will conduct research that may generate these biomarkers, one with a specific focus is:

Timothy W. Behrens, MD
University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN

Genetics

The genes a person inherits may make him or her more susceptible to lupus. The LRI funds research that explores this association, so that measures can be taken to anticipate or modify it.

Christine M. Grimaldi, PhD
Columbia University, New York, NY

Marko Radic, PhD
University of Tennessee, Memphis, TN

Immune System Function

In lupus, the immune system goes awry. The LRI funds research that explores the mechanisms at play in jump-starting and fueling this faulty autoimmune response.

Daniel H. Kaplan, MD, PhD
University of Minnesota, Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN

Greg E. Lemke, PhD
The Salk Institute for Biologic Studies, La Jolla, CA

Theresa T. Lu, MD, PhD
Hospital for Special Surgery, New York, NY

Martin Weigert, PhD
University of Chicago, IL

Organ-Specific Research

Lupus attacks major organ systems. The LRI funds studies to figure out how and what can be done about this. Some are done in people directly, and some are done using tissue from humans—often just a step away from clinical research.

Cardiovascular:
Amy S. Major, PhD
Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN

Central Nervous System:
Roland G. Henry, PhD
University of California at San Francisco, CA

Kidney:
Marcus Clark, MD
University of Chicago, IL

Studies Using Human Tissue

Janis Burkhardt, PhD
Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, PA

Zhixin (Jason) Zhang, PhD
University of Alabama at Birmingham, AL

New Treatments

Many of the year 2005 research studies could lead to urgently needed therapy breakthroughs for lupus. The following three are particularly promising in this regard.

Pascal Alard, PhD
University of Louisville, KT

Felipe Andrade MD, PhD
Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD

Inez Rogatsky, PhD
Hospital for Special Surgery, New York, NY