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LRI Awards $4.5 Million to Spur Innovation in Lupus Research Fifteen Scientists to Pursue Novel Ideas on Understanding and Stopping the Destruction of Lupus In mid-October the Lupus Research Institute announced that it will pump more brilliant hypotheses into the pipeline of pursuit for answers to lupus by funding 15 three-year, $300,000 novel research grants. The researchers awarded the grants are at academic and research institutions across the country. They bring unique and creative ideas to a field of inquiry desperate for solutions as over 1.5 million Americans struggle daily with this complex and often devastating autoimmune illness. Since 2000, the LRI has backed 73 studies at 43 academic
medical institutions—a commitment of nearly $20 million. "The 2006 awards are a great mix of new investigators embarking on novel research (six) and established investigators taking new directions (eight)," said Mark Shlomchik, MD, PhD, professor of laboratory medicine and immunobiology at Yale University School of Medicine. The 15 recipients were selected from a record number of applications received by the Lupus Research Institute–92 in all–based on the novelty and potential of their hypotheses, as well as the promise of the investigators themselves. The rigorous review was conducted by the LRI Novel Research Peer Review Committee, co-chaired by Dr. Shlomchik and Nicholas Chiorazzi, MD, of North Shore/LIJ Health Systems. Nine of the studies selected represent basic science inquiries—investigations that take a completely new approach to determining what goes wrong in the lupus immune system. Six are clinical studies that involve people with the disease, or tissue taken from them. Seven of the newly funded studies rank as "high-risk" but likely "high-reward"—rich with potential for surging ahead in understanding lupus and identifying prevention and
treatment strategies. The scientists awarded the 3-year, $300,000 grants are working in the following key areas: Why some people with lupus develop neurologic and psychiatric problems remains a painful mystery, although antibodies crossing into the brain are believed to play an important role. The LRI is funding a human study that is expected to lead to a new understanding of the cause and development of this devastating and sometimes fatal lupus complication. Keith Elkon, MD Much of why and how lupus happens remains a mystery, out of sight. The LRI is funding a new study that aims to make visible the complex inner workings of the immune system. Robert A. Eisenberg, MD Immune System Response to Bacteria Jochen Mattner, MD There has long been speculation as to why females are so much more likely than males to get lupus, with nine women for every one male being affected. Two LRI studies specifically examine the link between sex steroids and lupus. Michele M. Kosiewicz, PhD Alessandra B. Pernis, MD The LRI funds the largest number of private sector studies seeking predictors of disease activity. Three 2006 grant recipients will focus specifically on these markers. Eric Greidinger, MD Chau-Ching Liu, MD, PhD Christopher A.J. Roman, PhD 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. Harvey Cantor, MD Stephen C. Pelsue, PhD Chandra Mohan, MD, PhD Immune System Function – Dendritic Cells A subset of white blood cells called plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs) are believed to prompt and mediate the immune system's misdirected attack on the body's own tissues and organs in lupus. But they have been difficult to study because they make up such a small part of the total white blood cells. The LRI is funding one study in particular that focuses on this prime suspect. Jan Erikson, PhD Immune System Function – Signaling At some point in lupus, messages are sent among cells that lead the immune system to malfunction. The LRI is funding two studies that aim to understand and interrupt this flawed communication. Lee Ann Garrett-Sinha, PhD Jian Zhang, MD Immune System Function – B Cells The body's B cells, or B lymphocytes, mature in the bone marrow. When stimulated by an antigen, they differentiate into plasma cells. And over the past few years, evidence that they play a central role in the cause and development of lupus has been growing. In addition to Dr. Garrett-Sinha's work (described above), the LRI is funding a highly promising study on B cells. Thereza Imanishi-Kari, PhD
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