Lupus Research Alliance Awards Grants to Innovators in Lupus Research for 2024
The Lupus Research Alliance (LRA) is excited to announce this year’s winners of the esteemed Lupus Innovation Award (LIA). This award is pivotal in supporting groundbreaking research endeavors that aim to address critical challenges in understanding and treating lupus. Recipients of this prestigious grant include researchers from around the world, each receiving up to $150,000 per year for two years, with the objective of accelerating pivotal discoveries in lupus research. This year’s awardees are focusing on diverse and innovative projects related to lupus, promising to shed light on the complexities of the disease. Dr. Teodora Staeva, Chief Scientific Officer of LRA, remarked on the significance of these awards, stating, "The 2024 Lupus Innovation Awardees are attacking major issues in the field, from discovering new therapeutic targets to delving into the foundational causes of the disease. We applaud our new grant recipients and eagerly anticipate the positive impact of their work on the future landscape of lupus treatment and care." Here’s a closer look at the groundbreaking projects being funded:
Dr. Franck Barrat from The Hospital for Special Surgery is focusing on the heightened levels of inflammatory molecules known as type 1 interferons (IFN-I), which are associated with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). His research aims to identify the specific cells responsible for excess IFN-I production, opening doors for innovative therapeutic strategies.
Dr. Ross Dickins of Monash University is dedicated to creating new treatments for lupus nephritis (LN), which can be unresponsive to current therapies. He has formulated a novel therapeutic approach that suppresses immune cell activity via a unique methodology. This research will be pivotal in comparing this new treatment with established options in clinical settings.
At the University of Pittsburgh, Dr. Rebecca Elsner will investigate the role of signaling molecules produced by B cells in lupus development. Her study will assess how these molecules influence harmful B cell behavior and whether dual-blocking their effects might yield better therapeutic outcomes.
Dr. Nisha Limaye from the de Duve Institute will explore how cellular senescence affects the progression of lupus nephritis, a serious complication of SLE. By investigating senescence-targeting drugs, she aims to identify potential treatments that could mitigate the severity of kidney disease in lupus patients.
Dr. Theresa Lu, also from The Hospital for Special Surgery, aims to uncover the link between photosensitivity and the risk of bone loss in SLE patients. Her study could lead to insights into how managing skin inflammation associated with sunlight exposure can impact overall health outcomes.
Dr. Eric Meffre from Stanford University School of Medicine is investigating the relationship between gut bacteria and lupus flare-ups. This research may reveal novel therapeutic strategies by identifying specific bacterial strains that trigger or are linked to the disease's exacerbations.
Dr. Carolyn Moderbacher of the La Jolla Institute for Immunology plans to analyze T cells from lupus patients. Her study seeks to create a detailed 'fingerprint' of these cells that could unveil new biomarkers or therapeutic targets for SLE.
Dr. Justin Perry from Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center will explore the processes behind cell clearance failures, focusing on whether inadequate digestion of dying cells contributes to lupus pathology.
Dr. Novalia Pishesha at Boston Children's Hospital is researching nanobodies that could provide targeted delivery of anti-inflammatory drugs to immune cells in lupus patients, potentially resulting in safer treatments.
Dr. Deepak Rao, affiliated with Brigham and Women’s Hospital, is studying how to restore function in regulatory T cells that are dysfunctional in lupus. This could lead to novel strategies to reinforce the body’s immune response.
Finally, Dr. Justin Van Beusecum from the Medical University of South Carolina will examine the Piezo1 protein, which is implicated in cardiovascular health, to understand its role in lupus and its associated complications.
Lupus is a multifaceted autoimmune disorder that affects millions globally. Here at the Lupus Research Alliance, we continuously strive to support innovative research that will lead to better treatments and ultimately a cure. The organization is the world’s largest non-profit funder dedicated to lupus research, ensuring that every dollar donated is allocated solely to scientific research. We invite you to learn more about our initiatives and various projects on our website.
1. Investigating the Root of Chronic Inflammation in SLE
Dr. Franck Barrat from The Hospital for Special Surgery is focusing on the heightened levels of inflammatory molecules known as type 1 interferons (IFN-I), which are associated with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). His research aims to identify the specific cells responsible for excess IFN-I production, opening doors for innovative therapeutic strategies.
2. Developing New Lupus Therapies
Dr. Ross Dickins of Monash University is dedicated to creating new treatments for lupus nephritis (LN), which can be unresponsive to current therapies. He has formulated a novel therapeutic approach that suppresses immune cell activity via a unique methodology. This research will be pivotal in comparing this new treatment with established options in clinical settings.
3. Targeting Inflammatory B Cell Signaling in Lupus
At the University of Pittsburgh, Dr. Rebecca Elsner will investigate the role of signaling molecules produced by B cells in lupus development. Her study will assess how these molecules influence harmful B cell behavior and whether dual-blocking their effects might yield better therapeutic outcomes.
4. Understanding Cellular Senescence in Lupus Nephritis
Dr. Nisha Limaye from the de Duve Institute will explore how cellular senescence affects the progression of lupus nephritis, a serious complication of SLE. By investigating senescence-targeting drugs, she aims to identify potential treatments that could mitigate the severity of kidney disease in lupus patients.
5. Exploring the Connection Between Photosensitivity and Bone Loss in SLE
Dr. Theresa Lu, also from The Hospital for Special Surgery, aims to uncover the link between photosensitivity and the risk of bone loss in SLE patients. Her study could lead to insights into how managing skin inflammation associated with sunlight exposure can impact overall health outcomes.
6. Linking Gut Bacteria and Lupus Flares
Dr. Eric Meffre from Stanford University School of Medicine is investigating the relationship between gut bacteria and lupus flare-ups. This research may reveal novel therapeutic strategies by identifying specific bacterial strains that trigger or are linked to the disease's exacerbations.
7. Analyzing Overactive T Cells in Lupus
Dr. Carolyn Moderbacher of the La Jolla Institute for Immunology plans to analyze T cells from lupus patients. Her study seeks to create a detailed 'fingerprint' of these cells that could unveil new biomarkers or therapeutic targets for SLE.
8. Investigating the Failure to Digest Dead Cells in SLE
Dr. Justin Perry from Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center will explore the processes behind cell clearance failures, focusing on whether inadequate digestion of dying cells contributes to lupus pathology.
9. Testing Safer Anti-inflammatory Treatments for Lupus
Dr. Novalia Pishesha at Boston Children's Hospital is researching nanobodies that could provide targeted delivery of anti-inflammatory drugs to immune cells in lupus patients, potentially resulting in safer treatments.
10. Enhancing Treg Function to Treat Lupus
Dr. Deepak Rao, affiliated with Brigham and Women’s Hospital, is studying how to restore function in regulatory T cells that are dysfunctional in lupus. This could lead to novel strategies to reinforce the body’s immune response.
11. Exploring the Role of Piezo1 in Lupus-Related Complications
Finally, Dr. Justin Van Beusecum from the Medical University of South Carolina will examine the Piezo1 protein, which is implicated in cardiovascular health, to understand its role in lupus and its associated complications.
Lupus is a multifaceted autoimmune disorder that affects millions globally. Here at the Lupus Research Alliance, we continuously strive to support innovative research that will lead to better treatments and ultimately a cure. The organization is the world’s largest non-profit funder dedicated to lupus research, ensuring that every dollar donated is allocated solely to scientific research. We invite you to learn more about our initiatives and various projects on our website.
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