Le Lézard
Classified in: Health
Subjects: NPT, EXE, VET, TRI

Department of Defense Announces Lupus Research Program Awardees


WASHINGTON, May 17, 2018 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Department of Defense (DOD) today announced the award of nearly $5 million to 13 innovative and impactful lupus research projects through its new Lupus Research Program.

Lupus Foundation of America. (PRNewsFoto/Lupus Foundation of America) (PRNewsfoto/Lupus Foundation of America)

The Lupus Foundation of America and its advocates led a multi-year effort and worked with Congress to establish the Lupus Research Program in 2017. The program aims to fund research that will advance the field, and lead to breakthroughs in the causes of lupus, its diagnosis, and the development of new medicines to prevent and treat the disease. Recipients of the program's grant awards represent the proposals ranked highest by a peer-reviewed process in a competitive field of 121 high-quality applications.

"We're excited to see the Lupus Research Program moving forward with funding for critical new research studies that will improve our understanding of the disease and lead to new treatments for our military heroes and all people living with this cruel and potentially fatal disease," said Stevan Gibson, President of the Lupus Foundation of America. "This is truly a significant moment as the Lupus Foundation of America and our advocates spent 14 years working tirelessly to establish the Lupus Research Program and also have been heavily involved in setting the strategic direction and priorities for this new dedicated funding stream for lupus research."

Through its award mechanisms, the Lupus Research Program selected six recipients for its Concept Award and seven research programs for its Impact Award. The Concept Award supports the exploration of highly innovative new concepts or untested theories that address important issues in lupus. The Impact Award encourages applications that support the full spectrum of research projects or ideas that specifically focus on scientific and clinical lupus issues, which, if successfully addressed, have the potential to make a major impact in lupus research.

The Lupus Research Program is designed to fund high-impact research into the disease that is not already being conducted by the National Institutes of Health, Department of Veterans' Affairs, or any other government agency. Emerging research indicates that our military veterans may be at a greater risk of developing lupus and other autoimmune diseases. Factors common to military service, such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), vaccines, chemical and toxin exposures, ultraviolet light, and infectious agents have been associated with the development of lupus.

The Lupus Foundation of America was the first organization to work toward securing a lupus-specific program at the DOD beginning in 2003 when it advocated to include lupus research as part of the DOD's Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program. The Foundation also spearheaded the effort to create the Congressional Lupus Caucus, a group of nearly 60 U.S. Representatives who are championing the fight against lupus on Capitol Hill and who played a pivotal role in creating and securing funding for the Lupus Research Program. To date, the DOD has provided more than $31 million for lupus research, including $10 million appropriated by Congress for the Lupus Research Program in FY 2017 and FY 2018. 

The Lupus Research Program is guided by a vision to cure lupus through a partnership of scientists, clinicians, and consumers. The program's funding is provided on a competitive grant basis and projects are peer reviewed. Two of the Lupus Foundation of America's medical advisors and a past board chair are serving on the programmatic panel, which sets the direction for the programs and helps to make funding decisions. In addition, the Foundation nominated seven individuals living with lupus to serve as consumer reviewers, bringing their perspectives to research projects that applied for funding. 

For the full release and a list of the 13 Lupus Research Program's awardees for FY 2017 please click here.

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 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, we lead 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.

CONTACT:
Mike Donnelly
[email protected]
202.349.1162

SOURCE Lupus Foundation of America


These press releases may also interest you

at 15:05
MAIA Biotechnology, Inc., ("MAIA", the "Company"), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing targeted immunotherapies for cancer, today announced that independent directors Cristian Luput and Ramiro Guerrero, J.D, LL.M. made individual...

at 15:05
University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM) Dean Mark T. Gladwin, MD, announced today that Martine Rothblatt PhD, JD, MBA, Chairperson and CEO of United Therapeutics, and inventor of SiriusXM Satellite Radio, will deliver the keynote address...

at 15:00
Beghou Consulting announced Thursday several additions to its executive team to support the company's technology innovation, product development and growth initiatives. Dan Cardinal, a Partner at Beghou, will become Chief Technology Officer. The...

at 15:00
Urban Wellness Group, a pioneering wellness provider, is proud to announce its official launch of new anti-aging and sleep enhancement treatments to southeast Portland. Dr. Jason Zabell and Dr. Andy Swanson set themselves apart by pairing over 30...

at 14:55
Peninsula Canada, a global leading HR and health & safety firm, committed to making a positive impact in the community, is proud to announce a partnership with SickKids Foundation, a leading charity dedicated to supporting The Hospital for Sick...

at 14:30
The "Global Immunoprecipitation Testing - Market Share Analysis, Industry Trends & Statistics, Growth Forecasts 2019 - 2029" report has been added to  ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The Global Immunoprecipitation Testing Market size is estimated...



News published on and distributed by: