Lupus Research Institute seeks cure for lupus
US$8m grant launches international search for root causes of lupus and a cure
The Lupus Research Institute (LRI) in New York, US has launched an international initiative to discover the root causes of lupus, explore the potential for a cure, and transform the field of lupus research.
Bloomberg Philanthropies has awarded a US$8m grant to support the initiative.
While current research in the field is developing new treatments to suppress manifestations of lupus, nothing in the drug pipeline addresses root causes or seeks to reverse the disease, the LRI said.
LRI’s Distinguished Innovator's Programme aims to attract the world's best talent and foster cross-disciplinary partnerships between immunologists, geneticists, and cell, molecular and systems biologists with the aim of finding the causes of lupus and then developing a cure. It will begin as a competitive, high profile initiative that will award US$1m grants for large-scale research projects.
The goal is to attract additional major donors to support the programme and to build a critical mass of scientists who are committed to the long-term pursuit of a cure.
Lupus is a chronic, complex and prevalent autoimmune disease that affects more than 1.5 million Americans. More than 90% of lupus sufferers are young women between the ages of 15 to 44. It is a leading cause of premature cardiovascular disease, kidney disease and stroke among young women.
