Department of Defense Announces 12 New Lupus Research Program Awardees
Earlier today, the Department of Defense (DOD) announced that nearly $10 million has been awarded to 12 exciting research projects through its Lupus Research Program!
The Lupus Research Program was established by Congress in 2017 in response to advocacy efforts led by the Lupus Foundation of America and its advocates. Since then, lupus advocates have continued to annually raise their voices in support of this critical program.
The Department of Defense has committed more than $66 million to lupus research, including $45 million through the Lupus Research Program.
Today's announcement represents the fifth round of grants the DOD has offered and funded. The research funded by the DOD is advancing the field and will lead to breakthroughs in identifying the causes of lupus, accelerating diagnosis, and developing new medicines to prevent and treat the disease.
Newly Funded Research Programs
The Lupus Research Program offered three funding award mechanisms in 2021 – Idea Awards, Impact Awards, and the Transformative Vision Award.
As in the program's first four years, the response to the DOD’s call for applications was overwhelming. After releasing a call for applications in March of 2021, DOD received 69 high-quality applications that were then subjected to a multi-layer peer-review process. The Program has now received more than 470 applications for funding in its first five years.
In total, 12 applications will receive funding – 4 Idea Awards, 7 Impact Awards, and 1 Transformative Vision Award.
| Researcher | Institution | Award Type |
|---|---|---|
| Benjamin Chong | University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center | Idea Award |
| Michael Crackower | Ventus Therapeutics | Idea Award |
| Keisa Mathis | University of North Texas Health Science Center | Idea Award |
| Eric Sebzda | Wayne State University | Idea Award |
| Anca Askanase | Columbia University Medical Center | Impact Award |
| Karen Costenbader | Brigham and Women's Hospital | Impact Award |
| Charles Fathman | Leland Stanford Junior University | Impact Award |
| Jason Knight | University of Michigan | Impact Award |
| Theresa Lu | Hospital for Special Surgery | Impact Award |
| Tamara Nowling | Medical University of South Carolina | Impact Award |
| Joshua Ooi | Monash University | Impact Award |
| Megan Clowse | Duke University | Transformative Vision Award |
More details about the focus of each research project will be released later this year.
In addition to advocating for funding, the Lupus Foundation of America is represented on the Lupus Research Program’s programmatic panel, which sets the direction for the Program and helps to make funding decisions. Additionally, several people living with lupus, nominated by the Foundation, serve as consumer reviewers for the Lupus Research Program and bring their vital perspectives to the review of each research application.
Foundation Advocacy for the Lupus Research Program
With today's announcement, the Lupus Research Program at the Department of Defense has now funded 60 innovative lupus research programs since 2017. That number will continue to grow significantly in coming years thanks to the exceptional commitment and passion of lupus advocates.
Just a few weeks ago, lupus advocates successfully urged Congress to allocate an additional $10 million for the Lupus Research Program, which will be awarded in 2022!
As always, today's victory would not have been possible without the voices of the thousands of lupus advocates who have supported the Lupus Research Program over the years. To be a part of the next success story, sign up as an advocate!