LFA seeks grant applications from medical researchers to help advance understanding of lupus nephritis

The Lupus Foundation of America (LFA) seeks grant applications from medical researchers to help advance the understanding of lupus nephritis, a serious and life-threatening complication of lupus that can affect as many as 40 percent of all people with lupus, and two-thirds of children with the disease.

Lupus nephritis is the term used when lupus causes inflammation in the kidneys, making them unable to properly remove waste from the blood or control the amount of fluids in the body. Left untreated, lupus nephritis can lead to scarring and permanent damage to the kidneys and possibly end-stage renal disease. There are often few symptoms of kidney disease.

The LFA is seeking applications that advance the science and understanding of lupus nephritis related to the development of biomarkers to measure disease activity, specialized treatment guidelines, quality of life measures for adults and children, and new therapeutic interventions for the treatment of lupus nephritis.

The grant is provided as part of the LFA's National Research Program, Bringing Down the Barriers. The LFA has an ongoing commitment to advancing the science and medicine of lupus, developing new therapies, and finding a cure for lupus. Specifically, the LFA research program seeks to address gaps in understanding of lupus, and other areas of research not supported by other public and private institutions. Since its inception, the LFA and its affiliated chapters have provided nearly $23 million to fund more than 400 grants to research scientists at nearly 100 leading academic and medical institutions throughout the nation.

Binding letters of intent must be submitted by May 10, 2010. Online applications must be submitted by June 18, 2010. Awards will be announced on September 6, 2010. The LFA uses an electronic grant submission process and all interested grant applicants should submit their letters of intent and proposals via proposalCENTRAL at https://proposalcentral.altum.com/Login.asp.