Lupus Research Alliance

The Lupus Research Alliance (LRA) is an American voluntary health organization based in New York City whose mission is to find better treatments and ultimately prevent and cure systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE or lupus), a debilitating autoimmune disease, through supporting medical research. The organization was born from the merger of three organizations: the Lupus Research Institute (LRI) and the S.L.E. Lupus Foundation with the Alliance for Lupus Research (ALR), which was founded by Robert Wood "Woody" Johnson IV, a member of the Johnson & Johnson family and owner of the New York Jets. As of 2020 the LRA's cumulative research commitment was $220,000,000.[1]

Lupus Research Alliance
Formation2016
FounderWoody Johnson
Location
Websitewww.lupusresearch.org

History

edit

The Lupus Research Alliance (LRA) was founded as The Alliance for Lupus Research in 1999 by former chairperson Woody Johnson, a member of the founding family of Johnson & Johnson and owner of the New York Jets.[2] The organizations's fundraising efforts include committing money to lupus research and charity walk-a-thons under the "Walk with Us to Cure Lupus" program, which raises funds and public awareness of the disease.[3]

Research funding

edit

The hallmark of LRA's operations are an emphasis on multidisciplinary science. Research funded by the LRA has included the 2008 International SLE Genetics Consortium (SLEGEN), which identified several genes associated with lupus.[4][5][6]

The Lupus Research Alliance has given more money to lupus research than any non-governmental agency in the world.[4] As of 2015 the LRA's cumulative research commitment was over $100,000,000,[1] making it the largest lupus research organization and the only organization the funds lupus biomedical research internationally. One hundred percent of all donations from the public including donations in support of the "Walk with Us to Cure Lupus" program go directly to research programs because the LRA's board of directors funds all administrative and fundraising costs.[7] LRA uses a peer review system to make all funding decisions.[7][4]

References

edit
  1. ^ a b Lupus Research Alliance (2013). "Grants Awarded List" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 14 May 2014. Retrieved 13 May 2014.
  2. ^ "Behind the Jets, a Private Man Pushes His Dream". The New York Times. 11 November 2004. Retrieved 13 May 2014.
  3. ^ Compton, Natalie B. "Washington Post: Breaking News, World, US, DC News & Analysis". The Washington Post. Retrieved 2019-06-27.
  4. ^ a b c "Alliance for Lupus Research Release International - News, Search Jobs, Events". Archived from the original on 2011-07-16. Retrieved 2008-01-24.
  5. ^ "Steps toward stopping autoimmune disease". EurekAlert!.
  6. ^ "OMRF identifies genes linked to lupus". Oklahoman.com. 21 January 2008.
  7. ^ a b Lupus Research Alliance. "LRA Fact Sheet 2012" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 14 May 2014. Retrieved 13 May 2014.
edit