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Pediatric Lupus Research Grant

Lupus Foundation of America

Purpose: The Pediatric Lupus Research Grant is intended to provide pilot funding for a new project or research idea focused on pediatric systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). This grant provides support to investigators to initiate new research ideas and projects and is intended to complement rather than compete with traditional sources of funding.

Funding Opportunity

Applications to the Pediatric Lupus Research Grant will be adjudicated through a peer reviewed process. There are funds available to award one project for a term of one year at up to $45,000.00 USD each. Grants are nonrenewable and cannot be carried forward.

AI Based Application Success Predictor

1. Explicit, Central Focus on Lupus (SLE)

The single strongest predictor is a proposal that directly advances lupus research, including:

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) mechanisms

Lupus nephritis

Neuropsychiatric lupus

Pediatric/juvenile lupus

Autoantibodies, B-cell & T-cell dysregulation

Innate immune activation, interferon signatures

Biomarker discovery (blood, urine, imaging)

Clinical trials, outcomes research

Lupus flares, disease prediction

Fatigue, quality of life, adherence

❗ Generic autoimmunity proposals score poorly unless strongly tied to lupus biology or lupus patients.

2. Fit to the Correct LFA Mechanism

Different LFA funding lines have different expectations:

🔹 Gina M. Finzi Memorial Fellowship

For trainees and early-career researchers

Emphasizes mentoring + scientific potential

Requires feasible, compact projects (1 year)

🔹 LFA Research Grants (Pilot → Mid-Scale)

For early- to mid-career PIs

Requires strong preliminary data

Focus on novel lupus mechanisms or biomarkers

🔹 LFA-Funded Clinical / Biomarker Consortia

Support translational or clinical-type studies

Require strong clinical access and collaboration

🔹 LFA Special Calls (e.g., pediatric lupus, LN biomarkers, disparities)

Require tight alignment with the specific topic

Predictor: Match your career stage, research maturity, and topic precisely to the mechanism.

3. High Innovation + Strong Clinical or Scientific Impact

LFA prioritizes research that can produce meaningful change in lupus care:

New biomarkers for early detection or flare prediction

Therapeutic targets (B cells, T cells, interferon pathways, complement)

Novel therapeutics or mechanisms of drug resistance

Precision medicine approaches

Multi-omics for lupus heterogeneity

Real-world impact on lupus outcomes, disparities, fatigue

Predictor: Clearly articulate why this will matter clinically for lupus patients.

4. Strong Preliminary Data

Even for early-career awards, successful applications typically provide:

Proof-of-concept experiments

Feasibility reports (assay working, cell lines, animal models)

Pilot data from lupus patients

Early biomarker signals

Predictor: Strong preliminary data greatly increases reviewer confidence.

5. Patient Sample Access or Relevant Models

LFA highly values clinically relevant lupus biology:

SLE patient samples (blood, urine, tissue)

Lupus nephritis kidney tissue

Reliable lupus mouse models (MRL/lpr, NZB/NZW F1)

Single-cell or bulk transcriptomics from lupus cohorts

Predictive computational models validated in real data

Predictor: Access to human lupus samples or well-validated models is crucial.

6. Clear, Feasible, Milestone-Based Aims

Most LFA grants are short-term (1–2 years), so strong proposals include:

2–3 focused Aims

Defined readouts (cytokines, autoantibodies, imaging, biomarkers)

Milestones with go/no-go criteria

Realistic timeline for a small award

Path to next-step NIH or foundation funding

Predictor: Tightly scoped, feasible Aims score highest.

7. Strong Mentorship (Critical for the Finzi Fellowship)

For trainees and early-stage investigators, success correlates heavily with:

A mentor deeply experienced in lupus research

Strong training plan

Regular meetings and oversight

Access to lupus clinics, cohorts, biobanks, animal models

A track record of mentor-funded trainees

Predictor: The mentor’s quality is one of the top scoring criteria for trainee mechanisms.

8. Clear Relevance to LFA Strategic Priorities

LFA is especially focused on:

Improving lupus diagnosis and flare prediction

Reducing disparities in diagnosis, treatment, and outcomes

Pediatric lupus (often severe and under-studied)

Lupus nephritis (biomarkers, treatment optimization)

Fatigue and quality of life

Treatment optimization and clinical effectiveness

Predictor: Direct alignment with these priority areas significantly strengthens an application.

9. High-Quality Writing & Scientific Rigor

Top-scoring LFA proposals are:

Very clearly written

Well-organized

Supported by compelling preliminary data figures

Explicit about potential pitfalls & alternatives

Strong in biostatistics and reproducibility plans

Easy for both clinical and basic reviewers to understand

Predictor: Strong writing substantially increases reviewer enthusiasm.

10. Path to Future Lupus Funding

LFA favors projects that can lead to:

NIH R21/R01/K-level applications

Clinical trial development

Biomarker qualification

Translational pipelines

Future patient-impact programs

Predictor: Show how the LFA grant propels your next major step.

🏆 Summary Table — LFA Success Predictors

Predictor	Why It Matters
Lupus/SLE-specific focus	Core mission requirement
Mechanism alignment	Ensures appropriate expectations
Innovation + impact	Major scoring factor
Preliminary data	Shows feasibility
Human samples/models	Strengthens relevance
Focused Specific Aims	Fits 1–2 year timelines
Strong mentorship	Essential for early-career awards
Alignment with LFA priorities	Improves competitiveness
Strong writing & rigor	Improves reviewer scoring
Future funding pathway	Fits LFA’s “catalytic” philosophy

Specialties

Clinical Trials

Eligibility Requirements

Applicants and co-applicants must:

 Hold an MD or PhD (or equivalent) from an accredited institution in the U.S. or Canada

 Be a citizen or legal resident of the U.S. or Canada at the time of application. Collaborators may be from other countries, however no funds from the Lupus Foundation of America may be transferred outside of the U.S. or Canada.

 Hold an academic appointment at an U.S. or Canadian university, teaching hospital, or similarly accredited institution (i.e., institution eligible for NIH funding or tri-council funding)

 Principal Investigators are permitted to submit up to a maximum of one application per competition

Eligible Countries:

Canada

United States

Sponsor Details

Sponsor Institute/Organizations: Lupus Foundation of America

Sponsor Type: Corporate/Non-Profit

Address: 2121 K Street NW, Suite 200 Washington, DC 20037

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