Leaders in Lupus Merge, Launch New Lupus Research Alliance

The Alliance for Lupus Research (ALR), the Lupus Research Institute (LRI) and the S.L.E. Lupus Foundation  have merged to form the largest private sector organization dedicated to advance lupus research – The Lupus Research Alliance (LRA).

With a new board of directors in place, the Lupus Research Alliance is geared to stand at the forefront of groundbreaking research with a guarantee that all administrative and operating costs will be covered by the board, and all donations will go directly to fund research programs.

Together, the three legacy organizations devoted more than 75 years to lupus research and have funded more than $200 million in programs. The Lupus Research Alliance is the new catalyst for setting the agenda for new scientific discoveries in prevention, treatment and cure in order to free the world of the chronic and complex autoimmune disease.

“We are determined to shepherd new scientific discoveries into potential treatments through ongoing partnerships between patients, the scientific and medical communities, government and the biopharmaceutical industry that can deliver much-needed breakthroughs in the genetics, immunology and organ involvement of lupus and autoimmunity,” said former Alliance for Lupus Research president Kenneth M. Farber, in a press release.

Margaret G. Dowd, the former Lupus Research Institute president and chief executive office, said the groups combined as one encompass a wide spectrum of innovative research opportunities from fundamental and translational research to immunology and clinical trials.

“We are committed to pushing the limits of exploration by seizing every opportunity to transform the lives of all affected by this disease – patients, their loved ones and the entire lupus community,” Dowd said.

Farber and Dowd now serve as co-chief executive officers for the new Alliance for Lupus Research.