LRA/RRF Empowering Lupus Research Investigator Award

LRA/RRF Empowering Lupus Research Investigator Award

Supports early-career lupus investigators with the LRA/RRF Empowering Lupus Research Investigator Award as they establish independent careers.

The LRA/RRF Empowering Lupus Research Investigator Award is a career development grant co-administered by the Lupus Research Alliance (LRA) and the Rheumatology Research Foundation (RRF), designed to support early-career investigators at the transition point between completing post-doctoral fellowship training and establishing themselves as independent investigators. The LRA is a New York 501(c)(3) nonprofit (Federal Tax ID #58-2492929) that has awarded over $284 million across 675+ grants in lupus research; the RRF is the research and education foundation of the American College of Rheumatology. The partnership targets a known funding gap: investigators who have completed formal training but have not yet secured independent lab resources or R01-level funding.

The award provides up to $500,000 over four years — three years of guaranteed funding with the possibility of renewal for a fourth year. The program is focused on lupus research aligned with the LRA's strategic goals, which include understanding lupus heterogeneity, developing molecular stratification tools, and advancing immune resetting therapies. Eligible applicants are investigators at universities and nonprofit research institutions; the award is intended for individuals rather than established PIs with prior independent funding. Applications are submitted through the Rheumatology Research Foundation's portal at rheumresearch.org. The award operates on a rolling basis rather than a fixed annual deadline cycle. Scientific inquiries go to Mara Lennard Richard, PhD, at mrichard@lupusresearch.org; administrative inquiries to Diomaris Gonzalez at dgonzalez@lupusresearch.org.

For early-career lupus researchers seeking bridge funding before their first major independent grant, the LRA/RRF Investigator Award provides substantial multi-year support — up to $500K over four years — to establish a preliminary research program and develop the grant track record needed for federal funding. The rolling application cycle means there is no single annual deadline; investigators should check rheumresearch.org for current cycle dates. Proposals should demonstrate that the applicant has completed post-doctoral training, articulate a focused lupus research agenda, and show a clear trajectory toward independent research leadership.