Translational Bridge Award
Invests in lupus translational projects through the Translational Bridge Award to move discoveries toward clinical testing.
The Translational Bridge Award is a grant program of the Lupus Research Alliance (LRA) designed to accelerate the movement of promising lupus discoveries from post-discovery research into pre-commercial development and clinical evaluation. The LRA, a New York-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit (Federal Tax ID #58-2492929), has issued more than $284 million across 675+ grants, with its 2024–2028 Research Roadmap explicitly targeting increases in molecular stratification, prognostic, and diagnostic tools for lupus. This award specifically addresses the translational bottleneck — the stage after a scientific discovery is made but before it enters formal clinical development.
The award provides up to $450,000 for up to two years. Eligible project types include a broad range of technologies, therapies, interventions, and diagnostics with direct and clear relevance to people living with lupus. All proposals must advance a potential commercial entity or clinical product with the potential to improve lupus diagnosis, standard of care, or to contribute to a cure. Eligible applicants are universities and nonprofit research organizations; for-profit entities are ineligible as lead applicants. The 2026 cycle deadline has passed; the 2027 cycle is expected. Scientific inquiries go to Maya Bader, PhD, at mbader@lupusresearch.org; administrative contacts are directed to Diomaris Gonzalez at dgonzalez@lupusresearch.org.
For investigators holding a validated discovery — a novel biomarker, therapeutic target, diagnostic assay, or intervention — the Translational Bridge Award provides up to $450K over two years to close the gap between laboratory proof-of-concept and early clinical or product development. Competitive applications will articulate a clear translational rationale, identify the specific development milestone the funded work will achieve, and demonstrate a plausible path to clinical adoption or commercial viability. Teams working in partnership with Lupus Therapeutics, the LRA's clinical research affiliate, or with industry collaborators may find the award's translational mandate a natural fit.
Technologies, therapies, interventions, and diagnostics for lupus that bridge post-discovery and pre-commercial development, with a clear path to viable clinical products that improve diagnosis or standard of care.
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