Targeted Research Program on Engineered Cell Therapies for Lupus

The Targeted Research Program on Engineered Cell Therapies for Lupus is a Lupus Research Alliance mechanism built for next-generation cell therapy work. It supports both pre-clinical studies and ancillary research tied to ongoing or completed engineered cell therapy clinical trials, which gives it a place at the more advanced end of the alliance’s research continuum. The program offers up to $300,000 over two years for pre-clinical studies or up to $600,000 over two years for ancillary studies linked to engineered cell therapy trials. It is an annual United States grant program open to universities, nonprofits, and research organizations, with for-profit companies and individuals excluded. A well-defined translation plan is required. The best fit is a team that can explain how the work advances the next development stage and why engineered cell therapy is the right lever for lupus. LRA is looking for proposals with a disciplined translational path, not just technical novelty, so the study needs to connect the biology, the development plan, and the patient-relevant endpoint with unusual clarity.

Each grant below is a distinct funding opportunity with its own eligibility, scope, and deliverables.