LRA/RRF Empowering Lupus Research Scientist Development Award

The LRA/RRF Empowering Lupus Research Scientist Development Award sits under the Lupus Research Alliance and the Rheumatology Research Foundation. It is a mentored career-development route for early-stage lupus researchers who are building toward independent work and have not yet accumulated major prior research experience. The award provides up to $225,000 over three years, with two years guaranteed and possible renewal in year three. The program runs annually, and the administration is handled through the rheumatology research partnership rather than a stand-alone LRA call. Projects are meant to help awardees generate scientific data and develop innovative ideas needed to move into independence. The runway is narrow, but it is deliberate. The best fit is a university-based investigator or research team working on lupus science who needs data generation, mentoring, and a clear path to an independent role. The project should stay close to lupus biology, produce usable scientific data, and show a defined next step.

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