The Lupus Research Alliance (LRA) is excited to announce the first-ever recipients of the Translational Bridge Award (TBA), established this year to accelerate the translation of groundbreaking research into potential treatments and diagnostics for lupus. The award aims to propel high-potential projects from LRA-funded foundational discoveries with strong commercialization potential or an opportunity for clinical evaluation. Five exceptional researchers have been awarded the 2024 Translational Bridge Award to tackle pressing issues, from managing pain and fatigue to developing an alternative to the widely used glucocorticoids.
Providing up to $450,000 over two years, the TBA emerged as a key initiative of LRA's newly developed Research Roadmap, an ambitious research strategy designed to integrate LRA's efforts across all stages of lupus research, from early discovery through clinical application. By funding innovative, milestone-driven projects with strong commercial or clinical potential, the TBA is driving scientific advances that can be quickly moved from the lab to the clinic, benefiting those with this complex disease. The new Translational Bridge Award addresses a critical gap in lupus research, enabling scientists to bring their most promising ideas closer to people living with lupus.
Each of the projects selected has the potential to change the way lupus is treated or diagnosed, making a tangible impact on the quality of life for millions." Teodora Staeva, Ph.D.
, LRA .