Our mission is to find better treatments and ultimately prevent and cure systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE, or lupus), a debilitating autoimmune disease.

Description:
We support the most promising research projects from scientists at the most prestigious universities, medical schools, and hospitals throughout the world. We believe the solution to lupus is a significant increase in biomedical research focused on new treatments, prevention, and a cure.

ALR uses a multi-level review system to ensure that it supports only the finest and most relevant lupus research projects. Applications for funding are rigorously scrutinized through a system called peer-review, in which an individually tailored panel of scientific experts reviews and ranks each research proposal. Then the ALR’s Scientific Advisory Board provides a second level of scrutiny before making funding recommendations to ALR’s Board of Directors, whose members function as final, non-scientist reviewers.

Since its founding, ALR has given more money to lupus research than any non-governmental agency in the world; to date $42 million has been committed.

Because our Board of Directors underwrites all operating expenses, one hundred percent of all donations from the public, and the proceeds of our signature grassroots fundraising program, Walk with Us to Cure Lupus, go directly to support research.

Great progress is being made as a result of this unprecedented focus on biomedical research. ALR-funded scientists are identifying genes that may predispose individuals to lupus. They are unraveling the ways that the immune system causes the tissue and organ damage so characteristic of the disease. New medications are being designed and tested so that the disease and its complications can be treated more safely and effectively, and perhaps even prevented. New approaches to diagnose and monitor the disease are also being developed.

History:
The Alliance for Lupus Research (ALR) is a national voluntary health organization based in New York City that was founded in 1999 and is chaired by Robert Wood Johnson IV, a member of the founding family of Johnson & Johnson.

Contact people:

Im Senephimmachack, Program Coordinator, (212) 218-2840, (email) Rocio Zapata, Administrative Assistant, (212) 218-2840, (email) Maggie Abrego, Assistant, (212) 218-2840, (email)

Address:

28 West 44th St. Suite 501 New York, NY 10036 (See a map)