Call for Proposals for Distinguished Innovator Awards

The Lupus Research Institute (LRI) launched its new Distinguished Innovator Awards program inviting proposals for $1 million grants to conduct cutting-edge projects with the greatest promise for transforming the lives of people with lupus. The awards will be given to outstanding established scientists proposing innovative projects that pair unconventional creativity with sound science to discover the fundamental causes of lupus and unlock the potential for a cure.

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In short there is no definite identification of specific lupus causes. There are however a number of approaches to the disease, and a growing amount of research into lupus causes and lupus in general.

It has been found in studies that genetics does play a significant role in the cause of lupus. One particular study has found that in twins born with precise identical genes that is one has lupus, whereas the other has a twenty-four percent possibility of mounting it. This percentage within a group of two individual with the exact same genes also shows us that genes alone do not cause lupus. Among the other possible factors that scientists are examining are the environmental factors.

These include sunlight, cigarette smoke, stress and others. Viruses are also being studied as possible factors in lupus. At least one virus (Epstein-Barr virus) can cause lupus in genetically vulnerable individuals according to recent research. This is the same virus that causes mononucleosis.

It is suspected that the combination of a number of diverse genes might work to determine the probability of increasing the disease and the details of the disease. Researchers seem to be making headway in distinguishing some of those genes, and they may help to lead to enhanced ways of treating lupus. Someday the information that is being collected may allow for the prevention of lupus.

As lupus causes are being discovered better ways of diagnosing lupus may also be discovered. At present one of the most common diagnosis tests involves looking for ANA. ANA, or antinuclear antibodies, are one of the antibodies that are created by the immune system of people with lupus. These antibodies are among those that attack healthy body parts. This form of diagnosis is sometimes inaccurate or inconclusive though. ANA is found in some amounts in many healthy people as well as people with lupus, and in some cases a particular test of a person with lupus may not measure significant quantities of ANA. As a result a number of tests are used together to better diagnosis possible cases of lupus. In addition medical history and physical examinations can be helpful.

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