NEW YORK, N.Y. — September 23, 2026
Lupus Research Alliance (LRA) announced the recipients of its 2026 Translational Bridge Awards, a program designed to advance promising lupus research toward clinical development and potential therapeutic applications. The program will provide up to $450,000 over two years to support projects focused on two serious manifestations of lupus: cutaneous lupus erythematosus (CLE) and lupus nephritis. This year’s awardees, Nunzio Bottini, MD, PhD, of Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and Jim Oates, MD, of the Medical University of South Carolina, are advancing research previously supported by LRA through its 2021 Lupus Innovation Awards.
Bottini Advances Antibody Approach for Cutaneous Lupus
Nunzio Bottini’s project is focused on developing an antibody therapy for cutaneous lupus erythematosus, a form of lupus affecting the skin. According to LRA, CLE involves inflammatory activity driven in part by plasmacytoid dendritic cells and contributions from skin fibroblasts that can promote scarring. The investigational antibody developed by Bottini is designed to activate a protein whose activity is reduced in people with CLE, with the goal of affecting both inflammatory and fibroblast-driven processes. Earlier research showed activity in a mouse model of lupus, and the Translational Bridge Award will support further development of the approach toward potential clinical testing. These preclinical findings do not establish safety or efficacy in humans.
Oates Explores L-Sepiapterin in Lupus Nephritis
Jim Oates’ award will support research into L-sepiapterin as a potential treatment approach for vascular and endothelial dysfunction associated with lupus nephritis. Lupus nephritis can cause progressive kidney and vascular damage, while abnormal endothelial-cell function may contribute to inflammation and cardiovascular risk. Oates is investigating whether L-sepiapterin can help restore endothelial function in people with lupus nephritis and generate evidence to inform larger clinical studies. The compound has an existing FDA approval for a separate disorder involving elevated blood amino acid levels, but its potential use in lupus nephritis remains investigational. The award is intended to support translational work needed before the approach could be evaluated more broadly in clinical development.
Advertisement
LRA Seeks to Bridge Discovery and Clinical Development
The Translational Bridge Awards are designed to address the gap between promising scientific discoveries and development of potential therapies for people living with lupus. LRA said the program places particular emphasis on advancing discoveries previously supported through its research funding programs, allowing investigators to build on foundational findings and generate additional evidence needed for clinical translation. The two 2026 projects target different lupus manifestations but share a focus on addressing disease mechanisms beyond conventional immune suppression. By supporting further development of these approaches, the awards aim to generate translational evidence that could inform future clinical testing and therapeutic development in cutaneous lupus and lupus nephritis.
Source :Lupus Research Alliance press release
