July 1, 2024
Last week, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Fiscal Year 2025 Defense Appropriations bill. This bill includes $10 million for the Lupus Research Program, which awards grants to promising researchers around the world seeking to improve therapeutics and hopefully discover a cure for lupus. This is the same funding level that Congress has appropriated for several years.
We are grateful and pleased that funding was not cut in this time of difficult budgetary decisions. However, we must continue making the case to policymakers that steady, robust increases in potentially lifesaving research is a top priority for our community. Together with you, our advocates, the Lupus Research Alliance (LRA) and others in the community requested a $5 million increase in this program for a total of $15 million, justified by the prevalence of lupus, and the fact that the current funding level cannot support all the proposals for critically important projects.
The House’s action last week is not the final word on the issue. Continued advocacy will be needed to ensure that funding for the Lupus Research Program is included in the budget when final decisions are made — likely not until the end of the year. LRA will keep you informed and enlist your help as the appropriations process continues.
