Lupus Therapeutics, the clinical affiliate of the Lupus Research Alliance (LRA), has announced the IDEAL (Investigate Dietary Approaches for Lupus) Initiative, a pioneering funding mechanism designed to explore the role of diet in lupus care. This initiative aims to address common questions regarding lupus clinical care and management by funding pilot clinical studies that assess the impact of dietary interventions on the lived experience of individuals with lupus.
Addressing Unmet Needs in Lupus Care
The impact of diet and the microbiome on lupus development and progression has garnered significant interest from researchers and patients alike. While some positive assessments of diet and the microbiome exist in other therapeutic areas, lupus studies have remained largely preliminary and preclinical. The IDEAL Initiative seeks to fill this void by identifying a simple, practical, and accessible dietary approach that benefits people with lupus.
Stacie Bell, Executive Vice President of Lupus Therapeutics, stated, "The IDEAL Initiative was created to answer questions among researchers, clinicians, and those living with lupus eager to unlock new insights on how diet and the microbiome impact lupus management and disease course." She expressed optimism that a robust, multi-disciplinary research approach would yield results that could be extrapolated into larger evaluations of interventions and care strategies, potentially enhancing patient outcomes and quality of life.
Initiative Details and Funding
The IDEAL Initiative will fund a pilot proof-of-concept clinical study to evaluate the impact of diet on lupus. Proposals must include a multi-disciplinary team approach, potentially involving multiple institutions, with at least two disciplines represented in the proposed project. The desired outcome is a clinical outcome or scientific mechanism rather than dietary guidance, although the study may inform the development of dietary guidance.
The initiative will provide up to $500,000 over two years to fund a scientifically based, well-controlled small clinical pilot study. The intent is to fund up to two awards at $500,000 each. All studies should have a clear and direct relevance to people with lupus and should offer the potential to improve the standard of care and the daily lived experience. Priority will be given to projects that also align with LRA strategic research priorities, such as defining human lupus heterogeneity by molecular pathology to stratify patients by active disease mechanisms and integrating the research continuum to bring advances to patients. It is critical for the IDEAL-funded project to keep patients at the center and beneficial to include patients as research partners.
Application Process
A two-stage application process will be employed:
- Letter of Intent (LOI): Due January 8, 2025, at 11:59 pm ET. A three-page LOI will be used to judge the innovation, significance, and alignment of the proposed project with the IDEAL funding mechanism.
- Full Application: Due March 28, 2025, at 11:59 pm ET. Applicants whose LOIs successfully pass the first review stage will be invited to submit a full application with further instructions provided at that time.
Teodora Staeva, PhD, Vice President and Chief Scientific Officer, Lupus Research Alliance, noted, "The IDEAL Initiative is a direct response to the research community's call for clinical studies in an emerging area of unmet need. The LRA continues to champion innovative funding mechanisms that will tackle pressing needs in lupus research. This initiative is one of several new LRA funding opportunities that could lead towards new care approaches for people with lupus."
