Institute For Science And Health

Ace Lupis Fund

Mission Statement:

The Ace Lupus Fund is dedicated to seek methods the treatment and prevention of the lupus family of disorders and the possible extension of such methods to other diseases of autoimmune origin.

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a clinically heterogeneous autoimmune disease characterized by the presence of autoantibodies directed against components present in normal healthy cells. The disease results in chronic inflammation of various body parts, especially the skin, joints, heart, blood vessels, and kidneys. More than 16,000 Americans develop lupus each year with well over one million diagnosed to date. While the cause of lupus remains unknown, environmental and genetic factors are believed to be involved. Currently there is no cure.

Recent evidence indicates that an individual's genes are important in determining who does and does not develop lupus. Numerous genes in different regions of the human genome appear to be linked to lupus development. As a consequence of the number of genes affected and the level of impaired function of those affected genes, lupus symptoms may present in a variety of ways. This explains why the lupus family of disorders has a wide range of clinical severity and can seemingly influence multiple body systems in a random manner. Investigation of the genetic components that cause lupus and manifest the clinical symptoms represents an exciting and logical course that can lead to disease diagnosis, prevention, and therapy.

Thus, the Institute for Science and Health's research program for lupus focuses on the genetic linkages surrounding disease development, progression, and treatment. The Ace Lupus Fund strives to support research on such genetic linkages as Biomarkers of Susceptibility, Genes that Suppress Disease Development, and Targeted Therapies that Modify Defective Genes and Gene Products.