Michael Jon Barlin Pediatric Lupus Research Program
Lupus in children tends to be more severe with multi-organ system involvement. Lupus also is harder on kids because of additional health risks, since children will have more years to acquire organ damage, as compared to adults. Lupus is less common in children and consequently research on pediatric lupus has not received the level of support it deserves.
In response to this urgent need, we established the Michael Jon Barlin Pediatric Research Program with the generous support of the Wallace H. Coulter Foundation contributed in memory of Michael Jon Barlin, who passed away at the age of 24 following a long battle with lupus. With those funds, the Foundation became the first and only lupus advocacy organization in the United States with a dedicated childhood lupus research agenda. Through this program, we facilitate childhood lupus research in areas where there is the greatest need, including lupus nephritis and neuropsychiatric lupus.
2012 Awards
"Validation of PROMIS Modules for Use in Pediatric Lupus" 
Hermine I. Brunner, M.D., M.Sc.
Associate Professor of Pediatrics
Cincinnati Children's Hospital
This is the Lucy Vodden Research Grant Award, established in memory of Lucy Vodden by the LFA and Julian Lennon.
"Standardizing and Optimizing Treatment for Lupus Nephritis in Children" 
Emily von Scheven, M.D., M.A.S.
Clinical Professor of Pediatrics
University of California at San Francisco School of Medicine
This grant is made possible in part by funds provided by The Louis Berkowitz Family Foundation, and the LFA, Philadelphia Tri-State Chapter through the generous support of the Scott James Exler Fund for pediatric Lupus of The Philadelphia Foundation.
2011 Awards
“Effect of Pubertal Hormone Changes on Systemic Lupus Erythematosus” 
Kathleen M. O’Neil, M.D.
Associate Professor of Pediatrics
University of Oklahoma College of Medicine
2010 Awards
“Improving Transition Readiness and QOL with a Pediatric Health Passport”
Emily Von Scheven, M.D., M.A.S.
Professor of Clinical Pediatrics
University of California, San Francisco
“Pathways of autoimmunity linking polymorphisms in genes regulating the INF-α pathway, INF-α induced gene expression, and regulatory T-cell expression of FoxP3 in pediatric/adolescent systemic lupus erythematosus” 
Deborah McCurdy, M.D.
Associate Professor of Pediatrics
University of California, Los Angeles
2009 Awards
"Biomarkers for Diagnosis, Monitoring and Prognosis in Pediatric SLE"
Joseph Ahearn, M.D.
Associate Professor of Medicine
University of Pittsburgh
Co-Director
Lupus Center for Excellence, Pittsburgh, PA
Lay Abstract:
There is an urgent need for new tests (biomarkers) to help physicians to more accurately 
diagnose, monitor, and foresee future disease complications in children with lupus. This project constitutes a collaboration between the Lupus Centers in Pittsburgh and Cincinnati. Both programs recently have made promising lupus biomarker discoveries. Pittsburgh physician-scientists have discovered abnormal levels of complement proteins on surfaces of circulating blood cells in adult patients with lupus. Cincinnati physician-scientists have discovered biomarkers in the urine that show promise in monitoring kidney disease in children with lupus. This grant will enable both groups to combine discoveries and expertise to further advance this field in developing a panel of biomarker tests that will ultimately be used to improve physicians' diagnosis and care of children with lupus.
"Association Between Polymorphisms in Genes Regulating the IFN-I Pathway, IFN-I Induced Gene Expression and FOXP3 Expression in Pediatric/Adolescent SLE"
Deborah McCurdy, M.D.
Associate Professor of Pediatrics
University of California, Los Angeles, David Geffen School of Medicine
This grant award is provided by the Wallace H. Coulter Foundation, in memory of Michael Jon Barlin
Lay Abstract:
Children and adolescents have more severe lupus than adults and, thus may provide unique insights into its cause. Emerging evidence suggests that Interferon-a, a protein messenger that communicates between cells, is pivotal in the inflammation of lupus. We propose to study 50 pediatric patients with lupus and analyze genes that regulate and are regulated by Interferon-a and correlate this information with disease activity. Future plans include: 1.determine what causes increased Interferon-a activation; and 2.develop laboratory markers for genes that can be used to stratify patients with lupus for therapies targeted at the Interferon-a pathway.
2008
"PDLI as a Marker of Disease Activity in Pediatric SLE" 
Anne M. Stevens, M.D., Ph.D.
Children’s Hospital and Regional Medical Center, Seattle, WA
Lay Abstract:
The immune system must turn on and off quickly to fight infections, then avoid tissue damage from inflammation. One immune system self control mechanism is to make proteins on the surfaces of white blood cells (WBC) that inhibit other WBC when they are no longer needed. One of these proteins, Programmed Cell Death Ligand-1 (PD-L1), is not made by patients with active lupus. Treated patients, with quiet lupus, can make and express the protein on the cell surface again. An in-clinic PD-L 1 test could warn of disease flare. Medications could mimic PD-L1, replacing the inhibitory activity necessary to control inflammation.
"Cognitive Impairment and White Matter Changes in Pediatric Lupus" 
Eyal Muscal, M.D.
Clinical Instructor, Baylor College of Medicine
Division of Pediatric Rheumatology
Lay Abstract:
Lupus affects ten thousand American children and may damage brain tissue. Disease effects on the brain may include intellectual impairment. Impairment in problem solving and organization can be seen in pediatric patients (executive dysfunction) and may be associated with white matter damage. White matter maturation during adolescence streamlines brain connections. Disruptions of this process may have significant intellectual implications. Non-invasive MRI studies visualize areas of white matter damage in other brain diseases. We will measure lupus severity, markers of inflammation and intellectual performance in adolescent patients. White matter imaging results will be compared against cognitive test scores in a subset of children.
This grant award is made possible through support of the Wallace H. Coulter Foundation in memory of Michael Jon Barlin
"Association between Polymorphisms in Genes Regulating the IFN-I Pathway, IFN-I Induced Gene Expression and FOXP3 Expression in Pediatric/Adolescent SLE"
Deborah McCurdy, M.D.
Associate Professor of Pediatrics
UCLA, David Geffen School of Medicine
Lay Abstract:
Children and adolescents have more severe lupus than adults and, thus, may provide unique insights into its cause. Emerging evidence suggests that Interferon-a, a protein messenger that communicates between cells, is pivotal in the inflammation of lupus. We propose to study 50 pediatric patients with lupus and analyze genes that regulate and are regulated by Interferon-a and correlate this information with disease activity. Future plans include: 1. determine what causes increased Interferon-a activation; and 2. develop laboratory markers for genes that can be used to stratify patients with lupus for therapies targeted at the Interferon-a pathway.
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