National Kidney Month: Lupus Nephritis Resources and Research Breakthroughs

March is National Kidney Month, a time to shine a light on the thousands of individuals whose lives are deeply affected by lupus nephritis – lupus-related kidney disease.

Lupus nephritis is a serious complication caused by inflammation from lupus. It affects up to 60% of people with lupus, and if left untreated can cause irreversible kidney damage or kidney failure.

At the Lupus Foundation of America (LFA), we remain committed to advancing research and expanding lupus education and resources so that people living with lupus and their loved ones have the knowledge, support, and hope they need on every step of the journey.

Support and Strength for People With Lupus Nephritis

Living with lupus nephritis can be stressful and challenging. The LFA offers many resources to help individuals and families understand how lupus impacts the kidneys, navigate treatment, and much more:

• The  Lupus Nephritis Information Center on the National Resource Center on Lupus
• A community that understands through the National Kidney Care Support Group
• Ways you can share your experience to accelerate research through RAY®: Research Accelerated by You, LFA's online lupus registry
• Insights from the world’s leading kidney specialists through The Expert Series podcast and Lupus & You webinars

From Seed Funding to Global Breakthrough: LFA Support in Action

Early funding can be the difference between an idea and real-world solutions.

In 2021, the LFA awarded the Gary S. Gilkeson Career Development Award to Dr. Andrea Fava at a pivotal moment in his career. That investment helped propel research that has the potential to reshape how lupus nephritis is monitored and treated worldwide.

Lupus nephritis has long required invasive kidney biopsies, which can be painful. Dr. Fava set out to change that by developing a non-invasive alternative.

With LFA support, Dr. Fava's team generated the preliminary data needed to identify urine-based biomarkers that reveal kidney activity - what he describes as a "liquid biopsy." 

This innovation has the potential to:

• Predict treatment response
• Detect silent kidney flares earlier
• Enable easier, more frequent monitoring

Since receiving the award, Dr. Fava has become a core investigator in the NIH-funded Accelerating Medicines Partnership and is advancing his biomarker panel toward clinical use.

What began as seed funding is now revolutionizing lupus nephritis research and leading to reducing burden, improving care, and bringing hope to people living with lupus.

The LFA community’s belief in a better future for people living with lupus and lupus nephritis fuels the research that changes lives, the programs that offer strength and clarity, and the support that ensures no one faces this disease alone. Progress is not only possible - it's happening every day.