The ALPHA Project: Advancing Lupus Care and Treatment in 2020 and Beyond
On January 15 and 16, the Addressing Lupus Pillars for Health Advancement (ALPHA) Project led by the Lupus Foundation of America, researchers at the Tufts School of Medicine Center for the Study of Drug Development and a Global Advisory Committee (GAC) of 13 lupus experts from around the world will come together for an international stakeholder meeting.
More than 20 thought leaders, including physicians, patient representatives, researchers and pharmaceutical developers, will convene to examine the field’s most pressing needs from a global perspective. The cross-disciplinary group will discuss strategies to address a broad continuum of identified challenges, including:
- Biomarker identification and validation
- Clinical trial design
- Outcome measures
- Programs to support treatment adherence
- Access to care among underserved places and populations – in the U.S. and abroad
The ALPHA Project made history last year by bringing the global lupus community together and arriving at the first-ever global consensus on the top barriers facing the field. As the ALPHA Project moves forward, the focus now shifts to developing a strategic plan made up of actionable solutions and key next steps to promote progress in lupus care, treatment and diagnosis.
In addition to the tremendous data previously gained from extensive interviews with international lupus experts, the GAC will also tap into new insights directly from people with lupus to help determine the course of action. Through survey responses from lupus warriors and caregivers like you, more than 3,400 patients representing 83 different countries were able to support the ALPHA Project’s efforts and shape the dialogue by sharing their personal views and experiences.
There is a lot of momentum leading up to tomorrow’s meeting. We look forward to hosting lupus experts from across the globe and together tackling the barriers to improving lupus outcomes. Continue to follow the Lupus Foundation of America for more ALPHA Project updates.