Stem Cell Research
Can stem cell therapy treat lupus? We have funded 11 studies on stem cells that are laying the groundwork to answer that question.
Stem cell therapy is one of the most promising frontiers in lupus research today, especially for people whose lupus doesn’t respond to other treatments (called refractory lupus).
We were the first lupus organization in the U.S. to support stem cell research. Now, in partnership with the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, we have committed nearly $4 million over the next five years to co-fund a major study of mesenchymal (adult) stem cells as a new treatment for moderate to severe lupus.
This study is the first step in determining whether stem cell therapy is safe and effective for people with lupus who do not benefit from the currently available treatments. The study will determine whether therapy with mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) can:
- lessen the debilitating long-term effects of lupus
- reduce the need for medications like steroids, which have harmful side effects
- stop damage to vital organs
Cedars-Sinai Medical Center
Los Angeles, California, United States, 90048
Contact: Bonnie Paul 310-423-1232 bonnie.paul@cshs.org
Principal Investigator: Mariko L. Ishimori, MD
Sub-Investigator: Daniel J. Wallace, MD
University of California - San Diego
San Diego, California, United States, 92093
Contact: Kenneth Kalunian, MD 858-246-2381 kkalunian@ad.ucsd.edu
Principal Investigator: Kenneth Kalunian, MD
Emory University
Atlanta, Georgia, United States, 30322
Contact: Karla Caylor, RN 404-616-7553 kcaylor@emory.edu
Principal Investigator: S. Sam Lim, MD, MPH
Sub-Investigator: Arezou Khosroshahi, MD
Northwestern University
Chicago, Illinois, United States, 60611
Contact: Karen Mancera-Cuevas, MS, MPH 312-503-0251 k-mancera-cuevas@northwestern.edu
Principal Investigator: Rosalind Ramsey-Goldman, MD
Sub-Investigator: Cybele Ghossein, MD
University of Rochester Medical Center
Rochester, New York, United States, 14642
Contact: Maria Allen 585-275-7167 Maria_Allen@urmc.Rochester.edu
Principal Investigator: Ummara Shah, MD
Sub-Investigator: R. John Looney, MD
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States, 27599
Contact: Brenda Meier, RN 919-445-2730 brenda_meier@med.unc.edu
Principal Investigator: Saira Z Sheikh, MD
Charleston, South Carolina, United States, 29425
Contact: Gary Gilkeson, MD 843-792-6043 gilkeson@musc.edu
Contact: Angela R Brown, MA 843-792-6043 robia@musc.edu
Principal Investigator: Gary S. Gilkeson, MD
Sub-Investigator: Diane L. Kamen, MD, MSCR
In 2018, the Lupus Foundation of America agreed provided $3.8 million to support a Phase II clinical study of stem cells as a potential new therapy for lupus. Watch the video to learn more.