Department of Defense Announces Fiscal Year 2026 Lupus Research Program Funding Opportunities
The Department of Defense (DoD) has announced the availability of nearly $10 million in funding opportunities for high-impact lupus research through the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program’s (CDMRP) Lupus Research Program (LRP). The Fiscal Year 2026 (FY26) Lupus Research Program will support multiple award mechanisms aimed at advancing understanding, diagnosis, treatment, and quality of life for people affected by lupus.
Researchers interested in applying must submit a pre-application by July 29, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time. Full applications are due August 19, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time. Funding opportunities include the Idea Award, Impact Award, Transformative Vision Award, and Transformative Vision Development Award.
The DoD will also host an informational webinar on June 10 from 12:00-1:00 p.m. ET covering multiple research programs, including the lupus research program (bookmark this webinar link to watch the presentation on June 10). For complete details on the FY26 Lupus Research Program funding opportunities, visit the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs website.
A Major Advocacy Victory
The restoration of $10 million in FY26 funding for the Lupus Research Program is a major victory for the lupus research and advocacy community, made possible by the year-round advocacy efforts of lupus advocates after the program was eliminated from FY25 appropriations and received no research funding.
The Lupus Research Program was first established in 2017 following years of advocacy led by the Lupus Foundation of America and lupus advocates nationwide. Since its creation, the program has secured tens of millions of dollars in federal investment for lupus research and has supported dozens of high-quality, high-impact projects focused on improving care and outcomes for people living with lupus.
Advocates fought determinedly last year to restore the program after Congress eliminated funding in FY25. The newly announced FY26 investment of $10 million would bring total congressional funding for the Lupus Research Program to approximately $75 million since its inception in 2017.
The program fills critical research gaps by supporting innovative and patient-driven studies that may not otherwise receive funding from the private sector or other federal agencies. Research funded through the program has explored environmental triggers, immune system dysfunction, disease heterogeneity, organ damage, and quality-of-life issues affecting lupus patients.
For more information about the research supported through the DoD Lupus Research Program, visit the Lupus Foundation of America’s Lupus Research Program page.
In Washington, DC and state capitals around the country, Lupus Foundation of America advocates tell their stories and urge their elected officials to support policies that improve the lives of people affected by lupus. Sign up today to stay up-to-date on these efforts and ways you can add your voice to the fight.