Lupus Foundation of America Awarded New Multi-Million Dollar Grant to Increase Lupus Awareness, and Expand Self-management Resources and Services
Today, the Lupus Foundation of America (LFA) announced it has been awarded a new five-year, multi-million-dollar grant from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to increase lupus awareness, reduce the time to an accurate diagnosis and improve the overall quality of life for people living with lupus. The funding will support and build upon the LFA's current lupus programs, resources and services designed to help people with lupus and their physicians, as well as those at risk of the disease.
"The Lupus Foundation of America has always been committed to providing wide-ranging support, educational resources, and comprehensive care programs and services to all those affected by lupus," said Stevan W. Gibson, president and CEO, Lupus Foundation of America. "A grant of this magnitude will significantly help the Foundation build sustainable resources and continue to address the complex needs of people with lupus, from the onset of symptoms, to early diagnosis and daily disease management."
Lupus affects an estimated 1.5 million people in the U.S., however, 63% of Americans surveyed have never heard of or know little or nothing about this disease that has no cure. As the leading source for information on lupus, the Lupus Foundation of America will use the new grant funding to focus on the following strategic goals:
- Raise awareness about lupus signs and symptoms and what to do if you have lupus;
- Increase awareness and access to lupus self-management tools and services; and
- Improve self-management behaviors among people with lupus to improve health outcomes.
Since 2015, the Lupus Foundation of America has worked with the CDC as part of a grant from the agency on a multi-faceted, national initiative called PULSE—Partners United for Sustainable Lupus Education. The Lupus Foundation of America's work through PULSE has led to the development of programs and services benefitting people with lupus and the advancement of lupus awareness.
Highlights from PULSE include the development of the National Resource Center on Lupus - a digital collection of valuable lupus resources and information trusted by four million people a year that serves to increase understanding of lupus among people impacted by the disease as well as physicians; the Be Fierce. Take Control.® lupus campaign bringing awareness to at-risk young Black and Latina women who are disproportionately impacted by lupus; the Take Charge email series designed to help people who have lupus learn how to manage their disease; building the National Lupus Partners Network, a network of more than 90 partners to help share information about lupus around the country; and much more.
Under the new grant, the Lupus Foundation of America will work with its national network of chapters, regional offices and support groups, and in collaboration with the CDC, people with lupus, and other stakeholders with national reach andexperience addressing health disparities, to sustain PULSE. The Lupus Foundation of America will also work in collaboration with the American College of Rheumatology who was awarded funding for this grant.