Dow Lupus, Transformative Vision Award

Summary: This funding mechanism supports interventional research at the individual and/or health care system level which will result in near-term impact on the health-related quality of life of individuals living with lupus. The emphasis is on near-term impact on quality of life. Research must address at least one of the fiscal year 2026 (FY26) Lupus Research Program (LRP) Transformative Vision Award (TVA) focus areas. This mechanism allows for clinical trials but does not allow animal studies.

Distinctive Features:

• Applications must include preliminary data.

• Applications must include at least one lupus consumer advocate as a member of the research team.

• This funding mechanism allows for up to three Principal Investigators (PIs). Only the initiating PI will submit a pre-application, but all PIs will need to submit full applications. The partnering PI(s) application is an abbreviated package specific to their distinct portion of the research project. Be advised, all associated applications for a research project may be withdrawn if the initiating or partnering application(s) is rejected or administratively withdrawn.

• An individual may be named as PI on only one application per LRP award mechanism (Idea Award, Impact Award, Transformative Vision Development Award, TVA), for a maximum of four applications to the FY26 LRP.