In Chicago and around the country, LRI researchers are actively working to solve the many mysteries of lupus. Of the 45 studies currently funded, four are in Chicago—a $1.2 million investment.

Currently Funded:

2006

Jian Zhang, MD
University of Chicago

In lupus, a defect develops in the body's T cells, which are designed to attack all foreign cells. Dr. Zhang's laboratory has found that mice who produce too much of a certain inhibitory protein in T cells (c-FLIP) develop a syndrome that resembles lupus in humans. With the LRI grant, Dr. Zhang will study and further describe the cellular and molecular mechanisms that prompt these disease-related changes—as well as identify new molecules that might serve as targets for lupus drugs.

2005

Martin Weigert, PhD
University of Chicago

Dr. Weigert, an established lupus researcher, will examine the role of Light Chain (L-Chain) editors in producing the self-targeted antibodies that can cause damage to organs and tissues in lupus. The study will examine whether the expression of L chain editors correlates with disease activity. If successful, Dr. Weigert's research could lead to the development of a revealing novel lupus assay (test) and new treatment.

Marcus Clark, MD
University of Chicago

Dr. Clark provides clinical evidence that B lymphocytes—immune cells that are believed to make antibodies to the body's own tissues in lupus—invade the kidney and directly contribute to damage there. To carry out an extended exploration of why this is important and describe just what role B cells play in lupus nephritis, he will use human tissue from kidney biopsies. The research represents a new direction for Dr. Clark, an established lupus investigator in basic lymphocyte biology. If fruitful, the findings could profoundly shift thinking on how lupus kidney disease first starts, and treatment options.

Funding Completed:

2002

Michael C. Schneider, MD
Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, Springfield