Lupus is one of the most mysterious and debilitating diseases known to medicine. However, lupus remains underfunded relative to its scope and devastation. A sustained, coordinated and well-funded federal research effort on lupus will lead to a better understanding of what causes the disease and can help lead to the discovery of safe, more tolerable, and effective treatments for lupus.
Every 30 minutes someone in the United States is diagnosed with lupus. An estimated 1.5 million Americans have it. Lupus can damage any part of the body and cause heart attacks, strokes, seizures, organ failure, and infertility.
We urge the administration to support increased funding for this chronic life-diminishing, life-threatening autoimmune disease, which primarily affects women of child-bearing age.