DoW Lupus, Idea Award

Summary: This funding mechanism supports innovative, high-risk/high-reward research that could ultimately lead to a critical discovery or major advancement relevant to lupus. The emphasis is on innovation. Research must address at least one of the fiscal year 2026 (FY26) Lupus Research Program (LRP) Idea Award (IA) focus areas. This funding mechanism does not allow clinical trials.

Distinctive Features:

• Early-career investigators are eligible to serve as Principal Investigators (PIs) on applications to the FY26 LRP Idea Award (see Section 2. Eligibility Information).

• Preliminary data are permitted but not required.

• Applications should describe future directions of the work.

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