Lupus Research Alliance Career Development Award!

Exciting news! The Lupus Research Alliance announced the recipients of the 2025 Empowering Lupus Research Career Development Award and Postdoctoral Award.

The awards support exceptional early-career scientists to advance groundbreaking research that can improve outcomes for people living with lupus – and ultimately, to find a cure. 

This year, five outstanding researchers were recognized for their innovative studies—ranging from investigating the role of gut bacteria and immune cells to identifying predictors of chronic pain and targeting inflammatory pathways. Among them was our very own Joël Babdor, PhD.

"Thrilled to share that I’ve been awarded the Lupus Research Alliance Career Development Award!

This support will allow my lab at Penn to deepen our investigations into how microbiome-derived molecules influence immune states and contribute to lupus severity.
I’m humbled to be part of a cohort of outstanding researchers pushing the frontiers of lupus science. Congratulations to Titilola Falasinnu, Vanessa Sue Wacleche, Daniel F. Zegarra-Ruiz, Ph.D., and Carolina Chiale — excited to see how each of our projects will move the field forward.

Big thanks to the LRA for empowering early-career scientists and investing in the future of lupus research."