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Lupus Advocates Take Action on Capitol Hill to Ensure Access to Care and Increase Research Funding

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AZN AstraZeneca is listed as a corporate partner of the Lupus Foundation of America, indicating a supportive role without specific financial or research details provided in the article. BIIB Biogen is mentioned as a corporate partner of the Lupus Foundation of America, suggesting a supportive relationship but without specific details on their involvement or impact. GSK GSK is mentioned as a corporate partner of the Lupus Foundation of America, suggesting a supportive relationship but without specific details on their involvement or impact. NVS Novartis is listed as a corporate partner of the Lupus Foundation of America, indicating a supportive role without specific financial or research details provided in the article. PHR PhRMA is mentioned as a corporate partner of the Lupus Foundation of America, suggesting a supportive relationship but without specific details on their involvement or impact. UCB UCB is listed as a corporate partner of the Lupus Foundation of America, indicating a supportive role without specific financial or research details provided in the article. VTRS Viatris is mentioned as a corporate partner of the Lupus Foundation of America, suggesting a supportive relationship but without specific details on their involvement or impact.

Lupus Advocates Take Action on Capitol Hill to Ensure Access to Care and Increase Research Funding National Lupus Advocacy Summit brings powerful voices to Capitol Hill to advocate for all Americans living with lupus

WASHINGTON, April 22, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Hundreds of lupus advocates from 42 states gathered in Washington, DC for the Lupus Foundation of America's National Lupus Advocacy Summit, held April 19-21. The Summit is the largest lupus advocacy event in the nation, giving lupus warriors a platform to meet with their members of Congress, share the impact of the disease, and let Congress know why federal funding for lupus programs and research is crucial to improving the lives of people with lupus. Thousands more participated virtually, amplifying the voices of the lupus community nationwide by reaching out to their members of Congress through digital channels.

During the three-day Summit, participants also had the opportunity to hear from leading lupus experts, share their experiences with lupus with peers, and learn about the latest advancements in lupus research and patient care. Advocates met with congressional offices on the final day of the Summit to share personal stories and press for action on key priorities, including:

"The National Lupus Advocacy Summit serves as a powerful demonstration that the lupus community is united, persistent, passionate, and needs to be heard," said Louise Vetter, President & CEO of the Lupus Foundation of America. "Every lupus story shared helps Congress to understand the importance of protecting access to life-changing care and treatments and continuing to invest in impactful lupus research. Lupus advocates' voices are powerful and united, making it clear that progress depends on relentless support for this misunderstood disease. Advancing lupus care and research must remain a national priority."

The Summit also honored leaders whose dedication has made a lasting impact on the lupus community. At the Lupus Heroes Celebration, three extraordinary advocates received top honors:

The Lupus Foundation of America sincerely thanks its Board of Directors, generous donors, and corporate partners whose support helped make the 2026 National Lupus Advocacy Summit possible: AstraZeneca, Biogen, Cabaletta Bio, EMD Serono, Genentech, GSK, Novartis, PhRMA, UCB, and Viatris.

About the Lupus Foundation of America

The Lupus Foundation of America is the premier patient advocacy organization devoted to solving the mystery of lupus, a devastating autoimmune condition where the immune system attacks organs throughout the body, while giving caring support to those who suffer from its brutal impact. Through a comprehensive program of research, education, and advocacy, we lead the fight to improve the quality of life for all people affected by lupus. Learn more about the Lupus Foundation of America at lupus.org.

About Lupus

Lupus is an unpredictable and complex autoimmune disease that can affect multiple parts of the body. It is difficult to diagnose, challenging to treat, and often misunderstood. Lupus can cause symptoms ranging from skin rashes to organ damage and can be life-threatening. Despite its devastating impact, research on lupus remains underfunded relative to the disease's scope.

Media Contact:

Mike Donnelly

[email protected]

SOURCE Lupus Foundation of America, Inc.