{
  "abstract": "Objectives Lupus Research Alliance (LRA) developed a Biomarker Roadmap, with the goal of creating a more focused and impactful approach to biomarker development in lupus. The roadmap outlines a research-focused strategy that aims to accelerate the discovery, validation, and clinical adoption of biomarkers that can transform lupus care—enabling earlier diagnosis, better disease monitoring, and more personalized treatment strategies.Methods LRA convened a multidisciplinary committee of experts in lupus research and clinical care, diagnostics, and drug development. A comprehensive landscape analysis was conducted that engaged both scientific and patient communities. Through surveys and structured discussions, the committee identified three critical unmet needs where biomarker innovation could have the greatest impact on lupus diagnosis and clinical care.Results The unmet needs are 1) diagnose lupus with better clarity; (with a key sub-priority focused on diagnosis of neuropsychiatric lupus); 2) sensitive markers of disease activity (with a key sub-priority focused on non-invasive biomarkers for lupus nephritis) and 3) predict future disease course and response to therapy. A set of research-based solutions and enabling actions are described for each need area, ranging from AI-driven diagnostic tools to strategic use of the Lupus Nexus biorepository and partnerships with industry.Emphasis is placed on practical solutions to overcome translational hurdles in biomarker development while incorporating learnings from other autoimmune diseases and continuing to probe mechanisms of pathogenesis for biomarker discovery. It highlights the need for coordination of large-scale, longitudinal validation efforts and curation of data and sample collections, especially for promising exploratory biomarkers. Importantly, it stresses the need to ensure that biomarkers and molecular endotypes are connected to clinical actions. These efforts can only be accomplished through critical synergies between academia, clinicians, industry, government, and community.Abstract PT7:03 Figure 1Conclusions The roadmap represents a comprehensive landscape of the lupus biomarker field and can be used by the research community as a guide for identifying gaps and opportunities. It can also serve as a template for strategic analyses of other areas of lupus research. Ultimately, it positions LRA to lead a coordinated, patient-centered effort that bridges discovery and clinical application, ensuring that biomarker research delivers tangible benefits to people living with lupus.",
  "authors": [
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Lupus Research Alliance, New York City, USA"
      ],
      "name": "Meredith Jackson"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, USA"
      ],
      "name": "Alfred H Kim"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Lupus Research Alliance, New York City, USA"
      ],
      "name": "Peter Schafer"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Lupus Research Alliance, New York City, USA"
      ],
      "name": "Teodora Staeva"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Lupus Research Alliance, New York City, USA"
      ],
      "name": "Maya Bader"
    }
  ],
  "title": "PT7:03 Addressing key unmet biomarker needs in lupus: a roadmap for the lupus research alliance",
  "uid": "8cce0118-d12b-581c-ba6a-75453cf3e671"
}