Overview

"We have met the enemy and he is us" is a very accurate description of lupus.

Systemic lupus erythematosus, usually called simply "lupus," is part of a family of diseases known as autoimmune diseases. Autoimmune diseases include type 1 diabetes and rheumatoid arthritis as well as lupus, and they occur when the immune system attacks its own body’s tissues. Lupus damages a variety of tissues throughout the body. Estimates by the Lupus Foundation of America say that up to 2 million Americans have some form of lupus, and more than 90 percent of them are women. There is no cure.

The Jackson Laboratory has multiple research programs investigating basic genetic pathways for autoimmune diseases and disorders. Lupus research by Professor Derry Roopenian, Ph.D., focuses on a thorough evaluation of the disease pathway to understand its genetic and metabolic basis.