Lupus Foundation of America Honors Prestigious Lupus Research Awardees at the Evelyn V. Hess Reception

WASHINGTON, Nov. 9, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The Lupus Foundation of America (LFA) honored three exceptional lupus researchers at the 2026 Evelyn V. Hess Reception. Mary (Peggy) K. Crow, MD, Weill Cornell Medicine (New York), and Gary S. Gilkeson, MD, Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC), were honored as the co-recipients of the 2026 Evelyn V. Hess Award, and April Jorge, MD, Harvard Medical School, received the 2026 Mary Betty Stevens Young Investigator Prize.

Evelyn V. Hess Award
Established in 2005 by the Lupus Foundation of America, the Evelyn V. Hess Award is an annual honor given to a clinical or basic science researcher whose exceptional work has advanced the understanding and treatment of lupus. The award celebrates Dr. Hess's legacy as an internationally recognized lupus expert whose work helped advance understanding of the environmental factors associated with the disease.

Peggy Crow, MD, is Professor of Medicine at Weill Cornell Medicine and Professor of Immunology in its Graduate School of Medical Sciences. She is also Mary K. Crow Chair in Immunology and Inflammation Research, Senior Scientist and Co-Director of the Inflammation and Autoimmunity Program at Hospital for Special Surgery's Biological Sciences Institute. Dr. Crow's research has focused on the immunopathogenesis of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), including the cellular and molecular pathways that drive autoimmunity and tissue damage. Dr. Crow is a former president of the American College of Rheumatology and served as Physician-in-Chief of Hospital for Special Surgery from 2010-2020. She has received numerous honors, including the Presidential Gold Medal of the American College of Rheumatology and the Lee C. Howley, Sr. Prize for Arthritis Scientific Research from the Arthritis Foundation.

"It's an incredible honor to receive the Evelyn V. Hess Award, and I'm thrilled to be among the outstanding colleagues who have previously received the award. Every one of them has made an important contribution to advancing understanding of lupus or care of lupus patients in their own way," said Dr. Crow. "SLE is a fascinating and complex disease that involves virtually every aspect of the immune system. My research has focused on identifying the immune mechanisms that drive lupus and translating those insights into new therapeutic targets. Our work identified CD40 ligand as a potential target for SLE and other T cell–driven diseases and later helped establish the type I interferon pathway as a promising target for lupus therapies. I hope continued research will help us understand what initiates lupus and ultimately lead to ways to prevent the disease."

Gary Gilkeson, MD is a rheumatologist and leading lupus researcher at MUSC and the Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center in Charleston. His research has advanced understanding of lupus genetics, disease mechanisms, and novel therapies, including mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) treatment for refractory lupus. Dr. Gilkeson's Phase II trial on MSCs to treat SLE, co-funded by the Lupus Foundation of America and the National Institutes of Health is the first randomized, placebo-controlled trial of MSCs in patients with active SLE and was recently featured as a late-breaking abstract at the 2026 ACR Convergence conference. He also has helped build a cohort of more than 800 primarily Black patients with lupus—a significant contribution given the disproportionate impact of lupus on Black people—and has contributed to numerous genetic studies.

A dedicated mentor and longtime advisor of the Lupus Foundation of America's research program, Dr. Gilkeson will continue his research and global health work following his semi-retirement in 2026.

"Receiving this award alongside Dr. Peggy Crow, an exceptional physician-scientist and longtime collaborator, is deeply meaningful. Throughout my career, I have had the opportunity to study many aspects of lupus, from genetics and environmental factors to immune activation and, most recently, cellular therapies," said Dr. Gilkeson. "Perhaps my greatest contribution has been mentoring the next generation of lupus researchers, who continue to advance our understanding and treatment of the disease. Above all, my passion for lupus research comes from the patients themselves. Their courage, resilience and willingness to participate in research inspire me every day. Building lasting relationships with patients and collaborating with the remarkable lupus research community have been among the greatest joys of my career."

Mary Betty Stevens Young Investigator Prize
Established in 2009, the annual Mary Betty Stevens Young Investigator Prize recognizes the exceptional achievements of an investigator in the early stages of their lupus research career while commemorating Dr. Stevens' significant contributions to lupus research throughout her career.

Dr. April Jorge is a rheumatologist and clinical investigator at Massachusetts General Hospital and Assistant Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School. Her research advances personalized lupus treatment by evaluating medication safety, effectiveness, and risk factors for adverse outcomes. Her work spans hydroxychloroquine safety, novel therapeutic applications for lupus, and improving care quality. Published in leading medical journals, her research is supported by the NIH and Rheumatology Research Foundation. She also contributes to national lupus quality initiatives through the American College of Rheumatology.

"I am incredibly honored to receive the Mary Betty Stevens Award and be recognized for my commitment to advancing lupus research. As a clinician and investigator, I am passionate about improving outcomes for people living with lupus, a chronic autoimmune disease that disproportionately affects young women and can impact many aspects of their lives. My research focuses on understanding risk factors for adverse outcomes and optimizing treatments to improve disease management, minimize medication toxicity, and prevent cardiovascular and kidney-related complications."

The event celebrated outstanding contributions to lupus research, education, and fundraising. Dr. Andrea Fava, Assistant Professor at the Johns Hopkins Lupus Center, received the Lupus Foundation of America's Medical-Scientific Advisory Council Member of the Year Award in recognition of his contributions to the lupus community. Dr. Jim Oates and Professor Torsten Witte were honored with the Lupus Science & Medicine® Paper of the Year Award for their contributions to lupus research. Dr. Oates was recognized for his manuscript "Lupus nephritis serum induces changes in gene expression in human glomerular endothelial cells, which is modulated by L-sepiapterin," which explores a potential approach to protecting blood vessel function in lupus and ranks among the top 5% of research papers by Altmetric score. Prof. Witte was recognized for his manuscript "Enpatoran, a first-in-class, selective, orally administered toll-like receptor 7/8 inhibitor, in systemic and cutaneous lupus erythematosus," which reports promising findings from an early-stage clinical trial and has been cited 18 times since its publication in June 2025. Lupus Science & Medicine is owned by the Lupus Foundation of America and published by BMJ.

The evening also recognized Reeve Bright, who was named the top fundraiser for the Lupus Foundation of America's inaugural Men on a Mission™ campaign for his fundraising efforts in support of people living with lupus.

Learn more about the Evelyn V. Hess Award, the Mary Betty Stevens Young Investigator Prize, and our 2026 recipients.

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.

Contact:

Mike Donnelly

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(202) 349-1162

SOURCE Lupus Foundation of America, Inc.