Exciting news is coming out of New York City for the lupus community.
The Lupus Research Alliance, a major private supporter of lupus research, has launched Lupus Ventures, a new philanthropic venture fund.
The initiative aims to drive innovation in how lupus—and related autoimmune conditions—are diagnosed and treated.
Accelerating Treatments and Diagnostics
Lupus Ventures is on a mission to speed up the development of new therapies and diagnostic tools for systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and its various manifestations.
The goal is simple: improve the standard of care and provide real value to people living with lupus around the globe.
The fund is open-minded about what it invests in.
All companies are considered, regardless of the stage of development or the type of treatment they’re working on.
Beyond financial support, companies will benefit from the Alliance’s deep expertise and guidance, tapping into years of research knowledge.
A Legacy of Impact
The Lupus Research Alliance already has an impressive track record, having awarded over $284 million across more than 650 research grants.
Its clinical affiliate, Lupus Therapeutics, contributes to roughly 25–30% of active lupus clinical trials, demonstrating the Alliance’s influential role in the field.
Leadership with Deep Biotech Experience
At the helm of Lupus Ventures is Nishant Rastogi, serving as the Fund’s first Managing Director.
Rastogi brings more than a decade of experience in biotech venture capital and private equity, along with a history of serving as Board Director and operating partner for multiple biotech and medtech companies.
Before joining Lupus Ventures, he was Vice President and Head of Transactions at New Rhein Healthcare Investors, where he shaped investment strategies, managed portfolios, and helped guide the firm’s growth.
His experience spans investments in companies like Corsair, Theranica, Alveus, American Injectables, Butterfly Medical, Softhale, and Neuraptive.
Earlier, Rastogi gained investment experience at Broadview Ventures and as an analyst at Fidelity Investments.
He has also advised several disease research foundations—including Beyond Celiac, 90/10 Institute, and Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy—on how philanthropy and private investment can drive new medicines and promote health equity.
He holds a BA from Dartmouth College and an MBA from Northwestern University.
A Collaborative Oversight Team
Lupus Ventures will be guided by an Investment Committee including Nishant Rastogi, Albert T. Roy, President & CEO of the Lupus Research Alliance, and Ira Akselrad, President and CEO of The Johnson Company, Inc., who also chairs the Alliance’s Board of Directors.
The Scientific Advisory Board will include Teodora Staeva, PhD, Chief Scientific Officer of the Alliance.
Looking ahead, the fund plans to expand its team in 2026, adding more experts to both the Investment Committee and the Scientific Advisory Board, further strengthening its capacity to identify and support promising innovations.
What Comes Next
With Lupus Ventures now established, the next steps will focus on identifying high-potential companies, offering guidance alongside capital, and ultimately delivering breakthroughs that could transform lupus care worldwide.
For patients, researchers, and investors alike, the fund represents a bold new chapter in the fight against lupus.
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