A Toronto research team has received funding to investigate cognitive dysfunction in childhood lupus, one of the disease's most overlooked complications.
Dr. Andrea Knight, an associate professor at The Hospital for Sick Children and University of Toronto, received the 2026 Lupus Canada Catalyst Grant to study how systemic lupus erythematosus damages brain function in children and adolescents. The award, administered through a partnership between Lupus Canada and the Lupus Foundation of America, will support her research using Optically Pumped Magnetometer-Magnetoencephalography, a non-invasive imaging technology that maps brain activity without radiation or discomfort.
While lupus affects 10 to 20 percent of patients before adulthood, pediatric cases are typically more aggressive than adult-onset disease, with higher rates of organ damage and disability. Yet the brain-based complications remain poorly understood.
Young people with lupus often report persistent fatigue, concentration problems and emotional dysregulation that sabotage academic performance and peer relationships. These symptoms are frequently minimized or attributed to other causes.
"In my clinical work, I see many young people with lupus who struggle with fatigue, concentration and emotional functioning—impacting their schooling and day-to-day life," Knight said. "These issues are often under-recognized."
Her research will compare brain activity patterns in children with childhood-onset SLE against healthy peers, measuring how neural function changes during cognitive tasks and at rest. The findings could reveal the inflammatory mechanisms driving cognitive decline and point toward interventions that protect brain health during critical developmental years.
The Lupus Canada Catalyst Grant program, now in its sixth year, was designed to seed early-stage research by Canadian investigators at any career level. By pairing Lupus Canada's mission with the Lupus Foundation of America's grants management infrastructure and Medical-Scientific Advisory Council, the program ensures research priorities align with patient needs.
Leanne Mielczarek, CEO of Lupus Canada, said children and adolescents with lupus face challenges affecting learning, social development and overall well-being.
"By advancing our understanding of how lupus affects cognitive function at an early age, Dr. Knight's research has the potential to inform more effective interventions and support strategies, helping young people with lupus achieve better outcomes throughout their lives," Mielczarek said.
Joy Buie, vice president of research at the Lupus Foundation of America, said the research addresses a high-priority, unmet need for children and their parents.
"The innovative approach in Dr. Knight's study puts patient needs at the forefront and addresses a debilitating manifestation of lupus," Buie said.
Childhood lupus research has historically been underfunded relative to the disease's prevalence and severity. Pediatric cases progress faster and damage organs more aggressively than adult-onset lupus, yet fewer clinical trials enroll children and fewer specialists focus on pediatric populations.
The research also models cross-border collaboration between Lupus Canada and the Lupus Foundation of America, reducing duplication, strengthening peer review and ensuring findings reach clinicians across North America and beyond.
Results are expected over the coming year, with findings anticipated to inform clinical practice and fuel subsequent research phases.
