2026 Lupus Canada Catalyst Grant Awarded to Dr. Andrea Knight
2026 Lupus Canada Catalyst Grant Recipient
Dr. Andrea Knight, MD
Institution: The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids)
Project Title: A New Approach to Functional Brain Imaging in Childhood-Onset Lupus
Project Summary: Children and adolescents living with childhood-onset systemic lupus erythematosus (cSLE) are at increased risk of cognitive dysfunction, including challenges with memory, concentration, learning, and emotional functioning. Despite the significant impact these symptoms can have on school, daily life, and quality of life, the underlying causes remain poorly understood.
Dr. Andrea Knight’s research will use Optically Pumped Magnetometer Magnetoencephalography (OPM-MEG), an innovative, non-invasive brain imaging technology, to better understand how lupus affects brain function in young people.
The study will compare brain activity in children and adolescents living with lupus to healthy peers during both cognitive tasks and periods of rest. By identifying differences in brain activity, researchers hope to better understand why cognitive dysfunction occurs and generate important preliminary data to support future research and improvements in care.
Ultimately, this research aims to advance understanding of brain health in childhood lupus and contribute to more targeted strategies for diagnosis, treatment, and long-term support.
Why This Research Matters
Lupus can be more aggressive in children and adolescents than in adults, with increased disease activity, more intense symptoms, and a greater risk of long-term complications. Cognitive symptoms such as fatigue, concentration difficulties, and emotional functioning challenges can have a meaningful impact during critical stages of development.
“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. These issues are often under-recognized.
The Lupus Canada Catalyst Grant from the Lupus Foundation of America and Lupus Canada provides crucial, early support to lupus research so that we can gather foundational data in a non-invasive way to better understand why the cognitive dysfunction is occurring and, in time, translate to meaningful improvements in care for young people living with this challenging disease.”
— Dr. Andrea Knight
About the Lupus Canada Catalyst Grant
The Lupus Canada Catalyst Grant provides one year of funding to Canadian researchers at any stage of their careers to support innovative research with the potential to improve the lives of people living with lupus.
By investing in promising early-stage research, the Catalyst Grant helps generate the evidence needed to advance scientific discovery, improve patient care, and build the foundation for larger research initiatives in the future.