MMRI to Host Third Annual Lupus Walk in Partnership with Lupus and Allied Diseases Association, Inc. (LADA)

Utica, N.Y. – The Masonic Medical Research Institute (MMRI), in partnership with the Lupus & Allied Diseases Association Inc. (LADA), will host its third annual Lupus Walk on Saturday, May 9, 2026, from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on the Masonic Care Community campus in Utica, N.Y. The event will bring together local community members to raise awareness and support lupus research at MMRI.

Participants may choose between a 1-mile or 5k walk/run (untimed), making the event accessible to people of all ages and abilities. This event will also include family-friendly activities such as games, face painting, and food trucks.

“Events like the Lupus Walk bring our community together for a shared goal of advancing research and supporting those affected by lupus,” said Maria I. Kontaridis, Ph.D., executive director and Gordon K. Moe professor and chair of biomedical research and translational medicine at MMRI. “Every step taken supports the research at MMRI, helping us better understand what causes this complex disease and enabling us to develop new approaches to improve the lives of those living with lupus.”
Funds raised during the event will support MMRI’s lupus research initiatives. MMRI scientists are focused on delineating how increased activity of specific biological enzymes contributes to the pathogenesis of SLE, including complications such as lupus nephritis and lupus-associated myocarditis. In addition, MMRI is developing novel therapeutic agents to treat SLE and lupus nephritis, while also investigating how immune cell activity in lupus may lead to serious conditions such as venous thromboembolism.

“We are honored to partner with MMRI to bring the community together in support of lupus research and awareness, especially during May, which is Lupus Awareness Month,” said Kathleen Arntsen, president and CEO of LADA. “Events like the Lupus Walk not only fund critical research but also help to keep the focus on lupus research and awareness while providing much-needed hope for individuals with lupus and their loved ones.”

Participants are encouraged to register individually or form teams with friends, family members, and colleagues.

To register for the walk or create a team, click HERE.