Alex J. Szalai, PhD, is one of eleven investigators in the SOM who received a “Promoting Multiple R01-Funded Investigators” award. These awards provide seed funding ($50,000/year for up to two years) for projects related to the focus areas of the AMC21 Strategic Plan that have a high likelihood of moving a one-R01 investigator to a two-R01 investigator. Dr. Szalai’s award will support his efforts to secure NIH funding for a second R01 grant entitled “Effects of ITGAM Genetic Variation on Mac-1 mediated Functions”. Working together with Daniel Bullard PhD and Jeffrey Edberg PhD, Dr. Szalai is unravelling the biology of ITGAM gene variants thought to increase the risk of lupus.