Rare Disease Clinical Research Network Expansion

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has announced a $117 million expansion of its Rare Diseases Clinical Research Network, adding 14 research groups to the Network's second phase and will continue funding the five original groups.

Three of the new disease groups will be directed by MDA-supported physicians/researchers.

Having long recognized the research challenges for communities affected by rare disorders, the NIH established the Office of Rare Disease Research in 1993 to ensure an increased focus on rare disorder treatment discovery. The recent funding announcement of the 19 groups represents an extraordinary increase and an innovative, collaborative approach involving a cross section of NIH institutes.

For more information, please visit the Office of Rare Diseases Research (ORDR), NIH site and the Rare Diseases Clinical Research Network (RDCRN) site.