Rare Disease Day, held in late February, aims to raise awareness about rare diseases and their impact on patients’ lives. Since 2011, NCATS has sponsored Rare Disease Day at NIH to raise awareness about rare diseases, the people they affect, and NIH collaborations that address scientific challenges and advance research for new treatments.
The goals of Rare Disease Day at NIH are to:
- Demonstrate the NIH commitment to advancing research for people affected by rare diseases.
- Highlight NIH-supported rare diseases research and the development of diagnostics and treatments.
- Initiate a mutually beneficial dialogue among the rare diseases community.
- Exchange the latest rare diseases information with stakeholders to advance research and therapeutic efforts.
- Shine a spotlight on stories told by patients living with a rare disease, their caregivers, and their communities.
Rare Disease Day at NIH can be attended in person (at the NIH’s Natcher Conference Center) or virtually via livestream on Friday, Feb. 27, 2026, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. EST. The agenda will feature panel discussions, rare diseases stories, in-person exhibitors and scientific posters, and an art exhibition. The event is free and open to the public.
Click here for more information and to register.