Rare Disease Day takes place worldwide, typically on the last day of February each year, to raise awareness among policymakers and the public about rare diseases and their impact on patients’ lives. Since 2011, NCATS and the NIH Clinical Center have sponsored Rare Disease Day at NIH as part of this global observance. Rare Disease Day at NIH aims to raise awareness about rare diseases, the people they affect, and NIH collaborations that address scientific challenges and advance research for new treatments. This event can be attended either live (at the Natcher Conference Center (Building 45), 9000 Rockville Pike, Bethesda, MD) or virtually.
The goals of Rare Disease Day at NIH are to:
- Demonstrate the NIH commitment to helping people with rare diseases through research.
- 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 people living with a rare disease, their families and their communities.
- Bring together a broad audience including patients, patient advocates, caregivers, health care providers, researchers, trainees, students, industry representatives and government staff
Click here for more information or to register.