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Patient registries are a hot topic of rare disease research and many organizations are taking advantage of this resource by signing up their patient communities and connecting with researchers. Eric Sid, MD, program officer for the Office of Rare Diseases Research (ORDR), said it is difficult to estimate how…

A team of scientists in Europe has developed a novel mouse model of the type of kidney damage that commonly occurs in ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV), and identified the receptor CXCR4 as a potential target for future therapies. “This model may be a considerable benefit to research aimed at ameliorating…

Horizon Therapeutics has launched its #RAREis Representation program aimed at increasing diversity, equity, and inclusion among patients with rare diseases. There are about 400 million people worldwide living with a rare disease; for many of them, access to diagnosis, care, and treatments can be challenging. Accessing better care depends on…

Bionews, the publisher of this website, hosted a virtual panel discussion on Rare Disease Day 2022, taking a deeper dive into what it’s like to live with a rare disease, including conversations about advocacy, mental health, survivor’s guilt, treatment of minority patients, and more. The Monday event, “A…

Genetic biomarkers and immune pathways related to kidney damage in people with ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV) were identified in a recent study. The five identified biomarker genes may be involved in the progression of kidney damage through immune system signaling, its researchers said. The study, “Identification of Hub Biomarkers and…

A rare disease puts an economic burden on the patients, families, and caregivers that it affects, and will no doubt be an integral part of discussions on Rare Disease Day 2022, which brings international awareness about the more than 300 million people living with rare disorders. Part of that…

The nonprofit RARE-X is creating an easily-accessible, centralized data hub for all rare disease patient data that can help researchers answer questions about existing disorders, discover new ones, and work toward finding treatments. It was spun out of the work that Nicole Boice, founder and chief engagement officer of…

A molecule called sulfatide is found at low levels in people with ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV), and may indicate the presence of inflammation and a form of kidney damage that is associated with poor outcomes, a pilot study reports. Thus, sulfatide levels may be a useful biomarker for AAV, a…

It’s been nearly a year since the EveryLife Foundation for Rare Diseases released its expansive report finding the total economic burden of rare disorders in the U.S. to be nearly $1 trillion.

Note: This story was updated Feb. 22, 2022, to update the headline and clarify that some patients on rituximab do not mount an effective T-cell response to the COVID-19 vaccine. A significant proportion of patients on rituximab, including those with …