The\u00a0National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD), the leading independent, nonprofit organization committed to the identification, treatment, and cures of rare diseases, has announced the availability of new research grants to study rare diseases.\u00a0 The deadline to submit abstracts and letters of intent is July 31.<\/p>\n
NORD\u2019s 2015 research grant funding is available for study of:<\/p>\n
These grants are made possible by donations to NORD.\u00a0 In some cases, the grants are co-sponsored by NORD and disease-specific patient organizations. NORD encourages all U.S. and international researchers interested in studying these diseases to consider applying.<\/p>\n
The objective of the NORD Research Grant Program is to encourage meritorious scientific and clinical studies that will ultimately lead to new diagnostics, treatments, and\/or cures for rare (also called \u201corphan\u201d) diseases or disorders.\u00a0 The studies funded with NORD research grants provide preliminary data on drugs, devices or medical foods that researchers may then use to attract funding from government or industry sponsors to pursue further clinical studies.<\/p>\n
Two of NORD\u2019s previous research grants have resulted in FDA-approved orphan products to treat rare diseases.<\/p>\n
A rare disease is defined as one that affects fewer than 200,000 people in the U.S.\u00a0 There are 7,000 rare diseases that combined affect 30 million Americans, or 1 in every 10 people.\u00a0 Two-thirds of rare disease patients are children.\u00a0 The majority of rare diseases have no treatment.<\/p>\n
For more information about NORD\u2019s research grant program and\u00a0 rare disease research funding opportunities, visit: https:\/\/rarediseases.org\/research<\/a>.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n ###<\/p>\n <\/p>\n About National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD)<\/p>\n The National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD), established in 1983, is the leading, independent nonprofit organization representing all patients and families affected by rare diseases in the U.S.\u00a0 NORD is committed to the identification, treatment and cure of all 7,000 rare diseases, 95 percent of which have no treatment, and affect 30 million Americans, or 1 in every 10 people.\u00a0 NORD provides programs of advocacy, education, research and patient\/family services to improve the lives of all people living with rare diseases. NORD represents more than 230 disease-specific member organizations and partners with many other organizations in specific causes of importance to the rare disease patient community. Join NORD at www.rarediseases.org\/<\/a> and on Twitter at @RareDiseases<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n Contact:<\/strong><\/p>\n