Conference on Clinical Research for Rare Diseases: Opportunities, Challenges, and Solutions

Registration has opened for the Conference on Clinical Research for Rare Diseases, supported jointly by the Rare Disease Clinical Research Network (RDCRN) and the NIH. This is a one-day conference focused on the methodology of conducting clinical research in rare diseases. The target audience for this meeting includes new investigators, trainees, junior faculty, and others interested in rare disease research methodology. Speakers will include expert clinical investigators who are actively engaged in rare disease research as well as members of the biopharmaceutical industry, the FDA, and NIH.

The website for the RDCRN Conference "Clinical Research for Rare Diseases" is now live and accepting registrations and applications for travel awards. Applications will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis, as over-enrollment is expected.

Important information

1. Registration is free, but on a first-come first-serve basis.
2. Travel awards will be available on competitive basis to all applicants not supported by the RDCRN; this includes applicants who are at RDCRN sites but not supported by the RDCRN Consortium. Attendees who wish to apply for a Travel Award must submit an abstract and NIH Biosketch.
3. A limited number of travel awards may be available to RDCRN-supported trainees. The number will depend on the number of overall applicants and the budget. The RDCRN is committed to ensuring that the conference includes attendees from outside the RDCRN.

Conference attendees are encouraged to submit an abstract (please see meeting website for details on the Abstract & Poster Session). Abstracts selected by the planning committee will be invited to be displayed as a poster during the conference. Investigators working on rare diseases will provide feedback and advice during the poster session.

Inquiries about the meeting should be directed to David Eckstein, Ph.D., 301-402-4336.

Thank you for your continued support of rare disease research activities.