NORD Awards Eleven New Grants in Eight Disease States for Rare Disease Research

WASHINGTON, May 19, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD®) has announced new awards through its Rare Disease Research Grant Program, which provides funding to qualified researchers for translational or clinical studies related to the development of new diagnostics or treatments for rare disease. Since the program's launch in 1989, NORD grants have led to the development of two FDA-approved treatments and numerous peer-reviewed publications.

Eleven new research grants have been given to the following institutions and investigators:

For the study of alveolar capillary dysplasia with misalignment of the pulmonary veins (ACDMPV), with funding from the Alveolar Capillary Dysplasia Association, The David Ashwell Foundation and William Akers, Jr. & Georgia O. Akers Private Foundation, Inc.:

• Frances Flanagan, MBBCh, BAO, Boston Children's Hospital (Boston, MA); Genetic Determinants of ACD/MPV

For the study of appendix cancer and pseudomyxoma peritonei (PMP), with funding from the Appendix Cancer/Pseudomyxoma Peritonei Research Foundation:

• Oliver S. Eng, MD, The University of Chicago (Chicago, IL); Assessment of the Effects of HIPEC on the Genetic Landscape of Peritoneal Metastases from High Grade Appendiceal Neoplasms
• Kjersti Flatmark, MD, PhD, Oslo University Hospital (Oslo, Norway); ctDNA for Monitoring Patients with Pseudomyxoma Peritonei

For the study of autoimmune polyglandular syndrome type 1 (APS-1), with funding from the APS Type 1 Foundation:

• Rachid Tazi-Ahnini, PhD, The University of Sheffield (Sheffield, UK); Developing Gene Therapy for Autoimmune Polyglandular Syndrome Type 1

For the study of biliary atresia, with funding from DataRevive LLC:

• Michael A. Pack, MD, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania (Philadelphia, PA); Targeting Protein Quality Control Pathways to Treat Biliary Atresia
• Sarah A. Taylor, MD, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago | Northwestern University School of Medicine (Chicago, IL); Transcriptional Profiling of Hepatic Macrophages to Predict Patient Outcomes in Biliary Atresia

For the study of malonic aciduria, with funding from The Hope Fund:

• Jiping Yue, PhD, The University of Chicago (Chicago, IL); Development of Epidermal Progenitor Cell-based Therapy for Malonic Aciduria

For the study of neuroendocrine cell hyperplasia of infancy (NEHI), with funding from the NEHI Research Foundation:

• Joseph Shieh, MD, PhD, University of California San Francisco (San Francisco, CA); Analysis of NEHI Susceptibility Using Informatic Technologies

For the study of new-onset refractory status epilepticus (NORSE) and febrile infection-related epilepsy syndrome (FIRES), with funding from the NORSE Institute:

• Ingo Helbig, MD, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (Philadelphia, PA); Beyond Negative Exome - Understanding the Genetics of FIRES
• Claude Steriade, MD and Deepak Saxena, MD, New York University School of Medicine (New York, NY); Gut Microbiome Alterations as a Mechanism of Immune Dysregulation in New Onset Refractory Status Epilepticus

For the study of primary orthostatic tremor, with funding from public donations:

• Robert Chen, MA, MB BChir, MSc, Krembil Brain Institute, University Health Network (Toronto, Canada); Modulating Dysfunctional Cerebellar Activity with Low-intensity Focused Ultrasound Stimulation for Primary Orthostatic Tremor

"2019 was a landmark year for NORD's Research Grants Program as we celebrated 30 years of supporting community-funded grants to advance research for rare diseases," said Vanessa Boulanger, NORD's Director of Research. "Our donors are at the heart of our program and their generous support each year drives new evidence and scientific breakthroughs that bring us closer to cures that save lives."

Grants are made possible through the generosity of partners in the rare disease community and supporters who have donated into NORD's research fund. For more information about NORD's Rare Disease Research Grant Program, funding opportunities or to donate to a research fund, visit: rarediseases.org/research.

About the National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD®)

The National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD) is the leading independent advocacy organization representing all patients and families affected by rare diseases. NORD is committed to the identification, treatment and cure of more than 7,000 rare diseases, of which approximately 90% are still without an FDA-approved treatment or therapy. Rare diseases affect over 25 million Americans. More than half of those affected are children.

NORD began as a small group of patient advocates that formed a coalition to unify and mobilize support to pass the Orphan Drug Act of 1983. For 37 years, NORD has led the way in voicing the needs of the rare disease community, driving supportive policies and education, advancing medical research and providing patient and family services for those who need them most. NORD is made strong together with over 300 disease-specific member organizations and their communities and collaborates with many other organizations on specific causes of importance to the rare disease patient community. Visit rarediseases.org.          

SOURCE National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD)

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