The Rare Moments

The International Autoimmune Encephalitis Society (IAES) is the only family/patient-centered organization for people with a diagnosis of Autoimmune Encephalitis. The services we provide are all-inclusive, from getting a diagnosis to recovery and the many challenges experienced on that journey. IAES provides science-based information backed by trusted medical experts in the field of autoimmune neurology and relies on the expertise of our Medical Advisory Board. We are an established non-profit organization with a history of supporting Autoimmune Encephalitis Warriors (patients, caregivers, and families) through their journey from diagnosis to recovery.

International Autoimmune Encephalitis Society

We have been able to push forward 30 years of work on galactosialidosis disorder one step closer to clinical trial after submitting a pre-IND to FDA in 2024!

Check out our website, below:

Homepage

We are happy to share the resources we have put together for our research community. One of the most important resources we have available is the Research Compass, which is our research guide based on our patients’ and parents’ priorities. Take a look!

Research Compass

I am in an extended family caregiver circle for a child recently diagnosed with a rare disease. The journey has been humbling and heartbreaking, and my lens continues to change with the work that needs to be done in this space. It’s not just a day, week, or month to highlight; it’s all day, every day, a constant struggle for families and caregivers every hour, a deeply vulnerable space where they need to have Clinical Research as a care option, no matter where they are in the world.

I know I’m privileged to work in this industry to help make a difference, helping companies navigate the development pathways, communicating with regulatory agencies, working with my colleagues to help incorporate the patient voice, and ensuring the experiences that patients and caregivers have in a clinical trial have them front and center not just data points in studies.

My personal lens serves only to raise the game with what we need to do. I am here to help make treatments for rare diseases less rare. Patients can’t wait.

https://www.efpia.eu/about-medicines/development-of-medicines/intellectual-property/help-us-make-rare-disease-even-rarer/

I’m amazed with the technologies used to treat patients living with a rare disease, including gene-based therapeutics. These drugs often target the underlying cause of the disease. One example of this is Casgevy, which was approved to treat patients with sickle cell disease in December 2023 and was recently approved for patients with beta-thalassemia in January 2024. I look forward to seeing more of these treatments throughout 2024.

My son was born with the disease biliary atresia, a serious and life-threatening disease in which babies are born with an abnormal opening in their bile ducts, either outside or inside the liver. BA is rare and only affects 1 out of every 18,000 infants, according to the NIH website. Without treatments, surgery, or transplants, the infants with BA are unlikely to live past the age of 2 years. My son received his life-saving liver transplant as an infant. The follow-up biopsy appointments, regular blood draws, and a scary time post-transplant with elevated EBV, there have been so many ups and downs. A short time ago, we were unsure where his path would lead. We had to do school from home, and his activities were limited. I am happy to share that my son is now in 3rd grade. He is doing well academically, and he’s playing soccer on a club team. He’s living a happy and active life thanks to a care team that included many doctors, nurses, patient advocates, and the pharmaceutical drugs that keep him healthy.

The number of rare disease clinical trials increases every year. Not only are these trials getting more and more complex, but the mode of administration is often very challenging. In December 2023, the FDA released its guidance document entitled Rare Diseases: Considerations for the Development of Drugs and Biological Products. The comments from the FDA on the importance of engaging patients, caregivers, and their advocates in the drug development process is something we take very seriously at Worldwide.

Working with the rare community is a privilege — being able to connect in-person is even better! I’m very excited to celebrate 10 early-career scientists who are passionate about rare research this Saturday, February 3, 2024, ahead of Rare Disease Day at Uplifting Athletes’ 2024 Young Investigator Draft. This year, Uplifting Athletes will also be celebrating surpassing their first $1 million of grant money funded!

The increase of newborn genetic screening has led to earlier diagnosis, treatment, and even prevention of disease, as in the case of Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA). I am eager to see how earlier diagnosis will transform the landscape of rare disease research and the development of new therapies in the years ahead.

We have been working closely with Worldwide on a number of rare indications. They have a very engaging and knowledgeable team!