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Funding boost to help turn research into practical change

Research projects sharing in a $2.1 million funding boost will seek to translate research findings into changes that benefit patients and help the health system run more efficiently.

Parent/caregiver perspectives of meaningful improvement in functional domains for people with CDKL5 deficiency disorder: a mixed-methods study

CDKL5 deficiency disorder (CDD) is a rare developmental and epileptic encephalopathy. Greater understanding of the smallest meaningful improvements for individuals with CDD in clinical trials and practice is needed for a person-centred approach to treatment efficacy. This study explored how parent/caregivers of people with CDD understood meaningful improvements and described change for priority functional domains including communication, gross motor, fine motor, feeding.

Realising the potential impact of artificial intelligence for rare diseases – A framework

Rare diseases (RD) are conditions affecting fewer than 1 in 2000 persons, with over 7000 largely genetic RDs affecting 3.5 %-5.9 % of the global population, or approximately 262.9–446.2 million people. The substantial healthcare burden and costs, such as the $1 trillion annual expense in the USA, highlight the urgent need for improved RD management. The International Rare Diseases Research Consortium (IRDiRC) addresses this need through global collaboration, aiming for timely and accurate diagnosis, development of 1000 new therapies, and methodologies to measure impact by 2027.

Nationwide spatial dynamics of taeniasis in Thailand: declining prevalence but shifting focus and One Health risk factors across 2008–2014

The prevalence of taeniasis in Thailand has decreased over the past six decades. However, it remains a public health concern, particularly in focal areas, especially along the border regions where migration between Thailand and neighboring endemic countries is frequent. Spatial distribution analysis provides a useful method for identifying high-risk areas and implementing targeted integrated control measures. This study aimed to examine the spatial patterns of taeniasis in 2008 and 2014, along with their associated One Health risk factors at the sub-district level.

Insights from a trial of narrowband UVB for early multiple sclerosis

There is a greater prevalence of multiple sclerosis (MS), a neurological autoimmune condition, in populations living further from the equator, hypothesised to be due to reduced sunlight exposure. There exists a proven sunlight surrogate therapy for dermatological inflammatory conditions, in the form of narrowband NB-UVB phototherapy. Yet, there is a paucity of randomized trials of the therapeutic delivery of NB-UVB beyond dermatology for conditions with a systemic inflammatory component. 

The state-of-the-art of N-of-1 therapies and the IRDiRC N-of-1 development roadmap

In recent years, a small number of people with rare diseases caused by unique genetic variants have been treated with therapies developed specifically for them. This pioneering field of genetic N-of-1 therapies is evolving rapidly, giving hope for the individualized treatment of people living with very rare diseases. 

TrialR: critical enablers and the need for reusable Rare Disease Clinical Trial infrastructure in Western Australia

Citation: MacDonald B, Burmaz M, Baker S, et al. TrialR: critical enablers and the need for reusable Rare Disease Clinical Trial infrastructure in

Pandemic preparedness needs for children with rare diseases and their families: A perspective of COVID-19 experiences

People living with rare diseases had a high risk of negative health outcomes due to COVID-19. Pandemic preparedness will ensure best practice procedures and optimal outcomes during future pandemic events. This paper sought to understand the needs of children with rare diseases during the COVID-19 pandemic to inform preparation for future pandemic and disaster events. First, impacts and outcomes from the COVID-19 pandemic on people living with rare disease were identified in the literature.

Leaving no patient behind! Expert recommendation in the use of innovative technologies for diagnosing rare diseases

Genetic diagnosis plays a crucial role in rare diseases, particularly with the increasing availability of emerging and accessible treatments. The International Rare Diseases Research Consortium (IRDiRC) has set its primary goal as: "Ensuring that all patients who present with a suspected rare disease receive a diagnosis within one year if their disorder is documented in the medical literature". 

Perth researchers put rare diseases at the centre of global health innovation

Recently, researchers from The Kids Research Institute Australia, Perth Children’s Hospital and The University of Western Australia contributed to three major international publications, collectively reinforcing rare diseases as a critical, community-wide health priority.