In the United States, a rare disease is defined as a condition that affects fewer than 200,000 people. There may be as many as 7,000 rare diseases. The total number of Americans living with a rare disease is estimated at between 25-30 million. That’s around 8% of the population.
Patient participation in rare disease research, both wet and dry (in a lab with benches and with computers) is, frankly, rare. Of course, patients are subjects of research, but that’s not the kind of participation I’m talking about. I’m referring to patient involvement in 1) setting priorities, 2) study leadership and design, 3) improved access to clinical trials, 4) preparation and oversight of the information provided to participants, 5) post-study evaluation of the patient experience, and 6) the dissemination and application of results. Read More