Did you know that in the United States there are more people with a rare disease than people with cancer and AIDS combined?

Rare Disease Day is an internationally recognized day to raise awareness about rare diseases and their impact on patients’ lives. There are more than 6,000 types of rare diseases, and most of them are genetic disorders that affect children. The term “rare disease” is a designation of disorders that affect fewer than 200,000 individuals. For most rare-disease patients, the rarity of their disorder makes the process of an accurate diagnosis a significant challenge—requiring extensive genetic and biochemical tests. Equally, if not more, challenging is the search for effective treatments to improve the health and lives of those that suffer. Continue reading “You’re invited to Rare Disease Day at Sanford-Burnham in La Jolla”