Rare Disease

We provide expert, personalized guidance and operational support to ultra-rare disease foundations at every stage of development

Ultrarare diseases are often neglected by the pharmaceutical industry owing to the small number of patients who live with these conditions. The Rare Disease arm of the RTW Foundation contributes to addressing this problem in two ways: by providing advisory services to disease foundations interested in developing therapies for their patients, and by funding drug-discovery projects on ultrarare diseases.

Advisory services to disease foundations

We put our operational capabilities and our drug-discovery expertise to the service of the ultrarare disease community. Whether you have just created a new disease foundation or are already developing a therapeutic asset, we would be happy to provide our unbiased, expert opinion on the best path forward for your project. Get in touch for more information.

Funding for drug-discovery projects on ultrarare diseases

Our current funding priority focuses on drug-discovery projects on diseases that affect fewer than 1000 people worldwide and for which no commercial drug-development program exists. RTW Foundation aims to fund proposals co-developed by rare disease foundations and the Rare Disease Advisors that meaningfully accelerate research in a rare disease. Grant cycles take place in January, May, and September. We offer 3 types of grants for rare disease foundations. Find out how your foundation could be eligible for these grants.

Research & Scientific Advisory Stats

83

research proposals received and reviewed 2021-2024

25

funded research grants 2021-2024

$4,250,000

distributed towards research grants 2021-2024

5

therapeutic modalities funded: (1) Small molecule, (2) ASO, (3) Cell Therapy, (4) Gene Therapy, (5) Other

67+

scientific advisory meetings in 2024

14

rare disease groups engaged in advisory services in 2024 so far

Foundations

Elly's Team

Elly’s Team is a foundation established with a singular goal of translating medical research to treatment in record time. Their path to treatment involves funding additional research to understand the disease mechanism and effects on the body, developing and manufacturing drugs, navigating the FDA approval process and clinical trials, and treating children!

Hope for Annabel

The vision of the Hope for Annabel Foundation is to drive collaborative research efforts to find a cure for Annabel and for the other AHC patients around the world, to add new research on critical brain function that could help patients with other related neurological disorders, and to provide a model of patient advocacy for defeating other rare genetic diseases.

Malan Syndrome Foundation

The mission of the Malan Syndrome Foundation is to improve the lives of individuals and families affected by Malan syndrome in the global community through support, outreach and research. They provide a broad network of support to families affected by Malan syndrome, help advance access to a diagnosis, promote knowledge and awareness, explore research pathways to treatments and cures, as well as enhance understanding of Malan syndrome and related disorders.

Hope4Livi

Hope4Livi's goal is to connect families, raise funding for research and future treatment while spreading what little is known about Alternating hemiplegia of childhood (AHC), and to help families fighting this rare condition around the world.

For Henry AHC

For Henry AHC's mission is to fund research to develop a treatment for Henry and others with AHC. Their current focus is funding research to design an antisense oligonucleotide (ASO) treatment targeting the mutation Henry and others with AHC have and to forge a path for ASOs to be developed for all others with AHC and similar rare generic neurological diseases.

Sophie's Hope Foundation

Sophie’s Hope Foundation’s mission is to cure GSD1b. The foundation was started by Jamas and Margot LaFreniere after their daughter, Sophie, was diagnosed in September of 2019 at the age of 2 with Glycogen Storage Disease Type 1b (GSD1b). GSD1b is an ultra-rare genetic disease that has no FDA approved treatments and is life threatening. The foundation is based in Hopkinton, MA and is a fully registered 501c3 charitable organization. 

Cure ARS

Cure Ars's Mission is to spread awareness, connect and provide support to affected families and fund research for the ultra-rare Mitochondrial Aminoacyl t-RNA Synthetase (mtARS) genes in order to pave the way to suitable treatment options and ultimately a cure.

Cure LBSL

What began as a journey to find a cure for one child has grown into a mission of hope for families across the globe. At age three-and-a-half a girl named Ellie McGinn was diagnosed with LBSL, a progressive and very rare genetic disorder affecting the brain and spinal cord; most often developing in children, impacting their ability to walk, then stand and eventually coordinate fine and gross motor skills. Cure LBSL's mission is to find a cure for LBSL, advance awareness of the disease, and support patients, families, and medical providers confronted with this ultra-rare condition.

SLC6A1 Connect

SLC6A1 Connect is a patient organization that was formed out of necessity. Their goal is to not exist in 5 years because a cure is in place. By that time, they will have moved on to curing the next rare disease. SLC6A1’s research mindset was formed with that philosophy in mind. They are in search of novel IP solutions to advance research quickly for our inpatient patient group.

DHPS Foundation

DHPS Foundation's mission is to help identify and assist individuals with rare genetic disorders, and to work with interested researchers to develop treatment options and cures for those disorders. Their initial focus is on increasing awareness and understanding of patients with DHPS deficiencies and evaluating potential treatments to address those deficiencies.

Styrke Foundation for Rare Disease Research and Treatment

The Styrke Foundation’s mission is to create a world where children affected by rare genetic haematological diseases can live fulfilling lives without limitations. They do this by funding initiatives and research projects which aim to accelerate the discovery of new platform-based lentiviral treatments, improve access to care, and empower patients and their families.

The MYT1L Project

The MYT1L Project fosters collaboration between families, patients, and researchers to develop effective treatments that improve the quality of life for individuals and their families. In addition to promoting and funding critical research, they support families through regular virtual meetups, active social media forums, and an annual in-person scientific and family conference that shares the latest research and discoveries.

Cure OGT

Cure OGT helps families connect and stand united to advance research and resources for OGT-XLID, creating a community of empowered individuals, researchers, and clinicians working together to improve the lives of those affected by OGT-XLID (O-GlcNAc Transferase X-Linked Intellectual Disability).

TBRS Community

The Tatton Brown Rahman Syndrome (TBRS) Community supports families affected by TBRS and advance research toward interventions. TBRS Community creates a community for diagnosed individuals and their families to connect, and coordinate research on this newly identified, rare syndrome and identify treatments.

The CureMAPK8IP3 Foundation

The CureMAPK8IP3 Foundation is a non-profit global community dedicated to improving the lives of patients and families affected by a MAPK8IP3 gene mutation. The Foundation works to raise community awareness of MAPK8IP3-Related Neurodevelopmental Disorder, facilitate research related to MAPK8IP3-Related Neurodevelopmental Disorder, and connect and support those individuals and families affected by MAPK8IP3-Related Neurodevelopmental Disorder.