Clinical trialUNITERAREApr 15
Researchers are looking for pregnant women with NMOSD (a rare disease that affects the nerves in the eyes and spinal cord) who have taken or are taking a medicine called UPLIZNA to join a safety study. The study will track what happens to these women and their babies to make sure the medicine is safe during pregnancy. This information will help doctors understand whether UPLIZNA can be used safely by pregnant patients with NMOSD.
WHY IT MATTERSThis trial is recruiting pregnant women with NMOSD who have been exposed to UPLIZNA — currently there is limited safety data on this drug during pregnancy, so this study directly addresses a critical gap for women of childbearing age managing this serious neurological condition.
Clinical trialCLINICALTRIALSApr 14
Researchers are testing a new medicine called pozelimab in young children ages 1 to 5 who have CHAPLE disease, a rare inherited condition that affects the stomach, intestines, heart, and blood vessels. This study is checking whether the medicine is safe and well-tolerated in this young age group. CHAPLE disease can cause serious symptoms, so finding safe treatments for young children is important.
WHY IT MATTERSThis is the first safety trial of pozelimab in very young children (ages 1-5) with CHAPLE disease, offering families of affected toddlers a potential treatment option when few alternatives exist for this life-threatening condition.
Clinical trialCLINICALTRIALSMar 27
Researchers in France are recruiting 5,000 newborns to test a new way of screening for rare diseases using genome sequencing—a complete reading of a baby's DNA. Instead of the current blood spot tests that check for only a few dozen conditions, this study will see if reading a baby's entire genome can safely and effectively find many more rare genetic diseases at birth. This is one of the first major studies in Europe to test this approach.
WHY IT MATTERSThis trial could expand newborn screening in France to detect dozens of additional rare genetic diseases at birth, potentially allowing earlier treatment and better health outcomes for babies with conditions that currently go undiagnosed until symptoms appear.
Clinical trialCLINICALTRIALSMar 26
Researchers are testing a new gene therapy called SGT-212 for Friedreich's ataxia, a rare disease that affects how the body moves and coordinates. This is the first time this treatment is being tested in humans. The study will enroll 10 patients and follow them for about 5 years to see if the treatment is safe and works well.
WHY IT MATTERSThis is the first human trial of SGT-212 for Friedreich's ataxia, offering eligible patients access to a potentially disease-modifying gene therapy that addresses the underlying genetic cause rather than just managing symptoms.
Clinical trialCLINICALTRIALSMar 26
Researchers are looking for 1,500 people with inherited eye diseases caused by rare genetic changes to join a study. The study has two parts: first, they'll collect genetic information and eye health data from participants, and second, they'll follow some participants over time to understand how these eye diseases progress. This international study is now accepting new participants.
WHY IT MATTERSIf you have an inherited retinal disease with a rare genetic variant, enrolling in this registry could help researchers understand your condition better and speed up development of future treatments while contributing to a global database of genetic information.
Clinical trialCLINICALTRIALSMar 26
Researchers are looking for 20,000 people with rare diseases that doctors haven't been able to diagnose yet. Many patients spend years going to different doctors and getting repeated tests without finding answers. This study, run by the National Human Genome Research Institute, aims to help solve medical mysteries by using genetic testing and careful evaluation to figure out what's causing people's symptoms.
WHY IT MATTERSIf you or a family member has spent years seeking a diagnosis without answers, this large national study offers free genetic evaluation and expert medical review specifically designed to identify undiagnosed rare diseases.
Clinical trialCLINICALTRIALSMar 26
Researchers are looking for people with melorheostosis, a rare disease where bones become abnormally thick and hard, to join a study. The study will follow participants over time to understand how the disease develops and what causes it. Doctors will do physical exams and collect medical information from people with the disease and their unaffected family members.
WHY IT MATTERSThis is an active recruiting trial sponsored by the National Institutes of Health that could help researchers understand melorheostosis progression and identify disease mechanisms, potentially leading to future treatments for this condition with limited research.
Clinical trialCLINICALTRIALSMar 26
Researchers are testing a new genetic tool called RNA-Seq to help diagnose rare diseases in children and adults whose current genetic tests came back negative. This tool looks at how genes are turned on and off in cells, which can reveal problems that standard DNA testing misses. The study will first test the tool in healthy people and those with known genetic conditions, then use it to try to diagnose patients with undiagnosed rare diseases.
WHY IT MATTERSIf you have a child or family member with symptoms of a rare kidney or genetic disease but genetic testing hasn't found answers, this trial could offer a new diagnostic pathway that standard tests have missed.