Freya

Earlier this month, Barcelona hosted the 2025 edition of the EURORDIS Open Academy Schools, bringing together 77 patient advocates and early-career researchers from 27 countries for three days of practical learning and exchange. Held from 2 to 4 June, the event marked the first edition of the Schools delivered as part of the ERDERA partnership, and reaffirmed the shared goal of strengthening the community of people driving progress in rare-disease research. The programme combined classroom sessions with immersive field visits, offering a rich learning experience. Participants explored cutting-edge facilities at Hospital Sant Joan de Déu, including the CORTEX command centre, READ MORE

One of the pilot projects launched under ERDERA’s predecessor, the European Joint Programme on Rare Diseases (EJPRD), has become a flagship example of successful public–private collaboration in rare disease research. Led by Professor Robert S. Lahue of the University of Galway, this preclinical project focused on triplet repeat expansion (TRE) diseases – a category of over 30 inherited neurological disorders caused by unstable DNA repeats. These diseases are difficult to treat, making this an important area for development of new tools to expedite drug discovery.

Gavin Lawler co-ordinates the Irish National Mirror Group (NMG) on rare diseases as Programme Manager within the Health Research Board Ireland. Established only in September 2024, this NMG brings together policymakers, clinicians, academics and—crucially—patient advocates to coordinate Ireland’s national efforts and align them with wider European initiatives such as ERDERA. The group aims to streamline collaboration, co-ordinate resources and ensure that patients’ voices shape both implementation of the forthcoming national rare-disease strategy (to 2030) and Ireland’s engagement in international research and policy-making.

Sandra Alves, a senior human-genetics researcher at the National Institute of Health Dr Ricardo Jorge (INSA), has coordinated Portugal’s National Mirror Group (NMG) for rare diseases since its creation in 2021. Under her guidance, this well-established NMG links policymakers, clinicians, scientists and patient organisations, channeling Portuguese priorities into European initiatives such as the European Rare Diseases Research Alliance (ERDERA). The group now plays a central role in aligning national efforts with the newly launched “Plano de Ação para as Doenças Raras 2025-2030”, helping Portugal make the most of international collaboration while improving care and research for people living with rare READ MORE

The European Human Genetics Conference 2025 (ESHG) provided a significant platform for the ERDERA Diagnostics Research task force to share its strategic vision, scientific progress, and commitment to innovation in the field of rare disease diagnostics.

Delegates from 23 countries in Europe and beyond, together with scores of virtual participants, came together in Riga, Latvia, today for the European Rare Diseases Research Alliance (ERDERA) workshop entitled “How to maximise the power of national plans for rare diseases and strengthen their capacity to foster rare-disease research.” The event, which coincides with the close of ERDERA’s first year, focused on strengthening the alignment between national action plans and the wider European research agenda while accelerating the roll-out of National Mirror Groups, or NMGs.

The European Rare Disease Research Alliance (ERDERA) has launched its Networking Support Scheme (NSS), a continuously open call designed to knit together researchers, clinicians and patient advocates working on rare diseases and rare cancers. Proposals may be lodged at any time, but the first collection round will be assessed immediately after the 7 October 2025 deadline, allowing successful teams to start planning events without delay. Under the scheme, applicants can request up to €30 000 per networking event to cover meeting costs, travel costs, hybrid-meeting platforms and other essentials. Rounds will be held every six months until April 2029—or until READ MORE

My name is Sofie Skoubo, and I’m a PhD student at the Department of Public Health, Aarhus University, The Danish National Rehabilitation Center for Neuromuscular Diseases and cooperate with the Norwegian company No Isolation. Since 2020, I have worked with telepresence robots for children with cancer, neuromuscular diseases, and anxiety, and my research focuses on educational support with the help of the telepresence robot AV1 for students with neuromuscular disease. Besides that, I am a patient with neuromuscular disease and a two-time Paralympian athlete, recently taking part in the 2024 Paris Paralympic Games.

My name is Alexandre Méjat. I’m a patient by birth; I’m affected by a rare disease called Bethlem myopathy. I’m also a scientist by training: I have a PhD in biology, and I represent AFM-Téléthon in ERDERA, which is a patient organisation from France dedicated to neuromuscular diseases—but more broadly to all rare diseases.

Understanding the intricate biological mechanisms underlying rare diseases remains one of the greatest challenges in biomedical research. In response to this complexity, ERDERA is pleased to host the Rare Disease Maps Workshop—a two-day virtual event designed to explore how knowledge graphs and disease mapping can advance research in this field.