International rare disease research teams

On behalf of the CIHR Institute of Genetics, I am pleased to announce our participation in the 2013 "European Research Projects on Rare Diseases" Joint Transnational Call (JTC) launched by the ERA-NET "E-Rare-2". Our participation in this program will provide Canadian investigators the opportunity to work with their European colleagues to build an interdisciplinary, multilateral research project based on complementarities and sharing of expertise, with a clear translational research approach.

We are also pleased to be working with Fonds de recherche du Québec – Santé and our Voluntary Health Organization (VHO) partners, ALS Society of Canada and Muscular Dystrophy Canada, to maximize Canadian participation in this exciting initiative that complements our ongoing efforts to advance the rare diseases research agenda. Examples of our ongoing efforts include being a member of the International Rare Diseases Research Consortium (IRDiRC), funding Canadian rare diseases research teams in partnership with several VHOs, and launching a Canadian portal to Orphanet - Orphanet Canada.

Collectively, these coordinated, collaborative international endeavours and opportunities will greatly enable IRDiRC to successfully achieve its ambitious goal of delivering, by 2020, 200 new therapies for rare diseases and diagnostic tests for all rare diseases.

Regards,

Paul Lasko, PhD
Scientific Director, CIHR Institute of Genetics