A note from NORD

The National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD)is tremendously grateful to the dedicated healthcare professionals who, despite long days and heavy workloads, continue to seek the latest information on medical advances that might be helpful to their patients. Please know that your commitment and support are tremendously important to the patients and families whom we serve.

As you may be aware, NORD is a nonprofit organization that was established in 1983 to provide advocacy, education, patient/family services and research on behalf of all Americans affected by rare diseases and the medical professionals providing their care.

142454_Saltonstall_Peter_web.jpg

As we approach NORD’s 40th anniversary, it is astonishing to realize how far we all have come since the early 1980s, when rare disease patients and their medical providers were essentially on their own to navigate the challenging waters of rare disease diagnosis and treatment.

Today, we are living in one of the most exciting periods in medical history, with innovative new diagnostics and treatments being developed or on the horizon. You’ll find information about these medical advances, as well as resources for yourself and your patients, on the NORD website including our Rare Disease Database, Video Library, CME programs and resources, and newsletter for medical professionals.

You’ll also find information about the annual NORD Rare Diseases and Orphan Products Breakthrough Summit, the largest annual conference for professionals and patients in the rare community, along with our annual conference specifically for patients and families, the “Living Rare, Living Stronger Family Forum.”

This issue of the Rare Neurological Diseases Special Report features articles from rare disease medical experts on specific diseases, including spinal muscular atrophy, Pompe disease, and Rett syndrome, as well as more general topics such as genetic therapies for neuromuscular diseases.

Also in this issue are articles on new and exciting initiatives such as the “NORD Rare Disease Centers of Excellence.” These 31 centers, geographically dispersed across the nation, represent an attempt to provide a strong, national network of support for both patients and medical professionals to promote earlier diagnosis and optimal care, regardless of location.

An interview in this issue with one of NORD’s longtime medical advisors and a leading rare disease expert provides advice for community physicians and other HCPs related to diagnosing rare diseases and approaches that may help shorten the diagnostic odyssey for patients. In addition, you can read about how patient advocacy organizations are collecting and managing a precious asset – patient data – to advance understanding of diseases, even extremely rare ones, and support research.

We are grateful for the work you do and for your commitment to your patients, including those with extremely rare or newly identified diseases. We invite you to visit the NORD website often, sign up for our newsletter for medical professionals and contact NORD at any time if we can be helpful to you.

Peter L. Saltonstall, president and CEO 
National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD)

The National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD)is tremendously grateful to the dedicated healthcare professionals who, despite long days and heavy workloads, continue to seek the latest information on medical advances that might be helpful to their patients. Please know that your commitment and support are tremendously important to the patients and families whom we serve.

As you may be aware, NORD is a nonprofit organization that was established in 1983 to provide advocacy, education, patient/family services and research on behalf of all Americans affected by rare diseases and the medical professionals providing their care.

142454_Saltonstall_Peter_web.jpg

As we approach NORD’s 40th anniversary, it is astonishing to realize how far we all have come since the early 1980s, when rare disease patients and their medical providers were essentially on their own to navigate the challenging waters of rare disease diagnosis and treatment.

Today, we are living in one of the most exciting periods in medical history, with innovative new diagnostics and treatments being developed or on the horizon. You’ll find information about these medical advances, as well as resources for yourself and your patients, on the NORD website including our Rare Disease Database, Video Library, CME programs and resources, and newsletter for medical professionals.

You’ll also find information about the annual NORD Rare Diseases and Orphan Products Breakthrough Summit, the largest annual conference for professionals and patients in the rare community, along with our annual conference specifically for patients and families, the “Living Rare, Living Stronger Family Forum.”

This issue of the Rare Neurological Diseases Special Report features articles from rare disease medical experts on specific diseases, including spinal muscular atrophy, Pompe disease, and Rett syndrome, as well as more general topics such as genetic therapies for neuromuscular diseases.

Also in this issue are articles on new and exciting initiatives such as the “NORD Rare Disease Centers of Excellence.” These 31 centers, geographically dispersed across the nation, represent an attempt to provide a strong, national network of support for both patients and medical professionals to promote earlier diagnosis and optimal care, regardless of location.

An interview in this issue with one of NORD’s longtime medical advisors and a leading rare disease expert provides advice for community physicians and other HCPs related to diagnosing rare diseases and approaches that may help shorten the diagnostic odyssey for patients. In addition, you can read about how patient advocacy organizations are collecting and managing a precious asset – patient data – to advance understanding of diseases, even extremely rare ones, and support research.

We are grateful for the work you do and for your commitment to your patients, including those with extremely rare or newly identified diseases. We invite you to visit the NORD website often, sign up for our newsletter for medical professionals and contact NORD at any time if we can be helpful to you.

Peter L. Saltonstall, president and CEO 
National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD)

The National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD)is tremendously grateful to the dedicated healthcare professionals who, despite long days and heavy workloads, continue to seek the latest information on medical advances that might be helpful to their patients. Please know that your commitment and support are tremendously important to the patients and families whom we serve.

As you may be aware, NORD is a nonprofit organization that was established in 1983 to provide advocacy, education, patient/family services and research on behalf of all Americans affected by rare diseases and the medical professionals providing their care.

142454_Saltonstall_Peter_web.jpg

As we approach NORD’s 40th anniversary, it is astonishing to realize how far we all have come since the early 1980s, when rare disease patients and their medical providers were essentially on their own to navigate the challenging waters of rare disease diagnosis and treatment.

Today, we are living in one of the most exciting periods in medical history, with innovative new diagnostics and treatments being developed or on the horizon. You’ll find information about these medical advances, as well as resources for yourself and your patients, on the NORD website including our Rare Disease Database, Video Library, CME programs and resources, and newsletter for medical professionals.

You’ll also find information about the annual NORD Rare Diseases and Orphan Products Breakthrough Summit, the largest annual conference for professionals and patients in the rare community, along with our annual conference specifically for patients and families, the “Living Rare, Living Stronger Family Forum.”

This issue of the Rare Neurological Diseases Special Report features articles from rare disease medical experts on specific diseases, including spinal muscular atrophy, Pompe disease, and Rett syndrome, as well as more general topics such as genetic therapies for neuromuscular diseases.

Also in this issue are articles on new and exciting initiatives such as the “NORD Rare Disease Centers of Excellence.” These 31 centers, geographically dispersed across the nation, represent an attempt to provide a strong, national network of support for both patients and medical professionals to promote earlier diagnosis and optimal care, regardless of location.

An interview in this issue with one of NORD’s longtime medical advisors and a leading rare disease expert provides advice for community physicians and other HCPs related to diagnosing rare diseases and approaches that may help shorten the diagnostic odyssey for patients. In addition, you can read about how patient advocacy organizations are collecting and managing a precious asset – patient data – to advance understanding of diseases, even extremely rare ones, and support research.

We are grateful for the work you do and for your commitment to your patients, including those with extremely rare or newly identified diseases. We invite you to visit the NORD website often, sign up for our newsletter for medical professionals and contact NORD at any time if we can be helpful to you.

Peter L. Saltonstall, president and CEO 
National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD)