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Rare Genomes Project-Genetic Testing Opportunity
We are thrilled to be collaborating with the Rare Genomes Project! If you are a patient or parent who had severe symptoms before the age of 13 I highly encourage you to reach out to them for a genetic testing opportunity.
“The Rare Genomes Project aims to increase rare and undiagnosed families’ access to genomic research, empowering patients to directly accelerate the pace of rare disease diagnosis. This project was designed to be a direct partnership between researchers and patients, so we can better understand their conditions.”
Who should apply to participate?
Patients and families with a rare and genetically undiagnosed condition who:
- Understand English
- Live in the United States
- Had an appearance of severe symptoms before the age of 13
- Are currently under the care of a doctor that is helping to understand the cause of the patient’s condition
The Rare Genomes Project is being launched by researchers Daniel MacArthur and Heidi Rehm at The Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, in collaboration with Massachusetts General Hospital and Brigham and Women’s Hospital. All genomic sequencing is performed at The Broad Institute’s Genomics Platform.
Our team is made up of scientists, clinicians, genetic counselors, coordinators, and patient advocates.
There are no costs to you to participate in this study. Funding for this project is currently provided by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and The Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard.
Everything you need to participate – including the cost of the sample collection kit, sample collection at Quest Diagnostics, genomic sequencing, and clinical confirmatory genetic testing will be covered by us.
Visit their website for more information, application and contact information: https://raregenomes.org/home
Many of our beautiful Aware of Angels portraits are featured on their website. Thank you Rare Genomes for this opportunity!
New AOA Gallery
Aware of Angels has a new portrait gallery going in at Recursion Pharmaceuticals in Salt Lake City!
http://www.recursionpharma.com/
We combine innovative biological science with machine learning and deep learning to discover new therapeutic opportunities for rare genetic diseases – or any disease that we can model in cells. Founded in 2013, we are making strides towards our ambitious goal of curing 100 diseases in just 10 years.
We have worked with this company over the last couple of years in our Rare Disease Day events and really admire their involvement in the community. They also just won not only the Biotech Innovation category of the 2016 Fierce Innovation Awards: Life Sciences Edition, but also Best in Show: Best New Product or Service! Congratulations Recursion!
They are dedicated to discovering new therapies for rare disease. The company wanted the installation to inspire and motivate their employees. They can see these sweet kiddos of ours and know why they are doing what they are doing everyday at work! This will be a permanent gallery until the company decides to change the decor. I am excited to share who they chose to be in the gallery when it is up! It is going to be amazing, stay tuned!
AOA at Global Genes Summit 2016
Aware of Angels was so honored to have portraits on display this year at the annual Global Genes Advocacy Summit. I was able to bring 12 of my Angels with me and the photos were a larger than life 48″x48″. I honestly was so excited (and a bit emotional:) to have them on display, raising awareness for these beautiful children and their rare diagnoses has been a goal since day 1. What a great opportunity this was to get them in front of hundreds of people.
I was also able to network with amazing people and connect with great organizations like the Mauli Ola Foundation http://www.mauliola.org/ Rare Science http://www.rarescience.org/rare-bear-program/ and Little Miss Hannah Foundation http://littlemisshannah.org/ In a special collaboration with Rare Science, all of our Angels were sent an invitation to participate in the RARE bear army. I brought one home for my RARE Angel and several more of our Angels have been receiving theirs in the mail. This organization is dedicated to finding cures for rare disease. If you haven’t found them all ready look them up!
The Summit experience was very educational and I had an amazing time with some of my best rare friends! If you have the opportunity I recommend going. Until next time! Thank you so much Global Genes! https://globalgenes.org/
Special Partners
