Prague genetic engineers have joined forces with a team of colleagues from the IMTM, led by Marián Hajdúch, to launch a project called the Rare Disease Factory.
Families with hereditary genetic disorders, including cancer, along with patient organizations, doctors, and other experts, are being encouraged to nominate diseases or genes for research. “This is an opportunity to direct our focus to areas where it’s most needed,” says Dr. Radislav Sedláček, laboratory head of The Czech Centre for Phenogenomics. Scientists aim to select the first five conditions by the end of this year, with additional ones to follow. Patients will have access to testing in Prague and Olomouc. “This is the first project of its kind in Europe, but we’ll need to secure funding from multiple sources,” he adds.
Patient organizations have welcomed this initiative, noting the lack of solutions from pharmaceutical companies for people with rare conditions.
Open Call for Proposals: Nominate Your Gene or Disease – phenogenomics.cz
