Life-science companies launch rare disease research competition

SAN DIEGO—Assay Depot and Rare Genomics Institute announcedOct. 15 that they have partnered with 19 life science companies to launch thefirst Rare Disease Science Challenge: Helping Empower and Accelerate ResearchDiscoveries, or "Be HEARD." The hosts and sponsoring organizations are supporting raredisease research by donating $400,000 in cutting edge technology, services andresources, as well as a $10,000 cash prize to the winning research proposal. Be HEARD encourages non-profits, academic researchers, raredisease advocacy groups, families of rare disease patients and for-profitcompanies to collaborate to advance rare disease research. "This competition brings the life science community togetherto study rare diseases in an unprecedented opportunity to empower afflictedfamilies and underfunded researchers," says Kevin Lustig, CEO of Assay Depot."Ultimately, we want the voices of rare disease to be heard, while helping toaccelerate the science behind a cure." Research proposals can be submitted from until Dec. 15 forany or all of the nearly 20 donated services. An expert scientific panel willselect the winner for each donation. For more information, visit http://challenge.assaydepot.com/rare-disease-challenge. Other sponsors of Be HEARD include Biopta, Charles RiverLaboratories, DNA Software, HistoRx, Ingenuity Systems and Taconic. Mediapartners include Ben's Friends, DrugDiscovery News, Drug Discovery and Development, Global Genes R.A.R.E.Project, Global Healthy Living Foundation and Mendelspod. "We are amazed by the generosity of so many companiesoffering their expertise, services, consulting and reagents to help advancerare disease research," says Jimmy Lin, President of Rare Genomics Institute."We hope this gives a boost to rare diseases research and jump starts researchin diseases that are otherwise not studied."

Life-science companies launch rare disease research competition

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December 2025