Team JumpStart

The Orphan Disease Center's JumpStart program serves to establish and progress research agendas in emerging and neglected rare diseases. The JumpStart program works closely with patient groups and foundations, pharma and biotech, and the academic community to drive therapeutic development for rare diseases.

The JumpStart program connects patients and foundations to researchers and key opinion leaders, encouraging scientific collaboration. We can provide guidance on developing research tools, such as cell lines and animal models, and we can provide essential guidance on clinical development programs including registry and natural history development.  We also offer assistance organizing symposia and Think Tanks, bringing together KOLs, experts and potential sponsors, and we  can assist rare disease organizations assemble a research grant program, by providing information on best practices.

WHEN YOU RIDE WITH TEAM JUMPSTART: Funds raised by “JumpStart cyclists” will go towards the ODC’s JumpStart program, which supports research initiatives for under-resourced disease groups. The JumpStart team represents teams previously known as “Penn Scientists for Orphan Disease Research” and "Independent."