Rare disease Q&A with Dr. James Cloyd

Ahead of this year’s University of Minnesota Rare Disease Day event on March 5, Dr. James Cloyd answers questions about rare diseases and the work behind understanding them. Due to the rarity of these diseases, patients can go long periods without a diagnosis, and even with one, there may be few treatments available. Cloyd, a professor in the Department of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology (ECP) and director of the Center for Orphan Drug Research, said raising awareness is critical to improving nearly every facet of the barriers patients with rare diseases face. 

“Clinicians are more likely to think about rare disease diagnoses, academic researchers are more inclined to study the rare diseases, companies become more interested in developing new therapies and patients and families will have a name for the health condition affecting a loved one and the incentive to create patient advocacy groups to promote research and offer support,” he said. 

Read the full article on the University of Minnesota website.