Rare. Open Research in Rare Diseases is an open-access, multidisciplinary, international journal that aims to have a clinical impact on rare disease patients. It publishes rigorously peer-reviewed articles on research that improves the well-being and quality of life of patients with rare diseases – diagnosed or undiagnosed – and their families. The journal has a broad scope, including but not limited to:
-Direct clinical and psychosocial care: diagnosis, follow-up, treatment, therapeutic advances, clinical trials, quality of life
-Increasing diagnostic yield and early diagnosis: implementation of new DNA techniques, provision of genetic tests and newborn screening
-Pharmacology: development and regulation of orphan drugs
-Application of technologies to diagnose or interpret genetic variants
-Health economics and public policies: regulatory, reimbursement policies
-Legal perspectives: data sharing, privacy issues
-Ethics: primary prevention and family information
-Patient contributions to research: late diagnosis (patient journey)
-International collaborative projects, initiatives by associations and the rare disease community.
The journal is open in every sense: patients are encouraged to contribute with their experiences and needs, as they are one of the pillars of medical research.
Publication formats include full-length research articles, reviews, case reports, correspondence, short communications, and commentaries.
Volume 1: 2023