Research and connection bring hope to rare disease patients and families
February 25, 2022
By Peter Linsley, Kerry Holland
![Quote by Melanie Tucker](http://images.ctfassets.net/zlnfaxb2lcqx/5l83ycjr8Me717WWVUHqSF/c349d5bfdb6b112749c29be29b44ea1a/Melanie-Tucker-quote-card.jpg?fm=webp&w=1200&q=90)
In recognition of #RareDiseaseDay, Elsevier is making select research articles and book chapters freely available for two months
As the mother of a boy with a rare congenital heart defect, Elsevier’s Melanie Tucker talks about the value of community for patients, caregivers and researchers. Melanie is a Senior Content Strategist for Elsevier’s Neurology, Radiology, Psychiatry and Sleep Medicine books program. In her 20th week of pregnancy, Melanie Tucker went for a routine ultrasound. What followed was anything but routine. Melanie and her husband learned of their son’s diagnosis: Tetralogy of Fallotopens in new tab/window — a complex congenital heart defect that occurs in about 1 in every 3,000 births.
Since his birth, Melanie’s son has undergone multiple surgeries and procedures, and will be followed closely by cardiologists as he gets older. “As parents,” Melanie said, “it is heartbreaking to see your children endure any pain.”
You just want them to lead healthy and happy lives. Our son is the bravest and strongest little boy, and my husband and I are always in awe of his tenacity and strength. Although we have to take certain precautions, especially during COVID, and he has doctor appointments and procedures, he is a happy little boy attending Pre-K and loves coloring, reading and playing.
Now, Melanie, a Senior Content Strategist at Elsevier for Elsevier’s Neurology, Radiology, Psychiatry and Sleep Medicine books program, has a message for other families and patients who are beginning their journey with a rare disease diagnosis:
Although it is scary, please know you are not alone.
Throughout their experience with rare disease, connecting with others has made all the difference in their outlook: “There are communities of patients and parents who understand exactly what you are going through. They can offer advice, support, and share their experiences.” Dedicated organizations also provide additional resources and community, while research brings hope for new and less-invasive treatments.
Although Melanie and her family received an early diagnosis, this is not always the case for rare disease patients.
"Every genome we analyze in the lab is, in reality, a person ..."
Dr Claudia Gonzaga-Jaureguiopens in new tab/window is a Principal Investigator in genomics at the International Laboratory for Human Genome Research at the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM)opens in new tab/window. She earned her PhD in Molecular and Human Genetics from Baylor College of Medicineopens in new tab/window, where she contributed to large population genomic studies and pioneered the analyses of genomic sequencing data for the identification of disease genes and molecular diagnoses.
![Claudia Gonzaga-Jauregui, PhD](http://images.ctfassets.net/zlnfaxb2lcqx/5TL5QW44gXbxKplnSvT4mz/0e9025670eae031e4d830a7cbd050875/Claudia-Gonzaga-Jauregui.jpg?fm=webp&w=300&q=75)
Claudia Gonzaga-Jauregui, PhD
One of Claudia’s first patient interactions was to communicate the result of a SYNGAP1 variant in a boy that had been a medical mystery for a long time:
I met the boy and his mom, and seeing the people behind the data I had analyzed in the lab — and the emotion of the mom when receiving the result of the genomic study, finally having an answer for her child after many years — was very meaningful and impactful. It emphasized how every genome that we analyze in the lab is, in reality, a person that is struggling with a disease and waiting for an answer.
Since leaving Baylor and returning to Mexico, Claudia has dedicated her career to the study and identification of novel genes responsible for rare genetic disorders, to provide answers to patients with undiagnosed diseases. For Claudia, connection and collaboration drive her rare disease work:
I think the rare disease community realized very early on that we needed to work together to find answers for our patients. … We had one patient with a very likely new disease gene, but we needed to find other patients to be sure. Finding the second or third or more patients for a completely new condition is motivating because it means that there are, and likely will be, more patients elsewhere in the world, and perhaps our findings and publications will help get those other patients diagnosed faster and open opportunities for therapy development.
Research on rare diseases
Claudia is one of dozens of authors whose work Elsevier has made freely available for 60 days beginning on Rare Disease Dayopens in new tab/window February 28. Content includes Clinicsopens in new tab/window review articles and articles and chapters in our books and journals, including the Cell Pressopens in new tab/window portfolio — all intended to support researchers and clinicians in identifying the molecular basis of these diseases, advancing drug discovery and drug repurposing efforts, translating findings to the clinic, and counseling patients and families.
Articles from Elsevier’s Clinics and books detail a range of specific diseases, from rare congenital malformations to neurological disorders.
Rare diseases, by definition, affect a small number of individuals compared to the general population. In the United States, a disease is called rare if it affects fewer than 200,000 people at any given timeopens in new tab/window. In Europe, the ratio is 1 affected person in 2,000opens in new tab/window. The total number of known, named rare diseases worldwide falls somewhere between 6,000 and 8,000 conditions. Although each individual disease is uncommon, their collective prevalence is estimated at 6 percent to 8 percent of the world population, implying that 450 million people have a rare diseaseopens in new tab/window.
In other words, rare diseases are not as rare as they seem.
“It always comes down to the human aspect.”
Dr Donald G Baselopens in new tab/window, Section Chief, Professor and Associate Director of the Undiagnosed & Rare Diseases, Genomic Sciences and Precision Medicine Center at Children’s Wisconsinopens in new tab/window, has been working in genetics for 22 years.
Regardless of whether conditions are obscure or occur more frequently, he said:
It always comes down to the human aspect — that connectedness where you feel the bond between patient and doctor and the ‘rightness’ of the research outcome that you know will drive future thinking.
![donald-basel-image](http://images.ctfassets.net/zlnfaxb2lcqx/3jiJpHsVQARTol07DEpoxr/1552a64c46353f59a39d58d5bcedee16/Donald-Basel.jpg?fm=webp&w=250&q=75)
Donald G Basel, MD
Dr Basel and his mentor, Dr Robert Kliegmanopens in new tab/window, Chair Emeritus of Pediatrics at the Medical College of Wisconsin and Editor of the Nelson Textbook of Pediatricsopens in new tab/window, are motivated by their mantra: “None of us are as smart as all of us.” It drives home that treating rare diseases is a team sport and everyone’s strengths contribute to the overall outcome of patients.
Further, this inter-connectedness of researchers and clinicians in the rare disease community plays a crucial part in ensuring access to medical evaluation.
Dr Brett J Bordiniopens in new tab/window, a founding member of the Medical College of Wisconsin’s rare disease evaluation service along with Dr Kliegman, believes that the future of rare disease research and clinical care is going to require making sure that this wider availability is paired with a strong focus on equity in terms of access:
Enhanced broad network building paired with the ongoing development of localized evaluation teams can help ensure better equity with respect to diagnostic access and can ensure that everyone has an equal opportunity to attain diagnosis for their rare disorder.
![brett-bordini-image](http://images.ctfassets.net/zlnfaxb2lcqx/mkWHXcpihjkHfC11vgqo7/8f51e0e40f4258dede39805293bcc59a/Brett-Bordini.jpg?fm=webp&w=300&q=75)
Brett Bordini, MD
About Rare Disease Day
Every year, the last day of February promotes awareness of rare diseases and the patients that suffer from them, as well as access to medical treatment and representation. Advocacy is critical for patients and their familiesopens in new tab/window. By improving disease understanding, connecting families with one another and with researchers, fundraising for research, or sharing resources, rare disease initiatives provide much needed support to patient communities. The National Organization of Rare Disordersopens in new tab/window, Perlaraopens in new tab/window, the Rare Genomics Instituteopens in new tab/window, the Iberoamerican Alliance for Rare Diseasesopens in new tab/window and Global Genesopens in new tab/window are just a few organizations that have provided meaningful outcomes for patients and families. Meanwhile, Orphanetopens in new tab/window and NIH – GARDopens in new tab/window (Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center) gather and share information on thousands of rare diseases, along with other resources, to improve diagnosis, care, and treatment.
Worldwide promotion of this event can be found via #RareDiseaseDayopens in new tab/window.
![rare-disease-day-image](http://images.ctfassets.net/zlnfaxb2lcqx/1z0nTVTHtZLQvOMW7ph8TE/f6184e884e7f54c21f35c8a7067789ae/Rare-disease-day-label-logo-CMYK.jpg?fm=webp&w=300&q=75)
Free access to research on rare diseases
This content is freely available through April 30, 2022:
Book chapters
Claudia Gonzaga-Jauregui, Cinthya J. Zepeda Mendoza, Chapter 4 - Genomic Sequencing of Rare Diseasesopens in new tab/window, Genomics of Rare Diseases (2021)
Robert Hegele, Chapter 7 - Lipoprotein and Lipid Metabolisopens in new tab/window, Emery and Rimoin's Principles and Practice of Medical Genetics and Genomics, 7e (2021)
Kevin C.J. Yuen, Albert Beckers, Chapter 4 - Acromegaly: Clinical Description and Diagnosisopens in new tab/window, Gigantism and Acromegaly (2021)
Robert J. Desnick, Manisha Balwani, Karl E. Anderson,Chapter 10 - Inherited Porphyriasopens in new tab/window, Emery and Rimoin's Principles and Practice of Medical Genetics and Genomics, 7e (2021)
Angela Sun, Irene J. Chang, Christina Lam, Gerard T. Berry,Chapter 14 - Lysosomal Storage Disordersopens in new tab/window, Emery and Rimoin's Principles and Practice of Medical Genetics and Genomics, 7e (2021)
Jennifer E. Posey, Chapter 9 - Multilocus Inheritance and Variable Disease Expressivity in Rare Diseaseopens in new tab/window, Genomics of Rare Diseases (2021)
Rossana L. Sanchez Russo, William R. Wilcox, Chapter 3 - Amino Acid Metabolismopens in new tab/window, Emery and Rimoin's Principles and Practice of Medical Genetics and Genomics, 7e (2021)
Bracha Erlanger Avigdor, Ikeoluwa A. Osei-Owusu, Jonathan Pevsner, Chapter 8 - Mosaicism in Rare Diseaseopens in new tab/window, Genomics of Rare Diseases(2021)
Thomas Liehr, Chapter 19 - Repetitive Elements, Heteromorphisms, and Copy Number Variantsopens in new tab/window, Cytogenomics (2021)
Jerry Vockley, Chapter 8 - Organic Acidemias and Disorders of Fatty Acid Oxidationopens in new tab/window, Emery and Rimoin's Principles and Practice of Medical Genetics and Genomics, 7e (2021)
Erik G. Puffenberger, Chapter 5 - Recessive Diseases and Founder Geneticsopens in new tab/window, Genomics of Rare Diseases (2021)
Priya S. Kishnani, Yuan-Tsong Chen, Chapter 4 - Disorders of Carbohydrate Metabolismopens in new tab/window, Emery and Rimoin's Principles and Practice of Medical Genetics and Genomics, 7e (2021)
Roberto Giugliani, Chapter 13 - Mucopolysaccharidosesopens in new tab/window, Emery and Rimoin's Principles and Practice of Medical Genetics and Genomics, 7e (2021)
Claudia Gonzaga-Jauregui, Lauretta El Hayek, Maria Chahrour, Chapter 6 - Dominant and sporadic de novo disordersopens in new tab/window, Genomics of Rare Diseases (2021)
Brianne B. Roby, Michael Broderick, Lauren A. Bohm, Chapter 11 - 22q11.2 Deletion Syndromeopens in new tab/window, Cummings Pediatric Otolaryngology, 2e (2021)
Filip Kucera, Chapter 11- Tetralogy of Fallotopens in new tab/window, Atlas of Pediatric Echocardiography(2021)
Federico G. Seifarth, Oliver S. Soldes,Chapter 25 - Congenital Anomalies and Surgical Disorders of the Stomachopens in new tab/window, Pediatric Gastrointestinal and Liver Disease, 6e (2021)
Roma Pradhan, Amit Agarwal, Celestino P. Lombardi, Marco Raffaelli, Chapter 2 - Applied Embryology of the Thyroid and Parathyroid Glandsopens in new tab/window, Surgery of the Thyroid and Parathyroid Glands, 3e (2021)
David A. Zopf, Elizabeth Knecht, Jennifer Kim, Chapter 18 - Microtia Reconstructionopens in new tab/window, Cummings Pediatric Otolaryngology, 2e (2021)
Lisa M. Williams, Craig M. Mcdonald, Chapter 42 - Myopathic Disordersopens in new tab/window, Braddom's Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, 6e (2021)
William Beau Mitchell, Christopher Walsh, Chapter 18 - Hemophiliaopens in new tab/window, Atlas of Diagnostic Hematology(2021)
Walter L. Miller, Christa E. Flück, David T. Breault, Brian J. Feldman, Chapter 14 - The Adrenal Cortex and Its Disordersopens in new tab/window, Sperling Pediatric Endocrinology, 5e (2021)
David Coughlin, Andres Deik,Chapter 36 - Ataxiaopens in new tab/window, Decision-Making in Adult Neurology (2021)
Joseph Jankovic, Mark Hallett, Michael S. Okun, Cynthia Comella, Stanley Fahn, Jennifer Goldman, Chapter 22 – Wilson Diseaseopens in new tab/window, Principles and Practice of Movement Disorders, 3e (2021)
Ronald P. Rapini, Chapter 2 - Eczematous and Papulosquamous Diseasesopens in new tab/window, Practical Dermatopathology, 3e (2021)
Lindsay Montague, Ashley Clark, Jerry Elmer Bouquot, Chapter 4 – Lesions of the Oral Cavityopens in new tab/window, Gnepp's Diagnostic Surgical Pathology of the Head and Neck, 3e (2021)
Jay H. Lefkowitch, Chapter 5 – Biliary Diseaseopens in new tab/window, Scheuer's Liver Biopsy Interpretation, 10e (2021)
Doh Young Lee, Kwang Hyun Kim, Chapter 44 - Vascular Lesions of the Salivary Glandsopens in new tab/window Surgery of the Salivary Glands(2021)
Clinics articles
Shiff NJ, Beukelman T: Pharmacosurveillance in Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritisopens in new tab/window. Rheumatic Disease Clinics (November 2021).
Politano SA, Colbert GB, Hamiduzzaman N: Nephrotic Syndromeopens in new tab/window. Primary Care: Clinics in Office Practice (December 2020).
Illig KA, Rodriguez-Zoppi E: How Common Is Thoracic Outlet Syndrome?opens in new tab/window Thoracic Surgery Clinics (February 2021).
Rubino M, Monda E, Lioncino M, et al: Diagnosis and Management of Cardiovascular Involvement in Fabry Disease.opens in new tab/window Heart Failure Clinics (January 2022).
Hasani N, Farhadi F, Morris MA, et al: Artificial Intelligence in Medical Imaging and its Impact on the Rare Disease Community: Threats, Challenges and Opportunities.opens in new tab/window PET Clinics (January 2022).
Patel SS: Pediatric Myelodysplastic Syndromes.opens in new tab/window Clinics in Laboratory Medicine (September 2021).
Elghetany MT, Punia JN, Marcogliese AN: Inherited Bone Marrow Failure Syndromes: Biology and Diagnostic Cluesopens in new tab/window. Clinics in Laboratory Medicine (September 2021).
Johannson KA, Collard HR, Richeldi L: Looking Ahead: Interstitial Lung Disease Diagnosis and Management in 2030opens in new tab/window. Clinics in Chest Medicine (June 2021).
Krieger EV, Valente AM: Tetralogy of Fallotopens in new tab/window. Cardiology Clinics (August 2020).
Hatamizadeh P: Cardiorenal Syndrome: An Important Subject in Nephrocardiologyopens in new tab/window. Cardiolology Clinics(August 2021).
Saponaro F: Rare Causes of Hypercalcemiaopens in new tab/window. Endocrinology and Metabolism Clinics of North America (December 2021).
Tremblay D, Yacoub A, Hoffman R: Overview of Myeloproliferative Neoplasms: History, Pathogenesis, Diagnostic Criteria, and Complicationsopens in new tab/window.Hematology/Oncology Clinics of North America (April 2021).
Langer AL, Connell NT: Acquired von Willebrand Syndrome.opens in new tab/window Hematology/Oncology Clinics of North America (December 2021).
Pai M: Acquired Hemophilia Aopens in new tab/window. Hematology/Oncology Clinics of North America (December 2021).
Varagur K, Sanka SA, Strahle JM: Syndromic Hydrocephalusopens in new tab/window. Neurosurgery Clinics of North America
(January 2022).
Hersh DS, Hughes CD: Syndromic Craniosynostosis: Unique Management Considerations.opens in new tab/window
Neurosurgery Clinics of North America (January 2022).
Fusco A, Mauriello A, Lioncino M, et al: The Heart Muscle and Valve Involvement in Marfan Syndrome, Loeys-Dietz Syndromes, and Collagenopathiesopens in new tab/window. Heart Failure Clinics (January 2022)
Crillo A, Lioncino M, Maratea A, et al: Clinical Manifestations of 22q11.2 Deletion Syndrome.opens in new tab/window Heart Failure Clinics 18 (January 2022).
Baban A, Lodato V, Parlapiano G, et al: Genetics in Congenital Heart Diseases: Unraveling the Link Between Cardiac Morphogenesis, Heart Muscle Disease, and Electrical Disorders.opens in new tab/window
Heart Failure Clinics (January 2022).
Citro R, Radano I, Bellino M, et al: Epidemiology, Pathogenesis, and Clinical Course of Takotsubo Syndromeopens in new tab/window. Heart Failure Clinics (January 2022).
Cell Press journal articles
MED
Frazier et al, Fatal Perinatal Mitochondrial Cardiac Failure Caused by Recurrent De Novo Duplications in the ATAD3 Locusopens in new tab/window ,Med (January 2021)
Ejaz et al, Long-Term Patient-Customized Therapy for a Pathogenic EPO Mutationopens in new tab/window, Med (January 2021)
Cell
Misteli, Farnesyltransferase inhibition in HGPSopens in new tab/window, Cell (January 2021)
Rosat Consiglio et al. The Immunology of Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children with COVID-19opens in new tab/window,Cell (November 2020)
Yu et al. Cranial Suture Regeneration Mitigates Skull and Neurocognitive Defects in Craniosynostosisopens in new tab/window, Cell (January 2021)
Trends journals
Rieckher et al, Molecular pathology of rare progeroid diseasesopens in new tab/window, Trends in Molecular Medicine
(September 2021)
Belver et al, Deregulation of enhancer structure, function, and dynamics in acute lymphoblastic leukemiaopens in new tab/window, Trends in Immunology (May 2021)
Ortiz-Cordero et al, Fukutin-Related Protein: From Pathology to Treatments - ScienceDirectopens in new tab/window, Trends in Cell Biology (March 2021)
Roessler et al, Drug Repurposing for Rare Diseaseopens in new tab/window, Trends in Pharmacological Sciences (April 2021)
Martin et al, Multiple sclerosis: doubling down on MHCopens in new tab/window, Trends in Genetics (September 2021)
Contributors
![Portrait photo of Peter Linsley](http://images.ctfassets.net/o78em1y1w4i4/2oVxmAqvBodGPUjRdTPser/989ac7dd6b7e14aec5bb6cee4fd247e8/Peter-Linsley.jpg?fm=webp&w=88&q=75)
PL
Peter Linsley
![Portrait photo of Kerry Holland](http://images.ctfassets.net/o78em1y1w4i4/6PeolKcfjfKYWzd4aBljgd/717311cfabe68d963511760716a69c5e/Kerry-Holland2.jpg?fm=webp&w=88&q=75)
KH