With as many as 7,000 rare diseases affecting the world’s population, finding innovative ways to treat them is often a team effort. Healthcare providers, scientists, governments and the biotechnology industry must work together to develop new ideas to give hope to the millions worldwide living with a rare condition.
That’s why it’s fitting that leading-edge biotech firm CSL Behring is teaming up with Uplifting Athletes, a rare disease non-profit made up of college and professional football players, to present the first-annual Young Investigator Draft on August 18.
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Five young researchers will receive grants of $10,000 each to pursue their work in five different rare disease areas, including rare cancers, rare autoimmune and immunological disorders, rare blood disorders, rare genetic disorders and rare muscular and neurological disorders. The hope is that the grants inspire further research that will benefit the entire rare disease community.
CSL Behring will be represented at the event by Jens Oltrogge, Head of Commercial Development Hematology.
“We couldn’t be more excited to present this unique initiative that provides vital funding and inspiration to bright young researchers focused on rare diseases,” Oltrogge said.
The event, which takes its inspiration from the National Football League’s wildly-popular player selection draft, will be held at Lincoln Financial Field, home of the reigning Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles and a short drive from CSL Behring’s King of Prussia, Pennsylvania, campus.
The Philadelphia Eagles’ Lincoln Financial Field will host the first annual Uplifting Athletes Young Investigators Draft presented by CSL Behring.
Pennsylvania-based Uplifting Athletes was founded in 2007 with a single chapter of football student-athletes at Penn State University. It now boasts chapters on more than 20 campuses across the U.S. It raises money and awareness for rare diseases through innovative programs like Reps for Rare Diseases, a fundraiser that has become a staple of the NFL Draft and includes dozens of athletes annually.
