News

New mobile app connects rare disease patients to research

A new mobile app aims to make it easier for people with rare diseases — including aromatic l-amino acid decarboxylase (AADC) deficiency — and their caregivers to take part in research and long-term studies. The National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD) designed the IAMRARE mobile app to connect directly with…

NORD summit spotlights how patient experience drives progress

The National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD) announced that its annual Rare Diseases & Orphan Products Breakthrough Summit centered on the theme “From Voices to Breakthroughs.” The event, held October 19-21 in Washington, D.C., highlighted how lived experiences fuel significant scientific and policy advancements. The event featured a…

New dopamine sensor may help diagnose, treat AADC deficiency

Researchers have developed a new sensor to detect dopamine, which may be a useful tool for diagnosing and treating neurological diseases such as aromatic L-amino acid decarboxylase (AADC) deficiency. The sensor was described in the study, “Electrochemical Dopamine Sensing Using Mn-Doped CeO2 Nanomaterial-Modified Carbon Paste Electrode…

New EQT Foundation program to fund rare disease research

The EQT Foundation, a branch of the investment organization EQT, will fund breakthrough research grants investigating rare diseases such as aromatic L-amino acid decarboxylase (AADC) deficiency. “Rare diseases often go unseen and unheard, leaving millions, many of them children, without effective treatments or timely diagnoses,” Cilia Holmes…

AADC deficiency is most common neurotransmitter disorder in study

A new study reports that aromatic L-amino acid decarboxylase (AADC) deficiency was the most common neurotransmitter disorder seen at a clinic in India over the last decade. The study, “Treatable and preventable causes of inborn errors of metabolism: Cohort of neurotransmitter disorders in children from India,” was published…