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„Ich danke Ihnen für mein Leben!“ Der Mann, der dies zu Nicole Schlautmann sagt, müsste statistisch gesehen schon tot sein. Dass er dennoch von seinen gesundheitlichen Fortschritten berichten kann, liegt wesentlich an einem innovativen Medikament, das kurz zuvor entwickelt wurde.

Es sind Momente wie dieser, die die studierte Biologin antreiben. Heute ist sie in leitender Position für das international agierende Pharmaunternehmen Pfizer tätig, wo sie ihre Passion für die „Seltenen“ als Geschäftsführerin in Österreich einbringt.

"We take care of the process of how knowledge comes into effect," says Christopher Baum, summarizing the mission of the Berlin Institute of Health (BIH). In order to bring new findings quickly into application, he says, it is essential to "go beyond the boundaries of one's own laboratory." Well-coordinated collaboration allows necessary steps to be worked through in parallel. Baum is convinced that this can shorten the development of new therapies by years. This is why it is not possible without broad alliances that also bring industry on board in good time.

Johnny is just one year old when he and his parents are diagnosed with NEDAMSS (NEurodevelopmental Disorder with regression, Abnormal Movements, loss of Speech, and Seizure). There are only 21 affected children worldwide at this time. Without treatment options, the very rare disease will gradually take away everything Johnny has learned up to this point.

In order to improve medical care for the "orphans of medicine", the Eva Luise and Horst Köhler Foundation in cooperation with ACHSE e. V. has been granting a research award for rare diseases since 2008. Applications for the 16th research award, which will be awarded in Berlin in May 2024, can be submitted until September 17, 2023.

In a festive award ceremony, Eva Luise Köhler presented the 15th Eva Luise Köhler Research Award for Rare Diseases to Dr. Simone Mayer, a molecular biologist from Tübingen, and Dr. Axel Lankenau and Dr. Julia Matilainen from the self-help association PCH-Familie.

The role of prevention in the field of rare diseases was the focus of the 7th Rare Disease Symposium of the Eva Luise and Horst Köhler Foundation. Together with around 150 participants, the possibilities and limits of prevention in the field of rare diseases were examined from a medical, ethical and social perspective.