US government supports research into one rare disorder

Vidcast:  https://www.instagram.com/p/DbOtIsOpsDp/A little-known genetic disease affecting an estimated one in every 5,000 people reached a major research milestone this week.The advocacy organization Cure HHT announced that Hereditary Hemorrhagic Telangiectasia, or HHT, has been designated its own research topic within the U.S. Department of Defense's Peer Reviewed Medical Research Program. Previously, HHT research had to compete under the much broader category of vascular malformations.HHT is an inherited disorder that causes fragile blood vessels, frequent severe nosebleeds, internal bleeding, stroke, and life-threatening abnormalities in the lungs, liver, and brain.Researchers say this new federal designation creates a dedicated pathway for grant funding, allowing scientists to compete directly for research dollars focused exclusively on HHT. Patients and physicians hope the move will accelerate the development of improved treatments—and ultimately, a cure—for this often underdiagnosed disease.References for this report are available on my website.#RareDisease #HHT #MedicalResearch #GeneticDisorders #HealthResearch