Rare Disease
Clinical Trial Network

Uniting Expertise, Empowering Patients:
Transforming Ireland's Rare Disease Clinical Trial Landscape

Public & Patients

Click here if you’re a patient considering a clinical trial or click here if you’re interested in our public & patient involvement (PPI) activities

Clinicians & Researchers

Information for clinicians & researchers about rare disease clinical trials, training opportunities and support available

Industry

Information for industry on our supports for setting up trials in Ireland, and navigating regulatory & approval processes

“We can work together to bring a better landscape for the families and the people that we care about”

Lorraine McGlinchey, Ulster University, Speaker at the Rare Disease Clinical Trials Conference, 2024

Why join the Rare Disease Clinical Trial Network?

International Expertise

The network is a collaboration hub that links with international expertise and advocacy groups to exchange ideas, build capacity, foster partnerships and speed up innovation in rare disease research.

Patient Led

Our public and patient involvement (PPI) activities ensure that the patient voice is at the heart of everything we do. This leads to better quality research and outcomes that meet the needs of the rare disease community.

Greater Access to Clinical Trials

Our international collaborations, PPI activities and support for industry & researchers help to increase the quantity and quality of rare disease clinical trials in Ireland.

Network Highlights

Spotlight on our Activity

RDCTN team members were delighted to take part in two highly impactful events hosted by our partners in Health Research Charities Ireland - the Irish Health Research Forum on Public Trust in Health Research and the HRCI HRB Joint Funding Scheme Celebrations & Impact Award.

The Rare Disease Research Conference will take place on 10th April 2025 in the O'Reilly Hall UCD. A call for abstracts of rare disease case studies or research for poster presentation is now open - deadline 7th February.

We were delighted to support UCD Rheumatology's conference exploring niche conditions and future directions for rare rheumatology research. Co-moderated by our PPI Liaison Officer Dr Cassandra Dinius and featuring a highly illustrative overview of rare bone cases by our Co-Lead, Prof Rachel Crowley

We are proud to share this engaging discussion led by Public and Patient Involvement (PPI) contributor Liz Molloy in conversation with researcher Prof Rachel Crowley exploring the impact and value of PPI in research