Rare Disease
Clinical Trial Network

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

Patients

Information for patients considering a clinical trial or 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

More Info >

“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

The RDCTN Seed-funding Award 2023 was presented to Dr Laura Williams, Consultant Neurologist, St Vincent's University Hospital Dublin.

RDCTN marked World Rare Disease Day 2024 with the inaugural Rare Disease Clinical Trials Conference which was held in the Grand Hotel Malahide on the 29th February and 1st March.

We were delighted to join forces with the UCD CRC team to celebrate International Clinical Trials Day. This was a great opportunity to talk to staff, patients and members of the public about our work and to hear their views on rare disease research and clinical trials.

To amplify the voices of our public and patient partners on International Clinical Trials Day we handed over the reins of our 'X' feed (@rare_trial) to patients and advocates with lived experience of rare diseases.

Our Patient and Public Involvement (PPI) panel has started off strong! This group, consisting of individuals living with rare diseases, parents, carers, and advocates, is actively discussing our network's priorities and strategy.

The next RDCTN Journal Club is a chance to learn more about research methodologies for rare disease clinical trials through the lens of rare metabolic and rare eye conditions.