gies that various organizations have developed, often based on a systematic assessment of the gaps in knowledge or resources and the contributions that organizations like theirs can make to bridge those gaps. Not featured but central to organizational research strategies for rare and common diseases alike are three strategic elements: raising funds, political advocacy, and engaging patients, families, and communities in these and other aspects of an organization’s work.

The examples of elements of research strategies for the following organizations are excerpted from materials on each group’s website; they thus may be worded to attract donors and inspire the community of patients, families, researchers, and other supporters. The accuracy of the excerpted materials has not been checked, and their use does not constitute a recommendation or endorsement. The formatting (e.g., font size, text highlighting) has been altered for consistency, and graphics and some details (as indicated) have been omitted.

As part of an effort to understand in detail the environment of research on Rett syndrome, the International Rett Syndrome Foundation (IRSF) undertook a landscape analysis, which in this case involved a detailed examination of the focus of research funding by NIH and private entities. The group has recently applied the same analytic strategy to frontotemporal dementia. Rett syndrome (RTT) is a developmental disorder that is caused