In 30 seconds
Priscilla Chan argues that rare diseases may be overlooked by research strategies focused on large populations. She suggests broader access to tools could support more targeted research; SMA already has active research and approved treatments.
- 1A long tailCommon disease categories contain many distinct subtypes, alongside rare diseases.
- 2Broader accessChan argues for giving more researchers tools to pursue neglected questions.
- 3SMA contextSMA has active research and approved treatments.
Takeaways
- Disease categories include many subtypes.
- Rare diseases can receive less attention in population-focused research.
- Chan favors broader access to research tools.
- SMA already has approved treatments.
Read the edited text by chapter
Researching the long tail
Priscilla Chan argues that disease categories contain many subtypes, and that rare conditions may receive less attention when research focuses on interventions affecting the largest numbers of people.
Priscilla Chan argues that disease categories contain many subtypes, and that rare conditions may receive less attention when research focuses on interventions affecting the largest numbers of people.
She proposes putting research tools in more people’s hands so that individuals and smaller groups can pursue conditions they care about. As an example, she mentions spinal muscular atrophy (SMA).
Chan suggests that studying a rare disease can also reveal broader biological mechanisms. This is an argument for widening research participation, not a guarantee that a particular tool or project will produce a treatment.
SMA is already the subject of active research and has approved treatments; it should not be understood from the clip’s headline as a disease nobody studies. For example, the FDA has approved gene therapy for specified SMA patients. [FDA announcement](https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/fda-approves-gene-therapy-treatment-spinal-muscular-atrophy).
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