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Rare REPAIRx Initiative

A Framework
for Hope

Unlocking genetic medicines to repair rare together. Rare REPAIRx is a multi-stakeholder initiative designed to transform the speed, economics, and scalability of developing therapies for rare genetic diseases.

The Problem

The science exists. The system does not.

Modern genetic technologies make it scientifically possible to design targeted therapies for many single-gene disorders. The prevailing development model remains poorly suited to diseases affecting small numbers of patients.

$100–300M
Per traditional drug program
Forcing companies to prioritize large commercial markets and leaving thousands of conditions without viable therapies.
7,000+
Known rare diseases
Most are genetically defined single-gene disorders. Fewer than 5% have any FDA-approved treatment available.
30M
Americans affected
Nearly 1 in 10 people. Half are children. Rare disease patients have been systematically excluded from the biotechnology innovation economy.
The Solution

A capital-efficient, platform-driven ecosystem

Rare REPAIRx introduces a new model that combines venture-philanthropic capital, coordinated clinical networks, modular RNA manufacturing, and federated knowledge sharing to dramatically accelerate the creation and delivery of bespoke genetic medicines.

Rather than treating each therapy as an independent program, Rare REPAIRx integrates patient identification, therapeutic design, manufacturing, regulatory development, and treatment delivery into a coordinated system designed to scale across many diseases.

"Through this integrated ecosystem, Rare REPAIRx aims to establish the world's first scalable engine for developing bespoke genetic medicines."
How It Works

The compounding development flywheel

Each therapy contributes data, optimization, and precedent that accelerates every program that follows. The system becomes progressively faster, more efficient, and more scalable.

01

Patient Identification

Partnerships with leading genomic diagnostics providers create a direct pipeline from genetic diagnosis to therapeutic candidacy, identifying patients who can benefit from the platform.

Diagnosis → Therapy
02

Therapeutic Design

Advanced gene-editing approaches capable of delivering permanent genetic correction, tailored to each patient's specific mutation using the programmable mRNA-CRISPR architecture.

Programmable
03

Modular Manufacturing

Scalable, modular RNA manufacturing infrastructure designed to produce individualized therapies cost-efficiently — breaking the economics that have excluded rare disease patients.

Capital Efficient
04

Regulatory & Clinical Precedent

Structured to rapidly achieve two early clinical successes, establishing regulatory precedents, manufacturing infrastructure, clinical expertise, and reimbursement pathways for the growing portfolio.

Precedent Setting
The Ecosystem

Anchored by world-class partnerships

The initiative is anchored by partnerships with leading genomic diagnostics providers, world-class academic medical centers, and patient-driven rare disease organizations.

🏥

Academic Medical Centers

World-class clinical and research institutions providing scientific expertise and clinical trial infrastructure.

🧬

Genomic Diagnostics

Leading providers creating a direct pipeline from genetic diagnosis to therapeutic intervention.

🤝

Patient Organizations

Rare disease communities and advocacy groups driving patient identification and clinical engagement.

⚗️

RNA Manufacturing

Modular manufacturing partners enabling scalable, cost-efficient production of individualized therapies.

Leadership

The people behind the mission

The Foundation for mRNA Medicines brings together leaders in RNA science, rare disease clinical development, and health policy to drive the Rare REPAIRx initiative forward.

DB

Deborah Day Barbara

Co-Founder & Board Chair

Co-founder of both the Alliance for mRNA Medicines and the Foundation for mRNA Medicines. Deborah leads the Foundation's strategic direction and serves as Board Chair, driving policy leadership and public advocacy for mRNA science across North America, Europe, and Asia.

MR

Morrie Ruffin

Senior Advisor

Senior Advisor to the Alliance for mRNA Medicines and the Foundation for mRNA Medicines. Morrie brings extensive experience in life sciences strategy, stakeholder engagement, and organizational development to the Rare REPAIRx initiative.

RD

Roberta Duncan, MBA

Board Director

Chief Strategy Officer at Arcturus Therapeutics and At-Large Board Executive of the Alliance for mRNA Medicines. A recognized leader in mRNA commercialization strategy with deep expertise in scaling RNA-based therapeutic platforms from development through global commercialization.

JC

Jeff Coller, PhD

Co-Founder & Board Director

Bloomberg Distinguished Professor of RNA Biology and Therapeutics at Johns Hopkins University and Director of the RNA Innovation Center. A pioneering researcher whose work on mRNA stability and codon biology has opened new avenues for therapeutic development, and co-founder of Tevard Biosciences.

NT

Nilüfer Ertekin-Taner, MD, PhD

Scientific Advisor

Professor of Neurology and Neuroscience and Chair of Neuroscience at Mayo Clinic Florida. A leading neurogeneticist and PI of multiple large NIH consortia, bringing Mayo Clinic's clinical and scientific expertise in genetic disease to the Rare REPAIRx initiative.

The Vision

The world's first scalable engine for bespoke genetic medicines

Enabling therapies to reach patients with ultra-rare diseases who have historically been excluded from the biotechnology innovation economy. Each success compounds — building the clinical data, manufacturing optimization, regulatory precedent, and platform validation that makes the next therapy faster, cheaper, and more certain.

Get Involved

Help build the framework

Your support funds the platform infrastructure, clinical networks, and manufacturing capabilities needed to bring bespoke genetic medicines to rare disease patients.