Thank you for your interest in applying to the Advocate Support Program for the 2026 RARE Drug Development Symposium (RDDS).

Please note: The amount of the Advocate Support will contribute, but likely not fully cover all costs associated with travel and stay for the symposium. If you receive support, you are still responsible for booking your own travel and lodging. All registrations are final and non-refundable.

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About the RARE Drug Development Symposium

The RARE Drug Development Symposium, hosted by Global Genes, equips advocates with the knowledge, skills, and connections they need to advance therapy development for their communities.

Event Dates: Wednesday, September 9 - Friday, September 11, 2026
Location: David Rubenstein Treehouse at Harvard University, Boston, MA

Advocate Support applications will be accepted until 11:59pm ET on June 12, 2026. Advocate Support recipients will be notified of award status the week of July 13, 2026.

Pre-Application Required Reading:

Review of the following information is a requirement of this application. Please ensure you review the information carefully, as it is pertinent to this Advocate Support opportunity.

Who is eligible to apply? Advocate Support is available to individual patients, close family and friends of advocates in the rare disease community, or staff (paid/volunteer) of rare disease nonprofit organizations or support groups.

Domestic and international individuals are eligible to receive Advocate Support.

Who is not eligible to apply?
You are not eligible to receive Advocate Support if you are in Academia, Corporate/Industry, Government, Healthcare Professional (non-industry), Media, Scientist/Researcher (non-industry), or Medical Student.

Event speakers are not eligible to receive Advocate Support and should speak with their Global Genes representative regarding information related to registration, travel, and accommodation.

How many Advocates are eligible in my household or organization?
Only one representative from a patient advocacy organization or household is eligible to receive advocate support. Please keep this in mind and consult with your organization/household before submitting.

If multiple individuals from one household or organization apply, Global Genes will determine who will be awarded the Advocate Support on behalf of that household or organization.

If I was awarded Advocate Support Travel Assistance (formerly Patient Advocate Stipend) for previous events, can I apply again?
If you were awarded Advocate Support (formerly Patient Advocate Stipend) to any 2024 or 2025 Global Genes Event (RDDS, Health Equity Forum, Rare Advocacy Summit) you are still eligible to apply. However, Global Genes will prioritize those who have not previously been awarded Advocate Support.

Can I apply for Advocate Support if I plan to attend virtually?
No, Advocate Support is only available to individuals who will attend the conference in person.

How much money is awarded for Advocate Support?
Available support funds are to be determined by participation from sponsors.

Domestic attendees are eligible to receive up to $800 (USD)

International attendees are eligible to receive up to $1,200 (USD)

NOTE: Travel Assistance can be used for flights, ground transportation, hotel, and meals. The total of these costs are likely to be more than your advocate support award.

What will Advocate Support Cover?
Advocate Support can be used to cover the costs of travel and lodging. Any costs outside of what the Advocate Support covers are the responsibility of the individual. Additionally, anything above the Advocate Support awarded amount is the responsibility of the individual.

Booking travel/lodging and registering for the conference is the responsibility of the individual attendee.

How many Advocate Support Travel Assistance awards will be available for the 2026 RARE Drug Development Symposium?
Global Genes is offering a limited number of Advocate Support awards. Given this, please ensure you submit your application as early as possible.

How will my application be evaluated?
All Advocate Support applications will be evaluated using the criteria below. Additionally, all applications will be reviewed by an internal (Global Genes Staff) team of reviewers.

Review Criteria:

Previous Patient Advocate Stipend Award. Has the applicant received a Patient Advocate Stipend for a 2024 and/or 2025 Global Genes event? (Note: Priority will be given to applicants who have not yet received a stipend award in 2024 or 2025).

Advocacy Work in the Community. How well does the applicant describe their work in the rare disease community? Is this work relevant to the content being covered at the 2026 RARE Drug Development Symposium?

Financial Need. How clearly does the applicant outline their financial need? Do the costs described seem accurate and honest?

Impact on Applicant/Rare Disease Community. What impact will attendance at the 2026 RARE Drug Development Symposium have on the attendee or the attendee’s disease community? How does the attendee intend to apply their learnings from the event to their work?

What is the timeline for the conference Advocate Support awards?

April 20th: The Advocate Support application opens
May 6th: RDDS Registration opens
June 12th: The Advocate Support applications close at Midnight ET
July 18th: All applicants will be notified whether or not they will receive Advocate Support. September 9-11, 2026: RARE Drug Development Symposium at the David Rubenstein Treehouse at Harvard University in Boston, MA.
September 11th: The reimbursement process begins upon check-in at the event registration desk. Once check-in is confirmed, Global Genes will begin electronically disbursing funds to awardees. Please note that it may take up to 30 days after the event to receive a reimbursement from Global Genes.
This is a tentative schedule and the timeline is subject to change

If I receive Advocate Support, what will I be responsible for booking on my own?
Booking travel/lodging and registering for the conference is the responsibility of the individual attendee.

What is the procedure for reimbursement?
All reimbursements will take place following the 2026 RARE Drug Development Symposium. Procedures will be outlined in your agreement.

Please note, you will be required to cover the costs of registration, transportation and lodging upfront. Reimbursements will not be issued until after the event is complete.

If you have questions about this or it creates undue financial hardship, please contact advocate.support.program@globalgenes.org

What are the conditions of acceptance?
You must check in to the event and attend a minimum of 65% of the event sessions and complete setting up your account on bill.com for fund distribution.

Failure to check in to the event in person and meet the conditions of acceptance may jeopardize your 2026 reimbursement and eligibility for 2027 Advocate Support.

Is there a hotel room block for this conference?

Please note that there will not be a designated room block for the 2026 event. All attendees are responsible for booking their own accommodations.

To assist with planning, we’ve compiled a list of recommended hotels in the area. Find a list of local hotels here. We encourage you to book early to secure your preferred location and rate.

I have another question, which is not addressed here?

Please reach out to us at advocate.support.program@globalgenes.org

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