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1 May 2013
Book: Rare Diseases – Challenges and Opportunities for Social Entrepreneurs

Edited by Nicolas Sireau

We are happy to announce the publication of the book “Rare Diseases – Challenges and Opportunities for Social…

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15 April 2013
RE(ACT) Congress 2014 – 2nd International Congress on Research of Rare and Orphan Diseases (Basel – 5th to 8th March)

It is a pleasure to announce the 2nd International Congress on Research of Rare and Orphan Diseases (RE(ACT) Congress 2014) to be held at the Gehry…

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5 March 2013
Dinner “Rare Night” 28th February 2013 at the Hôtel des Trois Couronnes in Vevey

The evening was exceptional! Thanks to the fabulous energy spread by Dr. Olivier Menzel, President and founder of the BLACKSWAN Foundation and…

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BlackSwan in brief

The BLACKSWAN Foundation is a Swiss foundation supporting research for rare and orphan diseases. Current Swiss policy has no public funding source for rare and orphan diseases, in spite of being a leader in biotechnology and pharmaceutical research. An orphan disease is one for which there is no active research or medical treatment. These diseases are largely ignored by private and public funders. Likewise, the public is unfamiliar with these diseases. Although these diseases are considered rare, it is estimated that as many as 500’000 Swiss citizens may suffer from a rare disease (7% of the national population), and 35 million Europeans. The principal mission of the BLACKSWAN Foundation is to collect funds to support research on rare and orphan diseases. Another goal of the foundation is to improve public understanding of these diseases.

Utilization of funds

UTILIZATION OF FUNDS

All funds will be directed to non-industry funded laboratories conducting pre-clinical and clinical trials. All grant applications (funding requests) are peer-reviewed by an international panel of scientific experts.

Our overhead costs are kept to a minimum through generous gifts from our partners and the contribution of our volunteers.

Foundation accounts are regularly audited by the competent authority at the Swiss Federal Department of Home Affairs (FDHA).

 

2011

In 2011, our donations financed a research project of the Harvard Medical School on the Athypical Rett Syndrome …