Deadline: October 22, 2026
Applications are open for the Rare Disease Reporting Fellowship and Grants 2026. As biotechnology continues its march toward revolutionary treatments and cures for complex medical conditions, the daily realities for people living with rare diseases and their families can dampen hope. Worldwide, the relentless cycle of caregiving, stress and hypervigilance only deepens the challenges for the 300 million people living with one of more than 7,000 confirmed rare diseases.
While advocacy and research merge to yield solutions, the need for increased visibility about rare diseases is becoming more urgent. In many countries, healthcare infrastructure and policies must be strengthened to address persistent gaps in access and knowledge.
To help international journalists amplify these issues, the National Press Foundation is providing a week of free online training for professional journalists in any medium. This fifth in a series of journalism fellowships, made possible with support from Fondation Ipsen, will consist of on-the-record briefings and question-and-answer sessions with top experts, including topics such as rare disease research on the African continent, AI-driven drug development, childhood genetic testing and screening, and the need for more inclusive clinical trials. Journalists will also hear from leaders of global patient advocacy groups and veteran journalists in the field.
Grant
- All accepted fellows will receive the training.
- Fellows who require and qualify for a reporting grant will receive $1,000 upon completion of the training and another $1,000 upon submission of their work, which must be published no later than March 1, 2027.
Eligibility
- Open to professional journalists based in any country, but attendance at all sessions is mandatory. Sessions will run from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. ET, Nov. 16-20.
- Journalists may work in any medium (print, broadcast, online, social) and any language but must have fluency in English, as the training will be conducted in English.
Application
The application deadline is 11:59 p.m. ET Oct. 22, 2026. Employed journalists will need a letter of support from their editor, including a commitment to allow four hours off work each day from Nov. 16-20 to accommodate the fellowship hours. This is to ensure full participation. Freelance journalists should submit a letter from an editor indicating an interest in publishing their work on this topic.
For more information, visit Rare Disease Reporting Fellowship and Grants.
