NIH’s current budget sets aside $24 million for its Therapeutics for Rare and Neglected Diseases (TRND) program, the same as every year since the program began in 2009. While NIH has tried but failed to bump up TRND spending to $50 million this fiscal year and last, the agency brought the program under its new translational science center, ending years of relying on assessments cobbled together from existing institutes and centers. TRND has grown to 14 projects, which includes four pilot projects. A new solicitation for projects is expected to come out later this year. Do you think TRND has what it takes to improve R&D for drugs to treat orphan diseases and neglected diseases?

Poll Question:
How helpful do you think TRND will prove in stimulating development of drugs for rare and neglected diseases?

Very
16

Somewhat
8

Not Much
6

Undecided
2

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