Rare Disease Reporting Fellowship and Grants 2026 (up to $2,000)

Overview

The Rare Disease Reporting Fellowship and Grants 2026 helps international journalists raise visibility of rare diseases. Worldwide, 300 million people live with one of more than 7,000 confirmed rare diseases, and caregiving, stress and hypervigilance deepen the challenges for them and their families. In many countries, healthcare infrastructure and policies need strengthening to address gaps in access and knowledge.

The National Press Foundation provides a week of free online training for professional journalists in any medium. This is the fifth fellowship in the series and is supported by Fondation Ipsen. It consists of on-the-record briefings and question-and-answer sessions with top experts on 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 also hear from leaders of global patient advocacy groups and veteran journalists in the field.

What you get

All accepted fellows receive the training. Fellows who need and qualify for a reporting grant receive $1,000 after completing the training and another $1,000 when they submit their work, which must be published no later than March 1, 2027.

Who can apply

The fellowship is open to professional journalists based in any country. Journalists can work in any medium, including print, broadcast, online and social, and in any language, but must be fluent in English because the training is in English. Attendance at all sessions is mandatory. Sessions run from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. ET from November 16 to 20.

How to apply

Employed journalists need a letter of support from their editor, including a commitment to allow four hours off work each day from Nov. 16 to 20 so they can take part fully. Freelance journalists should submit a letter from an editor indicating interest in publishing their work on this topic.

Key dates

The application deadline is 11:59 p.m. ET on October 22, 2026.