Rare Diseases Are Not Rare! 2018 Challenge Winners

We launched our first Rare Diseases Are Not Rare! Challenge in 2018 seeking creative ways to help raise awareness about rare diseases and the need for patient support. NCATS selected 3 winners and 11 honorable mentions. View the first place entry.

See details about the 2018 Challenge.

First Place

Nancy Netherland “Unicorns and Super Heroes Are Rare — Rare Diseases Are Not”

Poster with an image of a unicorn. Poster reads: "Rare diseases are not rare. What's rare? Unicorns."

Poster with an image of a superhero flying. Poster reads: "Rare diseases are not rare. What's rare? Superheroes." Poster with an image of a masked villain. Poster reads: "Rare diseases are not rare. What's rare? Archvillains."

Poster with an image of a magic wand. Poster reads: "Rare diseases are not rare. What's rare? Magic wands."

Poster with an image of a mermaid. Poster reads: "Rare diseases are not rare. What's rare? Mermaids."

Second Place

Christina Loccke, Lindsey Bergstrom, Sarah Theos “In the Land of Rare Disease”

Third Place

Matthew Beardall, Sami Assaf, Naveen Upender “Unicus”

Honorable Mentions

(in alphabetical order)

Donna Appell “Dare to Be Rare”
Richard Bauer for Complete HealthVizion “What Are the Chances?”
Kelly Cullen “A ‘Not So Rare’ Instagram Story”
Marissa Gaines “Rare Is Everywhere in a Genetic Garden”
Karen Gunderson “Viral Rare Disease Educational Quiz”
Naka King “Do You Know Rare?”
Sierra Pellechio “Raising Awareness About Rare Disease Through Infographics”
Ana Cristina Puhl Rubio “It Is Not Rare to Have a Rare Disease”
Cassandra Sims “Rare Butterflies”
Louise Mary Tiranoff, Lynne McVeigh “Rare Diseases? They Aren’t That Rare”
Vanessa Vogel-Farley “I Have Some News…”

Last updated on October 17, 2023