An observational study in Genetic Disease, sponsored by National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI). Recruiting at 33 sites in United States. Open to participants aged 1 Month to 100 Years, including healthy volunteers. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-11-03.
Sponsored by National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI) · Observational
Without an explanation for severe and sometimes life-threatening symptoms, patients and their families are left in a state of unknown. Many individuals find themselves being passed from physician to physician, undergoing countless and often repetitive tests in the hopes of finding answers and insight about what the future may hold. This long and arduous journey to find a diagnosis does not end for many patients- the Office of Rare Diseases Research (ORDR) notes that 6% of individuals seeking their assistance have an undiagnosed disorder. In 2008, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Undiagnosed Diseases Program (UDP) was established with the goal of providing care and answers for these individuals with mysterious conditions who have long eluded diagnosis. The NIH UDP is a joint venture of the NIH ORDR, the National Human Genome Research Institute Intramural Research Program (NHGRI-IRP), and the NIH Clinical Research Center (CRC) (1-3). The goals of the NIH UDP are to: (1) provide answers for patients with undiagnosed diseases; (2) generate new knowledge about disease mechanisms; (3) assess the application of new approaches to phenotyping and the use of genomic technologies; and (4) identify potential therapeutic targets, if possible. To date, the UDP has evaluated 3300 medical records and admitted 750 individuals with rare and undiagnosed conditions to the NIH Clinical Center. The NIH UDP has identified more than 70 rare disease diagnoses and several new conditions. The success of the NIH UDP prompted the NIH Common Fund to support the establishment of a network of medical research centers, the Undiagnosed Diseases Network (UDN), for fiscal years 2013-2020. The clinical sites will perform extensive phenotyping, genetic analyses, and functional studies of potential disease-causing variants. The testing performed on patients involves medically indicated studies intended to help reach a diagnosis, as well as research investigations that include a skin biopsy, blood draws, and DNA analysis. In addition, the UDN will further the goals of the UDP by permitting the sharing of personally identifiable phenotypic and genotypic information within the network. By sharing participant information and encouraging collaboration, the UDN hopes to improve the understanding of rare conditions and advance the diagnostic process and care for individuals with undiagnosed diseases.
Without an explanation for severe and sometimes life-threatening symptoms, patients and their families are left in a state of unknown. Many individuals find themselves being passed from physician to physician, undergoing countless and often repetitive tests in the hopes of finding answers and insight about what the future may hold. This long and arduous journey to find a diagnosis does not end for many patients- the Office of Rare Diseases Research (ORDR) notes that 6% of individuals seeking their assistance have an undiagnosed disorder. In 2008, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Undiagnosed Diseases Program (UDP) was established with the goal of providing care and answers for these individuals with mysterious conditions who have long eluded diagnosis. The NIH UDP is a joint venture of the NIH ORDR, the National Human Genome Research Institute Intramural Research Program (NHGRI-IRP), and the NIH Clinical Research Center (CRC) (1-3). The goals of the NIH UDP are to: (1) provide answers for patients with undiagnosed diseases; (2) generate new knowledge about disease mechanisms; (3) assess the application of new approaches to phenotyping and the use of genomic technologies; and (4) identify potential therapeutic targets, if possible.1-3 Prior to formation of the Undiagnosed Diseases Network (UDN), the UDP had evaluated 3300 medical records, admitted 750 individuals with rare and undiagnosed conditions to the NIH, and identified more than 70 rare disease diagnoses and several new conditions. The success of the NIH UDP prompted the NIH Common Fund to support the establishment of a network of medical research centers, the UDN, for fiscal years 2013-2022. The clinical sites perform extensive phenotyping, genetic analyses, and functional studies of potential disease-causing variants. The testing performed on patients involves medically indicated studies intended to help reach a diagnosis, as well as research investigations that include a skin biopsy, blood draws, and DNA analysis. In addition, the UDN is furthering the goals of the UDP by permitting the sharing of personally identifiable phenotypic and genotypic information within the network. By sharing participant information and encouraging collaboration, the UDN hopes to improve the understanding of rare conditions and advance the diagnostic process and care for individuals with undiagnosed diseases.
583 studies on the registry are indexed under Genetic Diseases, Inborn; 157 are open to participants now.
This study's planned enrollment of 20,000 is above the median of 151 across 239 observational studies indexed under Genetic Diseases, Inborn.
Browse Genetic Diseases, Inborn studies →National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI) is the lead sponsor of 203 studies on the registry; 33 are open to participants now.
Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.
Individuals with undiagnosed conditions
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Ideal participants for tier 2-4 evaluations include individuals with:
Participants unable to consent can be enrolled.
EXCLUSION CRITERIA:
Individuals who are unlikely to be assigned to tier 2-4 evaluations include those with:
Patients with rare, undiagnosed disorders.
Create an integrated and collaborative research community across multiple clinical sites and between laboratory and clinical investigators prepared to investigate the pathophysiology of these new and rare diseases, the impact of the diagnostic p...
Create an integrated and collaborative research community across multiple clinical sites and between laboratory and clinical investigators prepared to investigate the pathophysiology of these new and rare diseases, the impact of the diagnostic process on patients and families, and share this understanding to identify improved options for optimal patient management.
Time frame: Day 1-5 and followup
Facilitate research into the etiology of undiagnosed diseases, by collecting and sharing standardized, high-quality clinical and laboratory data including genotyping, phenotyping, and documentation of environmental exposures
Facilitate research into the etiology of undiagnosed diseases, by collecting and sharing standardized, high-quality clinical and laboratory data including genotyping, phenotyping, and documentation of environmental exposures.
Time frame: Day 1-5 and followup
Improve the level of diagnosis and care for patients with undiagnosed diseases through the development of common and site-specific protocols designed by an enlarged community of investigators
Improve the level of diagnosis and care for patients with undiagnosed diseases through the development of common and site-specific protocols designed by an enlarged community of investigators.
Time frame: Day 1-5 and followup
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From the registry record's own update history. This site started tracking changes on Sep 25, 2026; for anything earlier, see the record history on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
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National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI) →