Rare Disease Reporting Fellowship and Grants

The National Press Foundation, a US nonprofit that trains working journalists, is running a free week of online training on reporting rare diseases, supported by Fondation Ipsen. Fellows hear on-the-record briefings from researchers, patient advocacy leaders and veteran health reporters, on topics from rare disease research in Africa to AI-driven drug development and genetic screening. Up to 20 fellows can also receive a reporting grant of up to $2,000 to produce a rare disease story of their choosing.

What you get:

• Five days of free online training, November 16 to 20, 2026, with on-the-record expert briefings and Q&A
• Sessions with leaders of global patient advocacy groups and veteran journalists who cover rare diseases
• For up to 20 fellows who need and qualify for one, a reporting grant of up to $2,000 towards travel and time on a rare disease project: $1,000 on completing the training and $1,000 on submitting the published work
• Grant-funded work is published first in your own outlet, then reprinted in a compilation book produced by Fondation Ipsen

What you'll do:

• Attend every session, 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. Eastern Time each day, November 16 to 20, 2026
• If you receive a grant, report and publish a rare disease story of your choosing no later than March 1, 2027

Key dates:

• Applications close October 22, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. ET
• Online training runs November 16 to 20, 2026, 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. ET daily
• Grant-funded work must be published by March 1, 2027

More information:

• Questions go to Celia Milch at celia@nationalpress.org
• The application form cannot be saved and resumed, so gather your CV, work samples and editor's letter before starting
• NPF asks applicants not to use generative AI to write their entries

• Professional journalist based in any country
• Any medium (print, broadcast, online, social) and any language
• Fluent in English, as the training is conducted in English
• Able to attend all sessions, 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. ET, November 16 to 20, 2026; attendance is mandatory
• Employed journalists: a letter of support from your editor committing to four hours off work each day of the training
• Freelance journalists: a letter from an editor indicating interest in publishing your work on this topic
• CV or resume, LinkedIn profile and two work samples, submitted through the application form