NIH Rare Disease Twitter Chat Prior to Rare Disease Day, on Feb. 22, 2019, NIH will host a Twitter chat on rare diseases from 1-2 p.m. ET. The chat will feature NIH Director Francis S. Collins, M.D., Ph.D., NCATS Director Christopher P. Austin, M.D., and CC CEO James K. Gilman, M.D., as well as representatives from the rare diseases advocacy community. Join in the conversation using #NIHchat and follow @ncats_nih_gov. Learn more at https://ncats.nih.gov/rdd and register at https://events-support.com/events/Rare_Disease_Day.   NIH Rare Disease Day Event Rare diseases affect an estimated 30 million people in the United States. On Feb. 28, 2019, NIH will host an event to raise awareness about these diseases, the people they affect, and current research collaborations. Sponsored by the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS) and the NIH Clinical Center (CC), Rare Disease Day at NIH will take place on February 28, 2019 from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. ET in the Main Auditorium of the Natcher Conference Center in Building 45 on the NIH main campus in Bethesda, Maryland. The event will feature interactive panel discussions on collective research models for rare diseases, patient registries, rare cancer research initiatives, and “no disease left behind, no patient left behind.” New this year will be a presentation of the first ever Zebbie award for the NCATS Rare Diseases Are Not Rare! Challenge. Other highlights include posters and exhibits by rare disease groups and researchers as well as artwork, videos, networking opportunities and tours of the NIH Clinical Center. Admission is complimentary and open to the public. In association with Global Genes®, participants are encouraged to wear their favorite pair of jeans. Be sure to follow the event on social media using #RDDNIH.