Federal funding for the Harvard School of Dental Medicine's study of fibrous dysplasia has been halted. The research, funded by a Department of Defense grant, aimed to clarify the disease's mechanisms, impacting treatment for those affected and addressing similar conditions in military personnel. Fibrous dysplasia causes bone deformities, fractures, and pain in 1 in 15,000 to 30,000 individuals, with no current cure. Patient advocacy groups previously celebrated the funding as a significant investment in effective interventions, but the cessation of this research now threatens to diminish prospects for advancements.
This funding was more than just a financial award-it was a crucial investment in understanding and eventually treating a devastating disease. Advancing research in FD/MAS benefits those living with this rare disease and holds great potential for broader medical applications.
FD patients and their families had been closely following research advances, hoping for novel, effective interventions. The termination of leading-edge projects like this erodes this hope and sends a discouraging signal to those living with an already-overlooked disease.
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