Million Dollar Bike Ride Pilot Grant Program

Funder: University of Pennsylvania’s School of Medicine: Orphan Disease Center (ODC)

The Million Dollar Bike Ride Pilot Grant Program, initiated by the Orphan Disease Center, aims to support research for three rare diseases, including CADASIL, UGDH, and ZC4H2. This unique initiative provides one-year grants to researchers working on projects related to these diseases, emphasizing the importance of addressing unmet medical needs in small patient populations. By collaborating with various stakeholders, the program fosters innovative therapeutic development and enhances access to critical funding for advancements in rare disease research.

Impact
Each type of orphan disease affects such a small subset of the population, so the need for research and funding in this area is largely unmet. We bring a unique set of programs to the table, enabling us to add value at any stage - from building the initial knowledge base to enabling therapeutic development. Through our grants, Programs of Excellence, JumpStart programs, and a number of new initiatives, the ODC seeks to drive therapeutic development for rare diseases. We help identify and fund the most promising therapeutics while also tackling obstacles present in rare disease drug development.
The ODC is offering 3 research opportunities focusing on 3 different rare diseases. This program provides a one-year grant to support research related to a rare disease represented in the 2025 Million Dollar Bike Ride. Number of awards and dollar amounts vary per disease based on fundraising totals by each disease team.