Uplifting Athletes Expands Mission to Support Rare Disease Research
Uplifting Athletes, a nonprofit organisation founded in 2003, has expanded its mission to support research into rare diseases. The organisation, which initially focused on rare cancer research, now pools funds from its college football chapters to fund the Young Investigator Draft. This draft selects early-career researchers working on various rare diseases.
The 2021 draft class included studies on conditions such as Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, blinding retinal diseases, and DDX3X syndrome. Uplifting Athletes aims to increase diversity and equity in the research space through its Underrepresented Researchers in Medicine initiative. Since 2019, the organisation has awarded over $440,000 in grants to more than 20 scientists. Uplifting Athletes leverages the platform of college football to raise awareness and funds for these causes.
The organisation, started by former Penn State football player Scott Shirley, now has nearly two dozen chapters representing college football teams across the U.S. These chapters pool their funds to support the larger organisation and the Young Investigator Draft. Uplifting Athletes organises fundraisers to support young researchers working on rare diseases.
Uplifting Athletes, with its expanded mission and successful Young Investigator Draft, continues to make a significant impact in the rare disease research community. Through its college football chapters and fundraisers, the organisation supports early-career researchers, fostering diversity and equity in the field.
