On February 29^th, the entire Human Variome Project Consortium is commemorating Rare Disease Day—an international grassroots advocacy day to raise recognition of rare diseases as a global health challenge. We invite everyone around the world, to join with us and other groups within their own country in recognising both the challenge of rare diseases and the good work being done by millions of researchers, healthcare professionals, patients and their families and carers around the world.

The Human Variome Project Beijing Meeting wrapped up yesterday after five days of high level talks between members of the Human Variome Project Consortium and the Human Variome Project Chinese Node.