2026 Rare Disease Reporting Fellowship and Grants for International Journalists — Apply by October 22, 2026

The National Press Foundation (NPF) is inviting professional journalists from around the world to apply for the 2026 Rare Disease Reporting Fellowship and Grants, a fully online journalism training opportunity focused on rare diseases, biotechnology, healthcare access, medical research, and the experiences of patients and families living with rare conditions.

Supported by Fondation Ipsen, the fellowship will provide selected journalists with five days of free online training featuring expert briefings, question-and-answer sessions, and discussions on emerging developments in rare disease research and reporting.

In addition to the training, up to 20 participating journalists may receive reporting grants of up to $2,000 each to support the development of a rare disease reporting project.

Application Deadline: October 22, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. ET

About the 2026 Rare Disease Reporting Fellowship

Rare diseases affect an estimated 300 million people worldwide, with more than 7,000 confirmed rare diseases. Although advances in biotechnology, medical research, genetic testing, and drug development are creating new possibilities for diagnosis and treatment, people living with rare diseases and their families continue to face substantial challenges.

These challenges can include limited awareness, delayed diagnosis, inadequate healthcare infrastructure, insufficient specialist knowledge, limited treatment options, and difficulties accessing appropriate care.

The 2026 Rare Disease Reporting Fellowship is designed to help journalists develop a stronger understanding of these issues and produce journalism that increases public awareness of rare diseases and the realities faced by patients and their families.

The program is the fifth journalism fellowship in the series supported by Fondation Ipsen.

What Will the Fellowship Focus On?

The five-day online program will bring together journalists and specialists working across the rare disease field.

Participants will receive access to on-the-record briefings and question-and-answer sessions with leading experts, allowing journalists to explore complex medical and scientific issues and develop a deeper understanding of the subjects they may cover.

Topics are expected to include:

• Rare disease research on the African continent
• AI-driven drug development
• Childhood genetic testing
• Genetic screening
• Rare disease diagnosis and detection
• The importance of more inclusive clinical trials
• Patient advocacy
• Global rare disease policy and healthcare challenges
• The experiences of people living with rare diseases
• The challenges faced by families and caregivers
• Biotechnology and its potential role in rare disease treatment
• Healthcare infrastructure and access to care
• The role of journalism in increasing visibility and understanding of rare diseases

The fellowship will also provide opportunities to hear from leaders of global patient advocacy organizations and experienced journalists covering rare diseases.

This combination of scientific expertise, patient perspectives, advocacy experience, and journalism expertise is intended to give participants a broad foundation for reporting on rare disease issues.

Free Online Journalism Training

All accepted fellows will participate in the online training program at no cost.

The training will take place:

November 16–20, 2026

Sessions will run from:

8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Eastern Time each day

Because the fellowship requires substantial participation throughout the five-day program, attendance at all sessions is mandatory.

Applicants should therefore make sure they can commit to the entire training schedule before applying.

Reporting Grants of Up to $2,000

One of the additional opportunities offered through the program is financial support for selected fellows who qualify for a reporting grant.

The National Press Foundation will provide up to $2,000 in reporting grants to 20 journalists.

The grants are intended to help journalists undertake a rare disease reporting project of their choice, including expenses related to travel and the time required to complete the reporting.

How the $2,000 Grant Is Paid

The grant is divided into two payments:

1. $1,000 after completion of the fellowship training
2. $1,000 after submission of the completed reporting work

The reporting project must be published no later than March 1, 2027.

It is important to note that not every fellow necessarily receives a reporting grant. The fellowship itself is available to accepted participants, while the reporting grants are for fellows who require and qualify for the additional financial support.

Publication Opportunity for Grant Recipients

Journalists who receive a reporting grant will first publish their completed work through their chosen media outlets.

Following publication, their work will also be reprinted in a compilation book produced by Fondation Ipsen, a Paris-based nonprofit organization focused on rare diseases, detection, inclusion, and disability.

The program therefore provides participants with not only training and potential financial support, but also an opportunity for their reporting to contribute to a broader international collection of journalism about rare diseases.

The organizers also provide access to the compilation of work produced by the 2023 NPF fellows, allowing prospective applicants to see examples of reporting from previous participants.

Who Can Apply?

The fellowship is specifically designed for professional journalists.

Eligible journalists may work in different forms of media, including:

• Print journalism
• Broadcast journalism
• Online journalism
• Digital media
• Social media journalism
• Other professional journalism formats

The opportunity is international and is open to professional journalists based in any country.

There is no stated restriction to a particular continent or nationality. Therefore, journalists from Africa, Asia, Europe, North America, South America, Oceania, and other regions may apply, provided they meet the program’s professional and language requirements.

The opportunity is not described as being restricted according to race or ethnicity. Applicants from all racial and ethnic backgrounds may apply if they satisfy the eligibility requirements.

English-Language Requirement

Although journalists may work in any language, applicants must have fluency in English.

This requirement is important because the fellowship’s training sessions will be conducted in English.

Applicants should therefore be able to comfortably follow expert presentations, participate in question-and-answer sessions, and engage with the training content in English.

Requirements for Employed Journalists

Journalists who are currently employed must provide a letter of support from their editor as part of their application.

The editor’s letter must include a commitment to allow the journalist to be away from their regular work for four hours each day from November 16–20, 2026.

This requirement exists because full participation in the fellowship sessions is mandatory.

Applicants who are working full-time or on a newsroom schedule should therefore discuss the fellowship with their editor before applying and ensure that the required time can be accommodated.

Requirements for Freelance Journalists

Freelance journalists can also apply.

Instead of an employer’s letter, freelancers should provide a letter from an editor indicating an interest in publishing their work on the rare disease topic.

This means freelance applicants should ideally identify an editor or publication that could potentially publish their proposed reporting.

The letter provides evidence that there is editorial interest in the journalist’s planned work.

Important Dates

Applicants should pay close attention to the following dates:

Applicants should not wait until the final hours to submit their applications, particularly if they need to obtain an editor’s letter.

What Makes This Fellowship Relevant to Global Health Journalism?

Rare diseases are often underrepresented in mainstream health reporting despite affecting millions of people globally.

Journalists play an important role in explaining complex medical developments to the public and bringing attention to the experiences of patients and families.

The fellowship’s subject areas connect several rapidly developing areas of health journalism, including biotechnology, artificial intelligence, genetics, drug development, clinical research, healthcare access, and patient advocacy.

The program also specifically includes discussion of rare disease research in Africa, making the training relevant to journalists interested in healthcare and medical research across the African continent.

For journalists working in countries where rare disease awareness, diagnostic infrastructure, specialist services, or access to treatment remain significant challenges, the fellowship may provide additional knowledge and reporting resources for investigating these issues.

Potential Reporting Areas

Participants who receive reporting support will be able to develop a rare disease project of their choosing.

Depending on their interests and the needs of their communities, potential reporting directions could include:

• Patient experiences and access to diagnosis
• Rare disease treatment availability
• Healthcare infrastructure
• Genetic testing and screening
• The development of new treatments
• Biotechnology and rare disease research
• AI and pharmaceutical research
• Clinical trial representation and inclusion
• Rare diseases in African healthcare systems
• Patient advocacy organizations
• The financial and social impact of rare diseases on families
• Caregiving and family experiences
• Disability and inclusion
• Public awareness of rare diseases
• Gaps in national healthcare policies
• The experiences of underserved rare disease populations

These are examples of possible areas of reporting rather than prescribed project topics. Fellows receiving grants will develop a project of their own choosing.

About the National Press Foundation

The National Press Foundation (NPF) is organizing the fellowship as part of its journalism training and reporting initiatives.

The organization is providing the training to help journalists better understand complex issues and produce informed reporting on rare diseases.

The 2026 program represents the fifth fellowship in this rare disease journalism series.

Support from Fondation Ipsen

The fellowship is made possible with support from Fondation Ipsen, a Paris-based nonprofit organization whose work includes rare diseases, detection, inclusion, and disability.

Fondation Ipsen has also supported the publication of previous reporting from the program.

The previous compilation of work by 2023 NPF fellows is available through the foundation, providing an example of how participating journalists’ reporting can contribute to broader international discussions about rare diseases.

Why Journalists Should Pay Attention to the Application Requirements

Although the fellowship is free, applicants should carefully review the participation requirements before submitting an application.

The most important considerations are:

1. Professional journalism status: The opportunity is intended for professional journalists.
2. International eligibility: Journalists can be based in any country.
3. English fluency: Applicants must be fluent in English because the training is conducted in English.
4. Full participation: Attendance at all training sessions is mandatory.
5. Time commitment: Sessions take place for four hours each day from November 16–20.
6. Editor support: Employed journalists need an editor’s letter confirming they can participate.
7. Freelance applicants: Freelancers need an editor’s letter demonstrating interest in publishing their work.
8. Reporting grant: Up to 20 journalists may receive grants of up to $2,000.
9. Reporting deadline: Grant-supported work must be submitted and published by March 1, 2027.
10. Application deadline: Applications must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. ET on October 22, 2026.

How to Apply

Interested professional journalists should complete the official online application before the deadline.

Application Deadline: October 22, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. ET

Applicants should ensure that all required information and supporting documentation are prepared before submitting the application.

Employed journalists should arrange their editor’s support letter, while freelance journalists should secure a letter from an editor who has expressed interest in publishing their proposed reporting.

Key Takeaways

The 2026 Rare Disease Reporting Fellowship and Grants offers professional journalists an opportunity to receive specialized training on some of the most important developments and challenges surrounding rare diseases.

Selected fellows will participate in a free five-day online program covering topics ranging from African rare disease research and genetic screening to AI-driven drug development and inclusive clinical trials.

In addition, up to 20 journalists may receive reporting grants of up to $2,000, divided into two $1,000 payments. Grant recipients will use the support to develop rare disease reporting projects, with completed work required to be published by March 1, 2027.

The program is open internationally, but applicants must be professional journalists with English fluency and must be able to attend all required sessions. The specific documentation required will depend on whether an applicant is employed or working as a freelancer.

Click HERE to read more and apply.

Conclusion

The 2026 Rare Disease Reporting Fellowship and Grants is designed to strengthen journalists’ ability to report on rare diseases, medical research, biotechnology, patient experiences, and healthcare access. Through expert-led online training, access to patient advocacy perspectives, and potential reporting grants, the program provides participating journalists with resources to develop informed and impactful rare disease coverage.

Professional journalists from any country who meet the eligibility requirements and can commit to the full five-day training should take note of the October 22, 2026, application deadline. Those seeking reporting support should also consider the additional requirements surrounding editor support, grant eligibility, and publication of the resulting work by March 1, 2027.

Click HERE for more fellowship opportunities.