Children's Hospital gets orphan-disease grant

Children's Hospital Boston said today that it has received a $25 million grant from the Manton Foundation to establish the "world's first and only center for research on orphan diseases."

The center, which will be known as the Manton Center for Orphan Disease Research, will provide support for Children's Hospital and Harvard Medical School scientists to study and develop new diagnoses of and treatments for rare diseases, including genetic syndromes, immune system problems, and metabolic and neuromuscular disorders, Children's Hospital Boston said in a press release.

The press release noted that millions of children "are suffering from diseases so rare that precise diagnoses elude even the best doctors, and treatments are limited or nonexistent.:

Children's Hospital chief executive James Mandell said in a statement, "This new center will open a superhighway for discovery, which we believe will lead to not only insights into the biological underpinnings of various diseases but also better diagnoses and new treatments for children and adults worldwide."

The Manton Foundation was established by Sir Edwin and Lady Manton to support philanthropic efforts of interest to the family, said Children's Hospital Boston, which added that the Manton grant is one of its largest gifts ever.
(By Chris Reidy, Globe staff)