About this opportunity
The National Press Foundation, with support from Fondation Ipsen, is inviting professional journalists from around the world to apply for the 2026 Rare Disease Reporting Fellowship, a five day online training programme on reporting rare diseases, biotechnology, healthcare access and medical research.
The subject is understudied in mainstream health journalism. Rare diseases affect an estimated 300 million people worldwide across more than 7,000 confirmed conditions, and patients and families still face delayed diagnosis, limited awareness, thin specialist knowledge and difficulty accessing care. This fellowship is the fifth journalism programme in the series supported by Fondation Ipsen, a Paris based nonprofit focused on rare diseases, detection, inclusion and disability.
Selected journalists attend five days of free online training from 16 to 20 November 2026, running 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. ET each day, with on the record briefings and question and answer sessions led by researchers, clinicians and leaders of global patient advocacy organisations. Topics include rare disease research on the African continent, AI driven drug development and childhood genetic testing, among others.
Beyond the training, up to 20 participating journalists may receive reporting grants of up to $2,000 each to develop a rare disease reporting project of their choosing, with a reporting
Application timeline
of 1 March 2027. Published work is also reprinted in a compilation book produced by Fondation Ipsen.
What you receive
- Five days of free online training with expert briefings and question and answer sessions
- Reporting grants of up to $2,000 available to up to 20 participating journalists
- Direct access to researchers, clinicians and leaders of global patient advocacy organisations
- Editorial support to develop a rare disease reporting project of your own choosing
- Reprinting of published work in a compilation book produced by Fondation Ipsen
- Sessions covering rare disease research on the African continent, AI driven drug development and childhood genetic testing
Who can apply
- Professional journalists working in print, broadcast, online, digital media, social media or other professional journalism formats
- Based in any country, with no stated restriction by continent or nationality
- Open to applicants of all racial and ethnic backgrounds who meet the professional requirements
- Fluency in English, since the training sessions are conducted in English
- Employed journalists must supply an editor's letter committing to release them for four hours a day from 16 to 20 November 2026
- Freelance journalists supply a letter from an editor indicating interest in publishing their proposed rare disease work instead
Who should not apply
- Full participation in the five day training programme is mandatory
- Journalists who cannot be released for four hours a day between 16 and 20 November 2026 will not be able to complete the fellowship
Documents to prepare
- Completed application form submitted through the official National Press Foundation application page
- For employed journalists: a letter of support from your editor confirming a release of four hours each day from 16 to 20 November 2026
- For freelance journalists: a letter from an editor showing interest in publishing your rare disease reporting
- An outline of the rare disease story or reporting project you want to pursue
How to apply
- Review the fellowship details and the five day training schedule on the official application page at https://nationalpress.org/training/apply-2026-rare-disease-reporting-fellowship-and-grants/
- Agree your time release with your editor, or line up an editor interested in publishing your freelance reporting
- Prepare the editor's letter, which takes time to obtain, before you start the application
- Outline the rare disease reporting project you would develop if selected
- Submit your application by 22 October 2026 at 11:59 p.m. ET
Selection process
- Applications are reviewed by the National Press Foundation after the 22 October 2026 deadline
- Selected journalists join the online training programme held from 16 to 20 November 2026
- Up to 20 participants may then receive reporting grants of up to $2,000 to develop their project
- Grant recipients file their reporting by the reporting deadline of 1 March 2027
- Published work may be reprinted in a compilation book produced by Fondation Ipsen
Sources and verification
Questions applicants ask
Is this open to journalists outside the United States?
Yes. The opportunity is international and open to professional journalists based in any country, with no stated restriction by continent or nationality.
Do I need to speak English?
You may work in any language, but applicants must be fluent in English because the training sessions are conducted in English.
Can freelance journalists apply?
Yes. Freelancers provide a letter from an editor showing interest in publishing their rare disease work, in place of the employer release letter required from staff journalists.
When is the training held?
The online training runs from 16 to 20 November 2026, from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. ET each day, and full participation is mandatory.
Important disclaimer
Nextali researches and curates useful opportunities to make discovery easier. Before applying, verify every timeline, requirement, fee and application link on the official provider website. Do your own research into the organisation, its background and the authenticity of the offer. Nextali does not guarantee selection, funding or the conduct of third party providers.
