On May 27, 2026, the MAST Genes Research Foundation held its JumpStart meeting in partnership with Penn Medicine’s Orphan Disease Center. The meeting was the result of a couple of years of planning, and it was worth the wait. Researchers from five countries joined us for several presentations and a lively discussion.
What is JumpStart? JumpStart is a program run by the Orphan Disease Center at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. It helps patient groups and foundations build research programs for rare diseases, especially diseases that have received little research attention so far. The program connects families and foundations with researchers and leading scientists, and it gives guidance on research tools, clinical development, and best practices for running a research grant program. It also helps organize symposia and think tanks that bring experts and potential sponsors together. Because each disease group starts from a different place, the program tailors its support to each group’s expertise and resources.
Why it matters for MAST. JumpStart gave us a way to bring the research community together around MAST gene disorders. The goal of the meeting was a global exchange of ideas across labs. The conversations covered the fundamental biology of MAST genes and how changes in them lead to disease. The level of interest was clear, and so was the willingness to build on each other’s work.
For families who have been waiting for answers, this kind of collaboration matters. It puts more minds on the same problem.
