Uplifting Athletes Awards $440K in Grants for Rare Disease Research
Uplifting Athletes, a nonprofit leveraging college football's popularity to fund rare disease research, has awarded $440,000 in grants to over 20 scientists in the past three years through its Young Investigator Draft. The organization aims to include researchers from diverse backgrounds through its Underrepresented Researchers in Medicine initiative.
Founded in 2003 by former Penn State football player Scott Shirley, Uplifting Athletes uses college football's platform to raise awareness about rare diseases. Players wear patches or stickers on their uniforms, and the organization holds an annual leadership conference for chapter leaders to help student-athletes develop life and leadership skills. Nearly two dozen chapters represent college football teams across the U.S.
The 2021 draft class included research focusing on diseases such as Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, blinding retinal diseases, and DDX3X syndrome. Uplifting Athletes supports research and awareness efforts in collaboration with universities and medical institutions, with scientists often concentrating on specific rare diseases in fields like medicine, biology, or pharmacology.
With its primary funding source being chapters that host events like Lift for Life on campus, Uplifting Athletes continues to make a significant impact in the rare disease community. The organization's commitment to diversity and inclusion in research, as demonstrated by its Underrepresented Researchers in Medicine initiative, further enhances its positive influence.
