2025 MDBR Pilot Grants Now Open!
The Orphan Disease Center (ODC) is pleased to announce three new research funding opportunities as part of the 2025 Million Dollar Bike Ride (MDBR). This program offers one-year pilot grants to support innovative research focused on the following rare diseases:
CADASIL
UGDH-Related Disorders
ZC4H2-Associated Rare Disorders
Grant amounts and number of awards vary based on the funds raised by each disease team through the MDBR. These grants aim to accelerate discoveries and therapeutic development in areas of urgent unmet need.
LOI Application Deadline: September 19th, 2025 by 8pm ET
MDBR 2025 Photos are below! Click through and save your favorites!
Special thanks to Jordan Bush Photography for capturing MDBR 2025 so perfectly!
Thank you to our MDBR 2025 Sponsors
Million Dollar Bike Ride 2024 Pilot Grant Awardees
The Orphan Disease Center offered 41 research opportunities focused on 34 different rare diseases. The program provides a one-year grant to support research related to a rare disease represented in the 2024 Million Dollar Bike Ride. With the efforts of our amazing MDBR community we raised a total of $2.6 Million for rare disease research!
2024 MDBR!
The Million Dollar Bike Ride for Rare Diseases
The University of Pennsylvania’s Dr. Jim Wilson turned his love of cycling into an annual event that has channeled $17 million into rare disease research.
By Eric Monticello 08 Jan 2024
About
Orphan diseases are classified in the United States as affecting fewer than 200,000 individuals. There are currently upwards of 7,000 rare diseases, ultimately affecting 1 in 10 Americans. In just nine years, the MDBR has funded over $15 million in research for 30 + rare diseases that have yet to see a cure, or even a treatment. We ensure that 100% of the funds raised goes towards these research grants, with no overhead taken out.
Join us
Interested in participating? Registration and additional information can be found below.