Some Diseases Are “Rare.” Others Are Just Ignored.
When people hear the phrase “rare disease,” they often imagine something obscure—one in a million, barely documented, almost mythical.
But here’s the uncomfortable truth:
Many diseases affecting hundreds of thousands—sometimes millions—of people are only considered “rare” because they happen in poor countries.
If a disease has a prevalence of over 100,000 people, it’s not rare.
It’s underfunded.
It’s underdiagnosed.
And far too often, it’s overlooked.
At Bend Biomedical, we work at the intersection of science, equity, and reality. We focus on diseases that quietly devastate communities in low-income countries—conditions that don’t make headlines, don’t attract blockbuster funding, and don’t promise big returns on investment.
Not because they’re unsolvable.
But because the people affected are too often invisible.
A disease doesn’t become less serious because it affects people with fewer resources. A child’s life doesn’t matter less because they were born in the wrong zip code—or the wrong hemisphere.
Yet global research dollars tell a different story.
Time and again, diseases with massive prevalence in poorer countries receive a fraction of the funding directed toward conditions affecting wealthier populations. The result? Treatable diseases remain untreated. Preventable deaths continue. Innovation stalls where it’s needed most.
We believe biomedical research should be guided by impact, not income.
That’s why Bend Biomedical supports research, collaboration, and solutions aimed at diseases with high prevalence and low visibility—the ones hiding in plain sight.
Because a disease affecting 100,000+ people is not a footnote.
It’s a call to action.
And because science is at its best when it serves everyone, not just the fortunate few.
If you believe global health equity isn’t optional—
If you believe prevalence should matter more than profit—
Then you’re already part of this movement.
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