Our History
Rare Epilepsy Network (REN) was born in 2013 with ten rare epilepsy organizations fueled by a Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) grant, managed by the Epilepsy Foundation (EF), and singularly focused on a project to build a patient-centered registry.
By 2019, REN had grown to 32 organizations, launched a first-of-its-kind rare epilepsy registry, including 41 diseases, and on-boarded 1,500 patients. When the PCORI grant came to a close in Spring 2019, REN members determined there was value in continuing the network, expanding from a single focused project to multiple projects, and improving transparency about REN’s mission, composition, and terms of engagement. As a result, a small transition work group convened to envision the future of REN.
In early 2020, REN began anew and is growing with speed. REN is a volunteer network that welcomes all rare epilepsy organizations to come together around research efforts where our collective efforts will improve the lives lived of our individual constituents. REN includes rare epilepsy organizations and broad epilepsy stakeholders committed to this common mission. Meet our Members and Partners here.
Our Mission
The mission of Rare Epilepsy Network (REN) is to work with urgency to collaboratively improve outcomes of rare epilepsy patients and families by fostering patient-focused research and advocacy.
Our Vision
The vision of REN is to support, grow and maintain a network of rare epilepsy groups formed around a living overarching structure tasked with defining REN projects, in which REN groups are able to choose to participate.
Our Pillars
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Improving patient outcomes defined by patients and/or caregivers
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Facilitating communication, coordination and collaboration across stakeholders with shared goals
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Improving patient-defined outcomes through quality science with urgency