(a)
Study— Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (in this section referred to as the “Director”) shall complete a study on enhancing and expanding the infrastructure to track the epidemiology of rare diseases and conditions, including with respect to the following:
(2)
Potential for research and treatment.
(4)
Diagnosis and progression markers.
(5)
The history of the disease or condition.
(6)
Detection management.
(b)
Consultation— In conducting the study required by subsection (a), the Director shall consult with relevant experts, including—
(1)
epidemiologists with experience in disease surveillance;
(2)
representatives of national voluntary health associations;
(3)
health information technology experts or other information management specialists;
(4)
clinicians with expertise in rare diseases or conditions;
(5)
research scientists with expertise in rare diseases or conditions, or experience conducting translational research or utilizing surveillance systems for scientific research purposes; and
(6)
patients, and caregivers of patients, with rare diseases or conditions.
(c)
Report— Not later than 3 months after completing the study required by subsection (a), the Director shall submit a report to the Congress on the results of the study.
(d)
Definition— In this section, the terms rare diseases and conditions and rare diseases or conditions refer to human diseases and conditions that are—
(1)
a rare disease or condition, as defined in section 526 of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (
21 U.S.C. 360bb); or
(2)
determined by the Director to be rare and lacking in treatment options, so as to warrant consideration in the study required by subsection (a).