New Zealand first in Southern Hemisphere to host European Rare Diseases Research Alliance Mirror Group

New Zealand is the first Southern Hemisphere non-European country to be recognised by the European Rare Diseases Research Alliance (ERDERA) as a host of an affiliated National Mirror Group (NMG).

This is huge for rare disorders research in New Zealand as it formally connects the research community here with rare disorders research networks in both Europe and globally, offers a potential gateway to the Horizons Europe research programme which recognises ERDERA as the rare diseases research conduit in Europe, and supports our efforts to align with international best practice in developing rare disorders research capacity and capability. This initiative will also support implementation of the research intentions expressed in New Zealand's Rare Disorders Strategy.

In March 2025 New Zealand’s rare disorders research network leadership group (NZRNLG) decided to pursue a New Zealand NMG, and Professors Louise Bicknell and Gareth Baynam made a successful Catalyst funding application to support a collaborative Australia/New Zealand approach to realising our respective NMG aspirations. 

The NMG had its first meeting on 16^th December comprising, as pictured, the NMG project group, NZRNLG members, and representatives from Rare Disorders New Zealand and Pharmac.