Sen. McLachlan Raises Awareness About Rare Diseases

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Sen. Michael McLachlan on Feb. 28 spoke at the Rare Disease Awareness Day ceremony at the State Capitol.

“There are 7,000 rare diseases, which are defined as diseases that affect less than 200,000 people,” Sen. McLachlan said. “That means 30 million people in the U.S. are afflicted with some form of rare disease, about one in ten people. Events like this help to raise awareness and push for cures. I am proud to be a part of it.”

Sen. McLachlan is co-chair of the newly formed Life Sciences Caucus. The bipartisan panel is aiming to promote public policy that supports economic growth and scientific innovation in the state. Connecticut has a strong presence in many of the industries that fall under the banner of life sciences, including biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, biomedical technologies and devices, and life systems technologies.

“Our goal is to raise the visibility of this job creating sector and pass policies which unleash its endless possibilities,” Sen. McLachlan said. “If we can improve connectivity among manufacturers, institutions and companies in relevant fields, we can generate new ideas, new partnerships, and new jobs.”

Last year, Sen. McLachlan authored a bill to require screening for heart defects to be conducted on newborns in Connecticut. The bill is now state law.

For more information, visit www.rarediseases.org