Undiagnosed Diseases Network | Harvard Medical School

About the Program

Our Mission to Solve Medical Mysteries

The Harvard Medical School Undiagnosed Diseases Network (UDN) is dedicated to solving the most challenging medical cases that have eluded diagnosis through conventional clinical evaluation.

Our multidisciplinary team of physicians, researchers, and genetic specialists collaborate to provide answers for patients with undiagnosed conditions, while advancing medical knowledge through discovery of new diseases and disease mechanisms.

Since its establishment, the UDN has evaluated hundreds of cases, leading to diagnoses for many patients who had searched for answers for years.

Check Eligibility

Reporting Process

Our systematic approach ensures thorough evaluation of each case while maintaining patient confidentiality.

1

Initial Submission

Complete our secure online form with patient information, medical history, and relevant test results.

2

Preliminary Review

Our clinical team conducts an initial assessment to determine if the case meets our program criteria.

3

Medical Records Request

For promising cases, we request complete medical records for in-depth evaluation.

4

Comprehensive Evaluation

Our multidisciplinary team performs detailed analysis, potentially including advanced genomic testing.

5

Findings & Follow-up

We provide a detailed report of our findings and recommendations to the referring physician.

Eligibility Criteria

To be considered for evaluation, patients must meet the following criteria:

Undiagnosed Condition

The patient must have a condition that has remained undiagnosed despite comprehensive evaluation by a healthcare provider.

Medical Documentation

Extensive medical records documenting the evaluation and testing already performed must be available.

Physician Referral

Cases must be submitted by a licensed physician who will serve as the point of contact.

Willingness to Participate

Patients must be willing to undergo additional testing if needed and participate in follow-up.

Report a Case

Submit information about an undiagnosed medical condition for potential evaluation by our team.

Important Notes

This form is for physician use only. Patients seeking evaluation should consult their healthcare provider about submitting a case.

All submissions are confidential and handled in accordance with HIPAA regulations.

Contact Information

Location

Harvard Medical School
25 Shattuck Street
Boston, MA 02115

Phone

(617) 432-1000

Email

udn@hms.harvard.edu

Physician Name *

Physician Email *

Physician Phone *

Institution/Hospital *

Patient Age *

Patient Gender *

Case Summary *

Please do not include personally identifiable patient information in this field.

Medical Records Availability *

I confirm that I have obtained appropriate patient consent for this submission *

Privacy & Confidentiality

Our Commitment to Patient Privacy

The Harvard Medical School Undiagnosed Diseases Network adheres to strict confidentiality protocols in accordance with HIPAA regulations and institutional policies.

Data Security

All patient information is transmitted and stored using secure, encrypted systems accessible only to authorized personnel directly involved in case evaluation.

Research Use

De-identified case information may be used for research purposes to advance medical knowledge. Patients may opt out of research participation while still receiving clinical evaluation.

Informed Consent

Referring physicians must obtain appropriate consent from patients or their legal guardians before submitting cases to our program.