Our  company was founded in 2012 to boost research and improve access to care and treatment for MPS and wider rare disease communities. Starting with just two staff supporting patients taking part in clinical trials, we’ve grown and diversified to offer a comprehensive range of services for pharmaceutical and patient organisation clients.

Rare Disease Research Partners is a wholly owned, not-for-profit subsidiary of the UK-based Society for Mucopolysaccharide Diseases (MPS Society). We reinvest any surplus made from our services to support the Society’s mission to transform the lives of patients through specialist knowledge, support, advocacy and research. Since its creation in 1982 the MPS Society has become a leading organisation supporting patients with rare metabolic diseases in the UK. Mucopolysaccharide (MPS) diseases are a family of around 40 rare, life-limiting disorders that can affect both children and adults.

Mucopolysaccharides are long chains of sugar molecules that help to build bones, cartilage, skin, tendons and other essential body parts.

People with MPS diseases do not have enough of the enzyme needed to break down used mucopolysaccharides, which can then accumulate within cells to cause progressive damage.