The Year of the Zebra

Screenshot from the introduction video for The Year of the Zebra

What is this initiative?

2023 is the 40th anniversary of the Orphan Drug Act which gave hope to the hundreds of millions of people around the world who are directly affected by rare disorders (also known as “zebras,” because they are less common than horses). Elsevier Health is launching an ambitious initiative called “The Year of the Zebra” to educate millions of current and future healthcare professionals, caregivers, researchers, patients, family members, and the general public about these zebras. We are inviting an exclusive group of organizations and individuals to “adopt” one or more zebras by contributing to the development and distribution of highly engaging and impactful educational content about those rare disorders that will collectively reach millions of people around the world.

Table of contents

Esophageal Cancer
Elsevier
This article relates to SDG 3. This resource, created together by Osmosis and the National Organization for Rare Diseases (NORD), aims to increase the knowledge and awareness about Rare Disease Education: Esophageal Cancer
PHACE Syndrome
Elsevier
This article relates to SDG 3. This resource, created together by Osmosis and the National Organization for Rare Diseases (NORD), aims to increase the knowledge and awareness about Rare Disease Education: PHACE Syndrome
Narcolepsy
Elsevier
This article relates to SDG 3. This resource, created together by Osmosis and the National Organization for Rare Diseases (NORD), aims to increase the knowledge and awareness about Rare Disease Education:Narcolepsy
Neil Patella Syndrome
Elsevier
This article relates to SDG 3. This resource, created together by Osmosis and the National Organization for Rare Diseases (NORD), aims to increase the knowledge and awareness about Rare Disease Education: Nail-Patella Syndrome.
Elsevier
This article relates to SDG 3. This resource, created together by Osmosis and the National Organization for Rare Diseases (NORD), aims to increase the knowledge and awareness about Rare Disease Education: Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome
Epidermolysis bullosa
Elsevier
This article relates to SDG 3. This resource, created together by Osmosis and the National Organization for Rare Diseases (NORD), aims to increase the knowledge and awareness about Epidermolysis Bullosa that can cause life-threatening infections as well as some forms of cancer.
Elsevier
This article relates to SDG 3. This resource, created together by Osmosis and the National Organization for Rare Diseases (NORD), aims to increase the knowledge and awareness about Rare Disease Education: Phenylketonuria
Huntington's Disease
Elsevier

Rare Disease Education: Huntington's Disease

Editor: Kelsey LaFayette, DNP, RN, FNP-C

Anemia of Chronic Disease
Elsevier
This article relates to SDG 3. This resource, created together by Osmosis and the National Organization for Rare Diseases (NORD), aims to increase the knowledge and awareness about Anemia of Chronic Disease.
Facioscapulohumeral Muscular Dystrophy
Elsevier

Rare Disease Education: Facioscapulohumeral Muscular Dystrophy

Editor: Kelsey LaFayette, DNP, RN, FNP-C

Diagram of ovarian cancer
Elsevier
This article relates to SDG 3. This resource, created together by Osmosis and the National Organization for Rare Diseases (NORD), aims to increase the knowledge and awareness about Ovarian Cancer, a difficult to detect cancer in which only 2 in 10 cases are diagnosed at an early stage.
Adrenal Insufficiency
Elsevier
This article relates to SDG 3. This resource, created together by Osmosis and the National Organization for Rare Diseases (NORD), aims to increase the knowledge and awareness about Rare Disease Education: Adrenal Insufficiency
Diagram of Esophageal Atresia & Tracheoesophageal Fistula
Elsevier
This article ties to SDG 3. This resource, created together by Osmosis and the National Organization for Rare Diseases (NORD), aims to increase the knowledge and awareness about the rare birth defect Esophageal Atresia & Tracheoesophageal Fistula. This disease occurs when the esophagus fails to develop correctly, essentially ending in a blind pouch that is commonly connected to the trachea, creating a tracheoesophageal fistula.
Elsevier
This article relates to SDG 3. This resource, created together by Osmosis and the National Organization for Rare Diseases (NORD), aims to increase the knowledge and awareness about Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome,
Diagram of leprosy
Elsevier
This article relates to SDG 3. This resource, created together by Osmosis and the National Organization for Rare Diseases (NORD), aims to increase the knowledge and awareness about Leprosy, an ancient chronic infection disease that can affect the skin, eyes, and nervous system.
Graphic of gorlin syndrome
Elsevier
This article relates to SDG 3. This resource, created together by Osmosis and the National Organization for Rare Diseases (NORD), aims to increase the knowledge and awareness about Gorlin Syndrome, a mutation in a tumor suppressor gene is the root cause of proliferation of cancer cells, leading to basal cell carcinomas, abnormal cysts in the jaw, bone deformities, and several other manifestations.
Elsevier
This article relates to SDG 3. This resource, created together by Osmosis and the National Organization for Rare Diseases (NORD), aims to increase the knowledge and awareness about Pierre-Robin Sequence, a rare congenital condition characterized by physical anomalies that result in making the newborn's breathing difficult.
Diagram of Turner Syndrome
Elsevier
This article relates to SDG 3. This resource, created together by Osmosis and the National Organization for Rare Diseases (NORD), aims to increase the knowledge and awareness about Turner Syndrome, a condition characterized by a partial or complete loss of one of the two X chromosomes in females. The manifestations of this can be quite variable, resulting in infertility and/or distinctive physical features such as a short stature, webbed neck, or a “shield chest”.
Diagram of the disease
Elsevier
This article relates to SDG 3. This resource, created together by Osmosis and the National Organization for Rare Diseases (NORD), aims to increase the knowledge and awareness about retroperitoneal fibrosis, an inflammatory condition in which fiber-like tissue accumulates behind the peritoneum and causes lower back pain.
Description of tetralogy of fallot
Elsevier
This article related to SDG 3. This resource, created together by Osmosis and the National Organization for Rare Diseases (NORD), aims to increase the knowledge and awareness about Tetralogy of Fallot, the single most common form of congenital heart disease that causes cyanosis (bluish discoloration from lack of oxygen).
Elsevier
This article relates to SDG 3. This resource, created together by Osmosis and the National Organization for Rare Diseases (NORD), aims to increase the knowledge and awareness about pernicious anemia, a disease in which the body produces auto-antibodies against a stomach protein called Intrinsic Factor, causing B12 deficiency that cannot be resolved efficiently through oral intake.
Elsevier
This article related to SDG 3. This resource, created together by Osmosis and the National Organization for Rare Diseases (NORD), aims to increase the knowledge and awareness about precocious puberty, a condition that causes children to start puberty early, affecting one in five thousand children.
Elsevier
This article ties to SDG 3. This resource, created together by Osmosis and the National Organization for Rare Diseases (NORD), aims to increase the knowledge and awareness about the rare disease Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis (LCH), a proliferation of abnormal histiocytes, which are inflammatory immune cells that constantly patrol the body for invaders and can infiltrate multiple body parts including the bones, skin and nervous system.
Screenshot of Educational Video
Elsevier
This article ties to SDG 3. This resource, created together by Osmosis and the National Organization for Rare Diseases (NORD), aims to increase the knowledge and awareness about the rare disease Achondroplasia, the most commonly occurring form of skeletal dysplasia that occurs in approximately 1 in 20,000-30,000 live births.
Diagram Achalasia
Elsevier
This article ties to SDG 3. This resource, created together by Osmosis and the National Organization for Rare Diseases (NORD), aims to increase the knowledge and awareness about the rare disease Achalasia, which involves damage to the nerves in the esophagus causing the lower esophageal sphincter, a circular muscle at the end of the esophagus, to be unable to relax. The resulting symptoms include difficulty swallowing and chest pain.
Zebra of the Week: Alkaptonuria

Rare Disease Education: Alkaptonuria

Editor: Kelsey LaFayette, DNP, RN, FNP-C

Rare Disease Education: Hemophilia
Elsevier

Rare Disease Education:  Hemophilia

Editor: Kelsey LaFayette, DNP, RN, FNP-C

PIK3CA-related overgrowth spectrum.
Elsevier

Rare Disease Education:  PIK3CA-related Overgrowth Spectrum

Editor: Kelsey LaFayette, DNP, RN, FNP-C

Rare Disease Education: Buerger Disease
Elsevier
This article relates to SDG 3. This resource, created together by Osmosis and the National Organization for Rare Diseases (NORD), aims to increase the knowledge and awareness about Rare Disease Education: Buerger Disease
Elsevier
This article relates to SDG 3. This resource, created together by Osmosis and the National Organization for Rare Diseases (NORD), aims to increase the knowledge and awareness about Rare Disease Education: Sanfilippo Syndrome
Elsevier
This article relates to SDG 3. ThCornelia de Lange Syndromeis resource, created together by Osmosis and the National Organization for Rare Diseases (NORD), aims to increase the knowledge and awareness about Rare Disease Education: Cornelia de Lange Syndrome
Batten Disease
Elsevier
This article relates to SDG 3. This resource, created together by Osmosis and the National Organization for Rare Diseases (NORD), aims to increase the knowledge and awareness about Rare Disease Education: Batten Disease
Castleman Disease
Elsevier
This article relates to SDG 3. This resource, created together by Osmosis and the National Organization for Rare Diseases (NORD), aims to increase the knowledge and awareness about Rare Disease Education: Castleman Disease
 Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension
Elsevier
This article relates to SDG 3. This resource, created together by Osmosis and the National Organization for Rare Diseases (NORD), aims to increase the knowledge and awareness about Rare Disease Education: Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension
Hirschsprung Disease
Elsevier
This article relates to SDG 3. This resource, created together by Osmosis and the National Organization for Rare Diseases (NORD), aims to increase the knowledge and awareness about Rare Disease Education: Hirschsprung Disease
Beta-Thalassemia
Elsevier
This article relates to SDG 3. This resource, created together by Osmosis and the National Organization for Rare Diseases (NORD), aims to increase the knowledge and awareness about Rare Disease Education: Beta-Thalassemia
Glioblastoma
Elsevier
This article relates to SDG 3. This resource, created together by Osmosis and the National Organization for Rare Diseases (NORD), aims to increase the knowledge and awareness about Rare Disease Education: Glioblastoma
Syringomyelia
Elsevier
This article relates to SDG 3. This resource, created together by Osmosis and the National Organization for Rare Diseases (NORD), aims to increase the knowledge and awareness about Rare Disease Education: Syringomyelia
Thoracic Outlet Syndrome
Elsevier
This article relates to SDG 3. This resource, created together by Osmosis and the National Organization for Rare Diseases (NORD), aims to increase the knowledge and awareness about Rare Disease Education: Thoracic Outlet Syndrome
Shwachman-Diamond Syndrome
Elsevier
This article relates to SDG 3. This resource, created together by Osmosis and the National Organization for Rare Diseases (NORD), aims to increase the knowledge and awareness about Rare Disease Education: Shwachman-Diamond Syndrome
Elsevier
This article relates to SDG 3. This resource, created together by Osmosis and the National Organization for Rare Diseases (NORD), aims to increase the knowledge and awareness about Rare Disease Education: Autoimmune Polyglandular Syndrome Type I
Canavan Disease
Elsevier
This article relates to SDG 3. This resource, created together by Osmosis and the National Organization for Rare Diseases (NORD), aims to increase the knowledge and awareness about Rare Disease Education: Canavan Disease
Fibromuscular Dysplasia
Elsevier
This article relates to SDG 3. This resource, created together by Osmosis and the National Organization for Rare Diseases (NORD), aims to increase the knowledge and awareness about Rare Disease Education: Fibromuscular Dysplasia
Elsevier

Rare Disease Education:  PGAP3-Congenital Disorder of Glycosylation

Editor: Kelsey LaFayette, DNP, RN, FNP-C