These resources provided funding for 20 biomedical research projects of excellence, of which we now present the results. While the 2009 La Marató helped to make rare diseases visible, the demanding and rigorous work of the 47 funded investigators was converted into improvements in the diagnosis, treatment and quality of life of people affected by these diseases. In this way, La Marató 2009 accomplished its twofold goal: to promote biomedical research of excellence and to raise public awareness.

The 20 projects that were run were the ones with the highest scores of the 287 that applied for assistance from the Foundation. They were assessed by 134 experts of international renown, who evaluated them according to their quality, methodology and relevancies in a peer review process of proven transparency and rigour. The Catalan Agency for Health Technology Assessment and Research (AQuAS) co-ordinated this process.

The 16th Symposium is a meeting point for the scientists who have carried out the research funded by La Marató and the public, who made this boost to research possible. All the energy, hard work and support that was invested in 2009 now goes back to the public in the from of breakthroughs in the knowledge of rare diseases.

The Institute of Catalan Studies is hosting this event, in a setting that will showcase the scientific and social action to increase understanding undertaken by La Marató de TV3.