The Centre for Rare Diseases (ZSE) is part of Ulm University Hospital and the Faculty of Medicine and is therefore an association of numerous clinics and institutes that deal with rare diseases. The main purpose of the centre is to act as a contact point for affected patients and their treating physicians.

In the EU, diseases with a prevalence of ≤5:10,000 people are defined as SE. Around 8,000 of the approximately 30,000 known diseases are therefore SE. Due to this large number, around 30 million people are affected in Europe and around 4 million in Germany. Many of those affected do not have a definitive diagnosis. More than 80% of SEs are genetic and therefore lead to lifelong illnesses. In addition, the usually late diagnosis and the frequent lack of treatment contribute to severe disease progression. Due to the small number of patients, the development of a drug would be unprofitable.

 

Tag der Seltenen Erkrankungen 2026 am 28.02.2026

Der internationale Tag der Seltenen Erkrankungen (jeweils am letzten Tag des Monats Februar) ist der Tag, an dem weltweit tausende Betroffene von Seltenen Erkrankungen, Ihre Angehörigen und Unterstützende aus Medizin und Wissenschaft zusammenkommen, um die Waisen der Medizin  in den Fokus der Öffentlichkeit zu rücken.

Wir möchten Sie daher zum siebten Aktionstag, unter der Schirmherrschaft des Ulmer Oberbürgermeisters Martin Ansbacher, herzlich einladen:

Samstag, 28. Februar 2026
9:30 - 15:00 Uhr
Stadthaus Ulm
Münsterplatz 50
89073 Ulm

Sie erwartet ein vielseitiges und informatives Programm zu ausgewählten seltenen Krankheitsbildern. Es werden Expert/innen zu Wort kommen und insbesondere Selbsthilfegruppen werden über ihre Arbeit berichten.
Nutzen Sie die Möglichkeit mit Vertretern der Selbsthilfe und medizinischen Expert/innen ins Gespräch zu kommen.

Die Veranstaltung ist kostenfrei.   Download Flyer

 

 

 

 

The Lipodystrophy Stammtisch - every first Tuesday of the month

Are you affected by lipodystrophy and have questions on specific topics? Would you like to exchange ideas with other people affected?

The Lipodystrophy Stammtisch (online) was set up jointly by the German Reference Network Lipodystrophy and the patient network NetLip. We invite experts on a specific topic to each meeting. The experts give a short presentation and then answer all your questions. In an informal atmosphere, the regulars' table also invites you to exchange experiences and get to know other affected people.

Detailed information and registration

 

New therapy offers hope for acquired hypothalamic obesity

The hypothalamus is a vital part of the diencephalon and plays a central role in the regulation of hunger, satiety and metabolism. If the hypothalamus is damaged during childhood, so-called acquired hypothalamic obesity can develop - a rare, severe form of obesity that is currently untreatable. A study being conducted at the Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine at Ulm University Hospital (UKU) and elsewhere is currently investigating a new drug treatment option with the active ingredient setmelanotide. Initial interim results are promising and indicate that the new therapy could represent a turning point in the treatment of the disease. [...]

Download: Full press release

 

In order to continuously improve our work at the centre, we rely on your feedback.
Here you have the opportunity to send us your suggestions, praise or criticism. Thank you very much.

Take part in the survey now!

 

Qualitätsbericht 2024 erschienen

Der Qualitätsbericht 2024 steht ab sofort zum Download zur Verfügung.

Download Qualitätsbericht 2024

 

03
Mar
Lipodystrophie Stammtisch

Jeden ersten Dienstag im Monat lädt der Stammtisch zum Kennenlernen und Austauschen mit anderen Betroffenen ein. Der Stammtisch findet online statt.

19:30 Uhr | Online via WebEx

07
Apr
Lipodystrophie Stammtisch

Jeden ersten Dienstag im Monat lädt der Stammtisch zum Kennenlernen und Austauschen mit anderen Betroffenen ein. Der Stammtisch findet online statt.

19:30 Uhr | Online via WebEx

18
Apr
Lipodystrophie Patiententag 2026

Spannende Vorträge, Austausch für Betroffene & Angehörige, Workshops und Tips für den Alltag, Raum für Fragen

10:00 Uhr |

Training courses

25
Feb
Evidenz bewerten, Empfehlungen formulieren - Der GRADE-Ansatz in der S3-Leitlinie zur Therapie und Prävention der Adipositas im Kindes- und Jugendalter

Seminar | Veranstalter: Zentrum für Seltene Endokrine Erkrankungen und Endo-​ERN- Sektion Pädiatrische Endokrinologie und Diabetologie | Referentin: Dr. Stephanie Brandt-Heunemann

10:00 Uhr | Konferenzraum der Klinik für Kinder- und Jugendmedizin Ulm

 

Your enquiry to the Centre for Rare Diseases Ulm

You will find all the information you need to register under the links below or on the homepage in the menu on the right.

 

Contact us

Central contact point ZSE Ulm

Centre for Rare Diseases (ZSE)
Eythstraße 24
89075 Ulm

Tel: (+49) 731 500-57080

Fax: (+49) 731 500-57058

E-mail: zse@uniklinik-ulm.de

Our centre sees rare diseases as a research mission to improve diagnostic and therapeutic options for future generations. If you would like to make a contribution, please support us by making a donation to the account indicated.

Donation account

Ulm University Hospital
Sparkasse Ulm
IBAN DE16 6305 0000 0000 1064 78
BIC SOLADES1ULM
Purpose: D.4150 ZSE

Quality reports

Structured quality reports of the Centre for Rare Diseases (ZSE) Ulm

Report 2020

Report 2021

DZKJ - German Centre for Paediatric and Adolescent Medicine

Ulm Child Health (UCH) is an initiative of a group of departments at the University of Ulm that deal with child development and diseases and is coordinated by the renowned Department of Paediatrics.

UCH has successfully applied to participate in the German Centre for Child and Adolescent Health (DZKJ), a German Centre for Health Research (DZG) planned by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF). The start-up phase is scheduled to begin in May 2024. In the DZKJ, UCH is only referred to as the DZKJ site in Ulm.