# Should the government subsidize research for extremely rare diseases?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-the-government-subsidize-research-for-extremely-rare-diseases/406705>\
**Category:** Great Debates\
**Created:** [June 4, 2007, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-the-government-subsidize-research-for-extremely-rare-diseases/406705 "2007-06-04T15:53:28Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![Crafter\_Man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crafter_man/32/458_2.png) [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)\
**Post date:** [June 5, 2007, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-the-government-subsidize-research-for-extremely-rare-diseases/406705/21 "2007-06-05T03:01:35Z")

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Yes. But only by a state government - not the federal government.

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**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\
**Post date:** [June 5, 2007, 11:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-the-government-subsidize-research-for-extremely-rare-diseases/406705/22 "2007-06-05T11:28:46Z")

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[QUOTE=Ravenman]  
But how the heck is one supposed to know these things, like how many people will be saved by the research on disease X vs. Y? I imagine only crackpot scientists could promise that approving their grant request will save a calculable number of lives. It’s like saying, if I had $1 to spend, I’d rather spend it on a winning lottery ticket than a king-size Snickers bar. How am I to know whether the lottery ticket is a winner unless I buy it? While I don’t disagree with your idea, I just don’t see how it sheds any light on the subject.  
[/QUOTE]

With rare genetic diseases we have a pretty good estimate of how many people are affected. The problem is not so much about knowing X or Y but knowing how much you need to spend to eliminate X or Y. You might spend $2B trying to eliminate X and not get anywhere.

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