NRC Ɩ Clinical pathology Ɩ Rare diseases

Selection and recognition procedures 

The selection procedure for the National Reference Centres (NRC) for Rare Diseases takes place every five years.

Call for application 2023:

The laboratories concerned by this call for applications are laboratories of clinical pathology located in Belgium and licensed according to the Belgian Royal Decree published on 3 December 1999 and relating to the license of the Belgian laboratories of clinical pathology. A Belgian laboratory of clinical pathology is free to apply with one or several other Belgian academic research laboratory(ies) or Belgian laboratory(ies) of clinical pathology in the form of a consortium.

Sciensano carries out the call for applications and the evaluation of the applications within the framework of an agreement established with the INAMI-RIZIV.

The NRC for Rare Diseases are then officially recognised through an agreement established between each NRC and Sciensano.

Several aspects are evaluated during the selection procedure:

• The quality of the analysis: quality management system, validation of the analysis considered, participation to quality controls for the analysis considered, accreditation of the laboratory and analysis considered, the reporting of the results, the execution time (turnaround time).
• The medical and scientific expertise: fundamental, clinical and/or epidemiological research;  scientific publications;  participation in scientific projects, expertise and reference networks, multidisciplinary meetings; providing information to external audiences; organisation of specific trainings for the laboratory and hospital staff.
• The structure, organisation and sustainability of the activities.

Belgian royal decree for the NRC for Rare Diseases

Financing and follow-up

Sciensano reimburses the costs of the NRC for Rare Diseases related to the performance, participation to quality controls and accreditation of the analyses for which their expertise has been recognised, based on supporting documents, and through a budget envelope provided by the INAMI-RIZIV. Sciensano ensures the follow-up of the NRC “rare diseases” over time.

Current NRC for Rare Diseases and practical information

Contact

Scientific manager

Nathalie Vandevelde
​+32 2 642 55 89
nathalie.vandevelde@sciensano.be

Other contacts

Ynse Van de Maele
​+32 2 642 55 24
ynse.vandemaele@sciensano.be

Secretary

​+32 2 642 55 22                                       
​QL_secretariat@sciensano.be
Rue ​Juliette Wytsman 14 • 1050 Brussels