We know Urea Cycle Disorders.  We live to conquer them. 

GET HELP AND SUPPORT:   Do you need support? Whether you have just received a diagnosis of urea cycle disorder, or you're a UCD veteran, we can help with information on diagnosis, learning how to manage a urea cycle disorder, living with UCD, and everything in between. Tell us your story. We're here to help with credible information and individual support.

CONNECTING FAMILIES WITH UREA CYCLE DISORDERS: Network with other UCD patients and families one-to-one or in our vibrant private online community. Email or call us at (626)578-0833 (Pacific Standard Time)
GET INFORMATION: Learn more about UCD, or get help for a specific issue. We're here to answer your questions. Recognize the signs of urea cycle disorder.

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STAY INFORMED: Keep up with the latest information on urea cycle disorder treatments, management and research.

News and Announcements

January 31, 2020 UCD MOM PUBLISHES CHLDREN'S STORY: Based on her son's experiences with UCD, the illustrated book weaves a magical story of whimsical adventures in hopes of raising awareness of rare diseases and learning to live with a rare condition.

October 24, 2019 UREA CYCLE DISORDERS RESEARCH CONSORTIUM RECEIVES NEW 5-YEAR FUNDING: National Institutes of Health Rare Diseases Clinical Research Network has awarded the Urea Cycle Disorders Consortium (UCDC) $5 million funding to continue research for urea cycle disorders. Founded in 2003 by UCD clinical research experts and the National Urea Cycle Disorders Foundation (NUCDF), the UCDC was established and received its first 5-year funding as one of ten consortia to study rare diseases by the Office of Rare Disease Research. Now co-led by principal investigators Dr. Andrea Gropman at Children's National Medical Center, Dr. Sandesh Nagamani at Baylor, and Cynthia Le Mons at NUCDF, the17-site international UCD Consortium of physicians, scientists, neuropsychologists, nurses, genetic counselors and researchers will continue to work in collaboration with UCD patients and families to conduct studies to improve the understanding of UCDs, long-term health outcomes, and accelerate the development of new treatments. "It's gratifying that patients diagnosed with urea cycle disorder now are surviving, growing up, becoming young adults and starting families themselves. Twenty to 30 years ago, this never would have seemed conceivable," Dr. Gropman says. "We have collected many years of longitudinal clinical data, but with this new funding we can address critical questions about UCD that are meaningful on a day-to-day basis for UCD patients and families and improve long-term health and quality of life."

August 7, 2019 MOM ADVOCATES FOR UCD RESEARCH AND EDUCATION IN MEMORY OF HER SON:  After being diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia, a deadly combination of chemotherapy and undiagnosed urea cycle disorder (OTC) took the life of 14-year old Samson Boylen.  His mother is dedicated to raising awareness and educating healthcare professionals to improve symptom recognition and screening.

April 10, 2019 COMMENTARY - HEALTHCARE OF TOMORROW US NEWS AND WORLD REPORT: "In the race to improve healthcare in America, we need to maintain checks and balances as we consider new treatments."

March 2, 2019 LINCOLN FIFTH-GRADER BATTLING RARE DISORDER: Mya shares her story to raise awareness about OTC deficiency. Thank you to the Blomenberg Family for all their support of NUCDF since Mya's diagnosis, and for participating in UCD research studies to move the ball forward!

February 28, 2019 NUCDF RARE DISEASE DAY VIDEO: Commemorating Rare Disease Day around the world, focusing on raising awareness of the challenges faced by UCD patients and families.

February 28, 2019 Meet Kristy: Affected by UCD, Kristy "shows her Rare," and shares her story for Rare Disease Day 2019. Thank you, Kristy!

March 4, 2019 UCD? MEET YOUR NEW BEST FRIEND - NUCDF ANNOUNCES MYUCD DIET®: Medical professionals stopping by our exhibit at the Society for Inborn Errors of Metabolism (SIMD) meeting got a sneak peak at our new UCD diet management mobile app debuting this summer, designed specifically for UCD patients and families. Three years in development with input from UCD experts, families and patients, the project also includes a portal for dietitians to help manage and monitor diet changes, and a research portal to facilitate new studies on nutritional issues in UCD. Meet MyUCD Diet® at the NUCDF Family Conference! Sign up for MyUCD Diet® alerts and launch date.

More News and Announcements Archive

Do you need help or information on understanding or managing UCD? We're here to help you! Email us at

February 28, 2018 NUCDF RARE DISEASE DAY VIDEO: Honoring UCD families and their contributions to research, and raising awareness to over 4,900 on our NUCDF Facebook Page.

February 28, 2018 JACKSON FUKUDA WINS RARE ARTIST AWARD: Affected with the rare UCD, arginase deficiency, Jackson used his artistic talent to raise awareness of UCD. Jackson's artwork was displayed at the Rare Artist Reception in Washington DC as part of Rare Disease Day on Capitol Hill. We're so proud of you, Jackson!

November 27, 2017 AND THE NEED FOR BLOOD AMMONIA TESTING IN THE EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT: Swift identification of elevated ammonia levels in the ER is needed to save lives. Zoey was a beautiful, spirited 19-year-old college student who lost her life to undiagnosed OTC deficiency. In Zoey's memory, her family has partnered with NUCDF to help raise awareness and educate medical professionals on the need to obtain blood ammonia levels.  "...Every medical student Every intern Every physician Every physician assistant Every nurse Every healthcare provider Every resident assistant Every coach Every one should see this video," says Lorraine Potocki, MD, FACMG, Professor, Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine.

August 18, 2017 CNN.com WOMAN SUFFERS FATAL HYPERAMMONEMIA FROM UNDIAGNOSED OTC DEFICIENCY AFTER INGESTING HIGH-PROTEIN FOODS AND PROTEIN SUPPLEMENTS FOR BODYBUILDING: Symptoms of urea cycle disorder went unrecognized as young mother, Meegan Hefford, prepared for a bodybuilding competition. Undiagnosed urea cycle disorders can be triggered by high-protein diets, resulting in excessive ammonia levels in the bloodstream. Her death triggers a world-wide controversy over the risks of high-protein supplements.

April 27, 2017 NEW YORK TIMES YOUNG COLLEGE STUDENT DIES FROM UNDIAGNOSED OTC DEFICIENCY:  Despite reporting stomach pains and vomiting to emergency room personnel, a young woman dies from hyperammonemia due to undiagnosed OTC deficiency. A simple test in the ER - an ammonia level - could have saved her life. 

July 25, 2017 CLINICAL TRIAL FOR ASA/ASL TREATMENT OPEN FOR ENROLLMENT: The long-awaited clinical trial "Effect of Nitric Oxide Supplementation on Neurocognitive Functions in Patients With Argininosuccinate Lyase Deficiency/Argininosuccinic Aciduria (ASLD/ASA)" is now open for enrollment at Baylor College of Medicine (one of the UCD Research Consortium clinical research sites) in Houston, Texas. A result of their pioneering discovery on the role of the urea cycle in regulating nitric oxide in the human body, the study is being conducted by Dr. Sandesh Nagamani and Dr. Brendan Lee to assess the effects of nitric oxide supplementation on general cognition, memory, executive functioning, and fine motor functioning in individuals with ASLD. DETAILS AND ELIGIBILITY

January 28, 2017 ARGINASE DEFICIENCY CLINICAL TRIAL: Pharmaceutical industry sponsored clinical trial recruiting participants to test safety and effectiveness of enzyme replacement therapy for Arginase Deficiency. Clinical trial and eligibility information here. What is a Phase I/II clinical trial here.

September 2016 NUCDF FUNDS TWO NEW UCD CLINICAL RESEARCH SITES at Stanford/Lucile Packard Children's and University of California San Francisco. Both sites will be part of our National Institutes of Health (NIH) Rare Diseases Clinical Research Network Urea Cycle Disorders Consortium (UCDC). The UCDC is an international research network with 14 academic centers in the US, Canada and Europe providing state-of-the-art care and conducting cutting-edge UCD research. The UCDC is a collaborative partnership between the NIH, UCD clinicians, researchers and the National Urea Cycle Disorders Foundation to improve knowledge of UCDs, speed development of new treatments and clinical trials, and train the next generation of researchers.

Support the Fight to Conquer Urea Cycle Disorders

"IN TRIBUTE TO HER SON, CROY, OTC deficiency MOM DEBI WEST INSPIRES HER ART STUDENTS TO SUPPORT OUR CAUSE"

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