From Saturday, February 28 to Sunday, March 1, 2026, join us for Harvard Undergraduate Rare Diseases’ (HURD) 2026 HackRare Hackathon, a dynamic weekend where students collaborate to develop innovative, data-driven solutions for rare diseases. Complemented by keynote presentations and patient lightning talks, participants analyze genomic and clinical data to create impactful deliverables—such as data reports, business proposals, computational tools, and web or mobile applications—that improve patient outcomes or advance rare disease research.

Participants will register for one of three tracks aligned with the rare disease patient journey: Genomic Diagnostics, Therapeutic Targets, or Symptom Management. Teams may work within focused problem statements (released Friday, February 27, 2026) or pursue open-ended projects aligned with their chosen track. Following a 3-minute live presentation and 2-minute Q&A with judges, one winning team per track will be selected and awarded a $2,000 cash prize.

Participation is free and open to all undergraduate and graduate students with an @_.edu email address, regardless of geographic location. Participants will work in teams of 2-5 students and may form teams independently or connect via the event Slack channel, which will be shared closer to the event.

The hackathon will be held in-person at Harvard’s Student Organization Center at Hilles (SOCH) in Cambridge, MA. Participants are responsible for their own transportation, though students may apply for subsidized travel through the NORD Scholars Program. Meals will be provided throughout the event. The venue will be open 24/7, including overnight, for participants to work and rest.

Registration is free, first-come, first-served, with limited capacity for approximately 60 teams. Participant eligibility will be reviewed, and all registrants will be asked to confirm attendance closer to the event.

General registration closes Sunday, February 15, 2026 at 11:59 PM EST.
The NORD Scholars Program application is now closed.