Exhibit Dates: February 1–February 28, 2026
About the Exhibit
This art exhibit, located on the first floor of the library, featured nearly 30 portraits of children living with life-altering diseases, painted by artists from all over the world. The portraits were on loan from Beyond the Diagnosis, a nonprofit organization which unites art and science to raise awareness for children living with life-altering diseases. We are honored to be able to host a selection of pieces each year in February, which is Rare Disease Month. This exhibit and the corresponding event series was co-sponsored in 2026 by the Undiagnosed Diseases Network.
As a reminder, the Harvard ID community is invited to visit our exhibit space on the first floor of the library anytime the building is open, and members of the public are welcome to visit the exhibit on the weekends (see our access policies and hours). Please email us with any questions about the exhibit.
Celebrate With Us
The following events were held at Countway to celebrate this exhibit and the important work being done on the topic of rare diseases.
Opening Reception and Portrait Unveiling
Saturday, February 7, 2026, 11 am
The Undiagnosed Diseases Network and Countway Library invite you to join us for the grand opening of the exhibit and the unveiling of the newest portrait in the Beyond the Diagnosis collection!
Film Screening: UNDIAGNOSED
Thursday, February 12, 2026, 5:30–8 pm
UNDIAGNOSED is a nine-time award winning documentary that brings forward remarkable cutting-edge science and compelling human drama to shine a light on a widespread but little-known issue devastating families across the world: undiagnosed illnesses.
Frameshift with Alistair Ward
Tuesday, February 17, 2026, 5:30–6:30 pm
Join us for an industry-focused research lecture with the CEO of Frameshift Labs, who will share his journey from academic science to leading an industry research company. He’ll delve into the buzzword of “innovation,” exploring how tangible progress is often made from incremental improvements. He will demonstrate how Frameshift is used and highlight how his work connects with the UDN to show how collaborative projects and long-term partnerships can drive meaningful advances in rare disease research.
Click here to view the Frameshift event recording.
Rare Disease Day 2026: Patient & Provider Dialogue with Special Guests
Wednesday, February 25, 2026, 6–7:30 pm
The Undiagnosed Diseases Network and Countway Library invite you to join us for an interactive panel discussion with people living with rare, ultrarare, and undiagnosed diseases. Featuring opening remarks from Harvard Medical School Dean George Q. Daley.
Click here to view the Rare Disease Day 2026 recording.
Visit the Exhibit
Open to Harvard ID holders daily (building hours)
Open to community members Saturday-Sunday (access policies)
Meet Our Partners
About the Undiagnosed Diseases Network
Every year hundreds of patients face uncertainty when healthcare providers are unable to discover the cause for their symptoms. The Undiagnosed Diseases Network (UDN) is a research study funded by the National Institutes of Health. Its purpose is to bring together clinical and research experts from across the United States to solve the most challenging medical mysteries using advanced technologies. Through this study, we hope to both help individual patients and families living with the burden of undiagnosed diseases, and contribute to the understanding of how the human body works.
About the Beyond the Diagnosis Organization
Beyond the Diagnosis unites art and science to bridge the knowledge gap in healthcare, promote inclusivity, and raise awareness for children living with life-altering diseases. Artists paint portraits of these children; the portraits then become part of a traveling exhibit for medical schools, research institutes, hospitals, galleries, and museums. The main exhibit currently consists of 150 portraits representing children living with life-altering diseases. Beyond the Diagnosis continues to educate the medical community improving patient care and health outcomes, raise public awareness encouraging inclusivity, understanding, and compassion toward children affected by life-altering conditions, and empower families by fostering a sense of community and belonging.