Don and Allison attended the Cambridge International Rare Disease Summit 2016 on 25th October 2016. Progam for the day centred around:

• What can Cambridge contribute to global efforts in rare disease research?
• Who’s leading the way in collaborative, innovative research, treatment and care for those with rare diseases?
• How can we put patients and their families at the centre of all discussions?

We heard from those leading the way in rare diseases at the Cambridge International Rare Disease Summit 2016.

Following the sell-out success of its first summit in 2015, the Cambridge Rare Disease Network once again brought international leaders and local experts together in Cambridge to bridge the gap between research, industry, business and patient groups.

Anchored by powerful patient voices, this one-day conference explored:

• international rare disease innovations
• new rare disease initiatives on the horizon
• innovations in health
• engaging and collaborating with pharma.

A wide delegate base, representing academia, healthcare, industry, business, patients support groups and more allowed delegates to explore potential collaborations and gain a broader understanding of opportunities in rare diseases.

Read our blog here.

• Avril Daly, Vice President of EURORDIS
• Dr Andy Richards – Serial Biotech Entrepreneur and Chairman of Ixico
• Dr Jonathan Milner, Co-Founder and Chairman of Abcam
• Ben Howlett MP, Chair of All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on rare, genetic and un-diagnosed conditions
• Prof Patrick Maxwell, Regius Professor of Physic and Head of the School of Clinical Medicine of the University of Cambridge
• Dr Tim Guilliams, CEO of Healx and Founding Director of CRDN
• Alastair Kent, OBE, Director of Rare Disease UK and Genetic Alliance UK, incoming Chair of CRDN
• Dr Paul Tunnah, CEO and Founder of Pharmaphorum media
• Dr Nick Sireau, Chairman of AKU Society and Findacure
• Dr Olivier Menzel, President and Founder of BLACKSWAN Foundation, Switzerland
• Dr Alex MacKenzie, CARE for RARE and Vice-Dean Research for the Department of Pediatrics at CHEO, Canada
• Dr Larissa Kerecuk, Rare Disease Lead at Birmingham Children’s Hospital
• Karsten R. Barton, Head of Department, Frambu – Centre for Rare Disorders, Norway