Date

16–17 June 2026

Location

The Cyprus Institute of Neurology & Genetics Nicosia, Cyprus

Language

English

Date

16–17 June 2026

Location

The Cyprus Institute of Neurology & Genetics Nicosia, Cyprus

Language

English

Advancement of Treatments for Rare Diseases

The Cyprus Institute of Neurology & Genetics and the Deputy Ministry of Research, Innovation and Digital Policy, are organising the conference “Advancement of Treatments for Rare Diseases” on 16-17 June 2026, at the Amphitheater, The Cyprus Institute of Neurology & Genetics Nicosia, Cyprus.

Rare Diseases affect approximately 30 million people across the European Union and present unique challenges due to their complexity, rarity, and limited treatment options. Advancing research, improving access to innovative therapies, and strengthening collaboration across Europe are essential to improving outcomes for patients and their families.
The two-day event will highlight the EU’s ambition to make Europe a global leader in life sciences by 2030 and will focus on translating research and policy initiatives into tangible benefits for Rare Disease patients through better prevention, diagnosis, and treatment.

THE CONFERENCE

The Conference will feature the following key themes:

  • Strengthening EU Collaboration for Rare Diseases
  • Advancing Research, Innovation & Therapeutic Development
  • Improving Regulatory Frameworks for Orphan Drugs
  • Ensuring Accessibility, Equity & Patient-Centred Care
  • Enhancing Data Infrastructure, Security & Digital Innovation

WHO WILL ATTEND

The target audience includes government ministries and public authorities; healthcare providers and clinical experts; researchers and the scientific community; representatives from the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industry; patient organisations and advocacy groups; data, digital health, and technology specialists; health economics, ethics, and legal experts; European funding bodies and research agencies; NGOs; and other high-level multi-stakeholder representatives.

Speakers

Carmen Laplaza Santos

Head of Unit, Health Innovations & Ecosystems DG Research & Innovation, European Commission

Leonidas Phylactou

Chief Executive Officer & Medical Director, The Cyprus Institute of Neurology & Genetics

Michael Komodromos

President of the Board of Directors, The Cyprus Institute of Neurology & Genetics

Olivér Várhelyi

EC Health, Animal Welfare Commissioner

Nicodemos Damianou

Deputy Minister of Research, Innovation and Digital Policy, Republic of Cyprus (on behalf of the President of the Republic)

Séamus Boland

President, European Economic and Social Committee

Stella Kyriakides

Former Commissioner for Health and Food Safety, European Commission

Milena Angelova

Member, European Economic and Social Committee, Raporteur of the opinion

Francois Lamy

Vice president, AFM-Téléthon

Virginie Hivert

Acting CEO and Head of Therapies and Access at EURORDIS

Menelaos Pipis

Senior Neurologist, Head of the Neuropathology Department, The Cyprus Institute of Neurology & Genetics

Donata Meroni

Head of Unit, ‘Health Monitoring and Cooperation, Health Networks, European Commission

Holm Graessner

Lancet Commissioner, Centre for Rare Diseases, University Hospital Tübingen, Germany and Coordinator of ERN-RND

Daria Julkowska

Scientific Coordinator, European Rare Diseases Research Alliance (ERDERA)

Violetta Anastasiadou

Chair, Cyprus National Committee, Rare Diseases

Carsten W. Lederer

Senior Scientist, Head, Blood Disorders Genetics and Thalassaemia Department,The Cyprus Institute of Neurology & Genetics

Priya Singhal

Head of Development, Biogen

Nicolas Nicolaides

University of Cyprus

Karin Knobe

Senior Vice President, Global Head of Rare Diseases, Sanofi

Demetris Skourides

Chief Scientist for Research, Innovation and Technology, Republic of Cyprus

Anton Ussi

Coordinator of REMEDI4All

Birute Tumiene

Coordinator for Competence Centres, Vilnius University Hospital Santaros Klinikos

Petros Petrou

Senior Scientist, Head of the Biochemical Genetics Department, The Cyprus Institute of Neurology & Genetics

Hélène Le Borgne

Policy Officer, DG Research and Innovation, European Commission

Andri Papadopoulou

Scientific Officer, Joint Research Centre, European Commission

Giedrė Kvedaravičienė

Director, Lithuanian Population and Rare Diseases Biobank

Luca Sangiorgi

Coordinator, Rizzoli Orthopaedic Institute & Coordinator, ERN-BOND

Allan Fred Byamukama

Executive Director, Founder, Byamukama Sickle Cell Foundation

Anne‑Sophie Lapointe

French representative, ERN Board of Member States

Christine Leopold

Pharmaceutical system and Policy Researcher, Utrecht Center, Pharmaceutical Policy & Regulation / WHO Collaborating Center

Panikos Voskos

President of Muscular Dystrophy Association

Marina Vasiliou

President and Managing Director, Biogen France

Spyros Polyviou

Director, Cyprus Alliance for Rare Disorders

Harald Schmidt

Coordinator of REPO4EU

Programme

Day 1

08:00- 08:30
Registration and Coffee

Opening and Welcome Notes

08:35- 08:40
Welcome Note and Endorsement

(pre-recorded video)

08:50-09:05
The Role of CING in Caring for Patients with Rare Diseases: Clinical Excellence and Research Innovation

Session 1: Current Landscape and Unmet Needs in Rare Diseases

09:05- 09:15
Address/Statement: Overview of the Rare Disease Landscape in Cyprus by the Ministry of Health
09:20-09:35
European Research on Rare Diseases: A Long-Standing Commitment to make Europe a Leader at Global Level
09:35-09:50
Witnessing and Implementing Change Over the Past 2 Decades: The European Commission’s Action on Rare Diseases and Therapy Development
09:50-10:00
The European Economic and Social Committee’s Exploratory Opinion on the Advancement of Treatments for Rare Diseases
10:00- 10:15
EURORDIS’ Role in Facilitating Therapies for Rare Diseases (Virtually)
10:45- 11:15
Coffee Break

Session 2: A Framework for Developing Rationally-Designed Therapies for Rare Diseases

11:15- 11:30
Funding and Patient Advocacy Organisations Spearheading the Effort Against Rare Diseases
11:30- 11:45
A European Inventory of Rare Diseases Through the Scope of ERNs
11:45- 12:00
The Current State of Affairs for Developing Rational Therapies for Rare Diseases
12:00 – 12:15
ERDERA Research Initiatives for Therapy Development in Rare Diseases
12:15 – 12:25
European Networking for Rare: Equity or Justice?
13:10-14:15
Lunch Break

Session 3: Drug Discovery, Development and Re-purposing in Rare Diseases

14:15- 14:30
Building on Knowledge and Lessons Learnt: Developing Nusinersen for SMA (Virtually)
14:30- 14:45
Regulatory Considerations for Rare Disease Drug Development and Approval
15:00 – 15:15
Developing Therapies for Rare Paediatric Endorcine Disorders
15:15 - 15:30
Coffee Break
15:30-15:45
The Role of Artificial Intelligence in Drug Discovery and Repurposing
15:45-16:00
Network Medicine and Pharmacology for Rare Diseases
16:00-16:15
Innovative Platform-Based Approach for Sustainable Repurposing of Medicines for Rare Diseases
16:15-16:30
A Clinical Model for Interdisciplinary Sharing of Knowledge and Innovation for the Development of Rare Diseases Therapies (virtually)
17:15
End of Conference Day 1

Day 2

08:00- 08:30
Registration and Coffee

Session 4: Becoming Trial-Ready for Rare Diseases Therapies

08:30- 08:45
Introducing Initiatives to Bring more Clinical Trials to Europe
08:45- 09:00
The European Platform on Rare Disease Registration: Connecting Data, Accelerating Care Pathways and Enabling Research
09:00 – 09:15
Amplifying Patient and Public Involvement in Small Rare Diseases Ecosystems
09:15- 09:30
National Biobanks for Population and Rare Disease Research
09:30 – 09:45
Considerations in the Development of Sensitive Outcome Measures Needed to Track the Natural History of Rare Diseases (Virtually)
09:45- 10:00
Clinical Trials From the Patients’ Perspective
10:45-11:15
Coffee Break

Session 5: Rollout of Efficacious Therapies: Access and Infrastructure Considerations

11:15- 11:30
Infrastructure Considerations for Delivering Therapies at Scale: France’s Example
11:30- 11:45
Mind the Access Gap: Cost-Effectiveness Aspirations Against Scientific Realities
11:45 – 12:00
Capacity Building and Interdisciplinary Training for Delivering Novel Therapies in Secondary Care Comprehensive Healthcare Facilities
12:00- 12:15
Health Technology Assessment and Innovative Payment Models for Therapies for Rare Diseases (Virtually)
12:15- 12:30
Competitive (mis)pricing in Small Markets: An Example of DMD Therapies
13:30 – 17:00
Networking Cocktail & Farewell at The CING Premises