Day 1 – 16/06/2026
08:00- 08:30
Registration and Coffee
Opening and Welcome Notes
08:30-08:35
Welcome Note and Scope of the Conference
Welcome Note and Endorsement
08:35- 08:40
Welcome Note and Endorsement
(pre-recorded video)
08:40- 08:50
Welcome Address
08:50-09:00
Overview of the Rare Disease Landscape in Cyprus
Ministry of Health Representative
09:00- 09:15
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
09:15- 09:20
Message (Pre-Recorded Video)
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)
10:15 – 10:45
Panel Discussion: Creating a Union of Opportunity for Rare Diseases Therapy Development
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?
12:25 - 13:10
Panel Discussion: Creating Incentives and Overcoming Bottlenecks in Rare Drug Development
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
—-
14:45 – 15:00
Developing Therapies for Rare Paediatric Endorcine Disorders
15:00-15:15
Chasing Miracles of Science: Accelerating Innovation in Rare Disease Medicines (Virtually)
15:15-15:30
The Role of Artificial Intelligence in Drug Discovery and Repurposing
15:30-15:40
The End of Medicine As We Know It/AI, Network Medicine and Pharmacology for Rare Diseases
15:40-15:50
Innovative Platform-Based Approach for Sustainable Repurposing of Medicines for Rare Diseases
15:50-16:00
A Clinical Model for Interdisciplinary Sharing of Knowledge and Innovation for the Development of Rare Diseases Therapies
16:00-16:45
Panel Discussion: Synergies in Academia and Industry to Accelerate Drug Development
16:45
End of Conference Day 1