The inaugural Indo US Bridging RARE Summit was held at the George Mason University, Arlington, VA on Oct 29- 30 2023.
The Summit featured talks and discussions highlighting the way ahead for global collaborations to accelerate orphan drug development. The event also honored the work of pioneers and stalwarts, Dr. Ishwar Chander Verma and Dr. William A. Gahl as the first recipients of the Abbey Meyers Khushi Bridging RARE Award for their groundbreaking work to foster cross-border collaborations in the field of rare genetic and undiagnosed diseases between US, India, and globally.
The conference attracted over 350 attendees both in person and virtually and received positive feedback and support for the Summit's goals from participants and key stakeholders including US Congressman Gerald Connolly, member of the Rare Disease Congressional Caucus; Senator Mark Warner, Co-chair of the India Senate Caucus; Shri Taranjit Singh Sandhu, Indian Ambassador to the US; and Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith, also a member of the bilateral and bicameral Rare Disease Caucus.