In Partnership with

Uniting the rare community to learn, collaborate, and drive change for patients and families.

November 17-18, 2026

Children’s Mercy Research Institute
Big Slick Auditorium

2026 Speakers

Nicole Crump

Founder & Executive Director
RESTkc

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J. Andrea Sierra Delgado, MD

Assistant Research Professor
Mizzou NextGen Precision Health
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Yatin Gokarn, PhD

Senior Vice President, Product Development and Clinical Supply
Alexion, AstraZeneca Rare Disease

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Allison Foss

Executive Director
Myasthenia Gravis Association
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Tomoo Iwakuma, MD, PhD

Tomoo Iwakuma, MD, PhD
Professor and Endowed Chair for The Braden’s Hope for Childhood Cancer in Pediatric Molecular Oncology,
Associate Director of Academic Career Development,
Center for Molecular Oncology and Cellular Therapeutics,
Children’s Mercy Research Institute
Children’s Mercy Hospital
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Zach Leeker

Newborn Screening Follow-up Program Manager
University of Iowa
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Matt Sanford

Executive Director
MU Research Reactor
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Kim Stanley

Executive Director
Braden’s Hope for Childhood Cancer
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