Uncommon Cures
Uncommon Cures
Uncommon Cures
Require An Uncommon Approach

Uncommon Cures® Require Uncommon Sense(SM)

A Rare Disease Development & Execution Partner

Uncommon Cures helps sponsors design the right trial, make it clinical-ready, and execute it through a patient-centered, physician-led model built for the realities of rare disease.
For Sponsors For Patients & Families
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How Uncommon Cures Helps

Rare disease needs a different approach

Traditional clinical trial models are often not built for the realities of rare disease. Small patient populations, complex conditions, caregiver burden, and high-stakes decisions require more than a standard process. Uncommon Cures was built to meet that challenge. We develop each program around the disease, the therapy, the patient population, and the practical realities of trial participation so studies are better designed, better prepared, and better executed.

For Sponsors & Pharma Partners

Design, prepare, and execute rare disease clinical trials with continuity from strategy through delivery.

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For Patients & Families

Learn what to expect, explore our facility, and find information about current trial opportunities.

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What We Do

Design. Make Clinical-Ready. Execute.

Uncommon Cures supports rare disease programs across the full trial lifecycle, helping sponsors move from early strategy to operational readiness to real-world execution.

Design

We help shape rare disease trials from the start with thoughtful study design, meaningful endpoints, and practical planning grounded in the realities of the disease and patient population.

Make Clinical-Ready

We turn strategy into a plan that can actually go to clinic, aligning the people, processes, and infrastructure needed to move forward with confidence.

Execute

We run studies with continuity, accountability, and patient-centered operations, helping sponsors move from protocol to execution without losing the intent behind the design.
How Uncommon Cures Helps

Why sponsors choose Uncommon Cures

Sponsors turn to Uncommon Cures when rare disease expertise, continuity, and execution accountability matter more than a fragmented traditional model.

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Rare Disease Focus

Our model is built specifically for the scientific, operational, and patient recruitment realities that make rare disease trials fundamentally different.

 

Design + Execution Under One Model

We help shape the strategy and support delivery, so the intent behind the trial is not lost between planning and execution.

Physician-Led Leadership

Clinical insight stays connected to operational decision-making, helping programs move forward with stronger judgment and better alignment.

Patient-Centered Trial Planning

Patient and caregiver burden are considered from the beginning so studies are more practical, more accessible, and more likely to succeed.

Operational Readiness

We help turn strategy into a real-world plan with the right structure, support, and preparation to move into clinic confidently.

Flexible Partnership Model

We can support sponsors at different stages of development, whether they need end-to-end partnership or targeted rare disease expertise.

 

A more supportive clinical trial experience

For many families, joining a clinical trial means uncertainty, travel, and walking into an unfamiliar setting. Uncommon Cures is built to make that experience more informed, more personal, and less institutional than the typical hospital research environment.

Information for Patients & Families
Our Facility

See the environment behind the model

Our facility is an important part of how we support both patient experience and trial execution. It gives families a clearer sense of what to expect and gives sponsors a firsthand view of the space, capabilities, and environment behind our work.

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Our Team

Experienced operators, not just advisors

Uncommon Cures brings together clinical expertise, rare disease experience, and operational leadership under one model. We are not just advising from a distance. We are helping sponsors build programs that can work in the real world and helping patients participate in a setting designed with intention.

Meet the Team
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Contact Uncommon Cures

Start the right conversation

Whether you are evaluating a rare disease program or looking for information as a patient or family member, we will help point you in the right direction.

Sponsors & Pharma Partners

Talk with our team about your program.
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Patients & Families

Explore trial opportunities and learn what to expect.
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General Inquiries

Reach out with a question or partnership inquiry

Marshall Summar, MD

Chief Executive Officer

A clinical geneticist with nearly 40 years of experience in rare disease research, Dr. Summar has been involved in more than 100 clinical trials. He was the founding Director of the Rare Disease Institute at Children’s National Hospital in Washington, DC, and also chaired the Board of the National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD). Dr. Summar is internationally recognized as a leading authority in the field of rare disease research, and his deep insight into both patient care and clinical trial
inefficiencies inspired the creation of Uncommon Cures.

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Rob Kathol

President & COO

Driven by a passion for problem solving and a desire to spark meaningful change, Rob’s approach to business mirrors his approach to life: Lead with candor, resilience and empathy, and never stray from your values. It’s this ethos, combined with a fierce dedication to delivering measurable, sustainable value, that defines his leadership and advisory work.
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Chuck Bucklar

Chief Business Officer

A pharmaceutical industry veteran with 25+ years of commercial experience, Chuck Bucklar leads Uncommon Cures’ business development and sponsor relations efforts. He brings to the role a keen eye for aligning trial design with market access needs, having worked on numerous rare disease product launches. He often is the first point of contact for our clients, guiding them in how Uncommon Cures can tailor solutions to their programs.

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Alan M. Freeman, Esq.

Chief Strategy Officer & General Counsel

A corporate attorney with nearly 30 years of experience in boardrooms and courtrooms, Mr. Freeman provides both strategic and legal counsel to Uncommon Cures. In addition to supervising governance, contracting and human resource functions, he leads the company’s federal and state government relations initiatives and plays a key role in developing our international footprint. While focused on aligning Uncommon Cures’ legal and business strategies, Alan’s approach emphasizes collaboration, actionable solutions and sustainable growth.

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Shan Lu, CPA, MBA

Chief Financial Officer

A finance professional with 15 years in biotech and drug development finance, Shan Lu ensures Uncommon Cures’ financial health. She oversees all financial management, planning and reporting functions, including the budget for each clinical trial – always prioritizing efficiency and quality. Her background in the life sciences sector enables her to bring sound financial management to each trial.

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Kerri Gallagher, BSN, RN

Vice President of Clinical Operations

Kerri Gallagher oversees all clinical activities related to study execution. She leads feasibility assessments, protocol reviews, and operational planning to ensure trials are practical, efficient, and patient-centered. She brings 10+ years of leadership experience in emergency nursing at Children’s National Hospital in Washington, DC, along with more than two years in organ transplant and procurement operations. Her background provides a strong foundation for managing complex, high-stakes clinical
environments.

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Tamanna Roshan Lal, MB ChB, MBA

Chief Medical Officer

A triple board-certified metabolic geneticist with 15+ years of experience in rare metabolic disorders and clinical trials, Dr. Roshan Lal previously served as Director of Clinical Trials at the Rare Disease Institute of Children’s National Hospital in Washington, DC, where she managed numerous rare disease studies. As Chief Medical Officer of Uncommon Cures, she works closely with our clients to design clinical trial protocols, and she provides medical oversight to our clinical operations, often
serving as Principal Investigator for our in-house trials.

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Juan Francisco Cabello, MD

Senior Vice President, Latin America

A leading neurologist with 20+ years of clinical trial experience in Latin America, Dr. Cabello expands Uncommon Cures’ reach and capabilities into Latin America, leveraging relationships with key medical centers and clinical communities. His expertise helps us accommodate diverse patient populations and regulatory environments, reinforcing our global approach.

Joshua Crago, Pharm.D.

Vice President of Pharmacy

A clinical pharmacist with 10+ years of experience in research pharmacy and pharmacology, Dr. Crago manages investigational product handling for all trials. His diligence ensures dosing accuracy and drug accountability across our studies.

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Laura Allan, BSN, RN

Director of Clinical Operations

Laura Allan is an experienced nurse with nearly 20 years in critical care and transport medicine, including support for clinical trials in both settings. She oversees our clinical trial coordinators and nursing staff, ensuring seamless execution of patient visits, data collection, and protocol compliance. Her deep commitment to patient-centric care reinforces our company’s values at every stage of the clinical trial process. Laura brings both expertise and empathy to her leadership role, fostering excellence across clinical operations.