Uncommon Cures
Uncommon Cures
For Sponsors & Pharma Partners

Built to make rare disease trials work

Uncommon Cures helps sponsors move from rare disease development strategy into clinical readiness and trial execution through a patient-centered, physician-led model built for the realities of rare disease.

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Rare disease needs a different model

Rare disease does not fit a standard clinical trial model

Traditional clinical trial approaches are often not built for rare disease. Small patient populations, complex conditions, caregiver burden, and limited room for error require a more thoughtful path from the beginning.

Uncommon Cures was built for that reality. We help shape programs around the disease, the therapy, the patient population, and the practical realities of participation so studies are better designed, better prepared, and better executed.

When to bring us in

When sponsors typically engage Uncommon Cures

Preclinical To First-In-Human Planning

When the science is encouraging, the preclinical work is in place, and it is time to start building the clinical path.

Protocol Strategy And Study Design

When the trial needs to be built around rare disease realities, not forced into a conventional template.​

Regulatory Preparation

When early FDA engagement, clear positioning, and practical planning matter.<BR><BR><BR>

Study Startup and Readiness

When the work needs to move from concept into a real operational plan. 

Clinical Execution

When continuity, patient experience, and accountable delivery are critical to success. 

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 we work with sponsors

True partnership, not hand-offs

Sponsors engage Uncommon Cures either as the core development and execution partner or as an integrated part of an ongoing effort. The goal is continuity across the full lifecycle so what is designed can realistically be delivered.

Strategy, readiness, and execution stay connected. Administrative burden is reduced through a more streamlined model. Centralized medical and operational leadership helps maintain consistency, speed, and accountability across locations. And because the infrastructure is scalable, the model can support highly specialized studies as well as broader global efforts.

  • One contract, one IRB
  • Full lifecycle consistency
  • Centralized oversight
  • Scalable infrastructure

Connected
from planning
to delivery

Why Us

Why sponsors choose Uncommon Cures

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

Rare disease focus

Rare disease is not a side practice here. The model is built specifically around the scientific, operational, and recruitment realities that make these programs different.

Design + execution

Tightly connected teams reduce downstream risk by keeping strategy and operations aligned from the start.

Physician-led model

Clinical judgment stays close to operational decision-making, improving consistency and accountability across studies.

Faster study readiness

Contracting, IRB coordination, and startup planning are handled efficiently so momentum is not lost between design and execution.

Global from one hub

Centralized management with strategically connected sites helps sponsors reach rare patient populations across regions.

Flexibility

Support can expand or contract based on the real-world needs of the program as development evolves.

Let’s talk about your program

If you are preparing for clinical development in rare disease and need a partner who can help shape, prepare, and execute the work with continuity, let’s start the conversation.
Contact Uncommon Cures
Execution environment and reach

Execution capabilities built for real-world delivery

Uncommon Cures combines site-level execution capability with centralized medical and operational leadership, giving sponsors a model that is practical on the ground and coordinated at a broader level. Trials can be conducted at UC facilities or in collaboration with additional sites under unified oversight, depending on the needs of the program. This gives sponsors a partner that can support specialized rare disease studies while still building toward broader execution where needed.
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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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FAQ

Common questions about working with Uncommon Cures

Clear answers to common questions about how we support rare disease clinical development and trial execution.
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When should we engage Uncommon Cures?
We are typically most valuable when a program is moving from promising preclinical science toward clinical reality. That is often the point when sponsors need support shaping the clinical path, refining the protocol, preparing for regulatory interaction, and getting operationally ready for execution.
No. We can serve as the primary study site, act as a coordinating center across multiple sites, or work in collaboration with external sites under unified oversight, depending on what the program requires.
Yes. We can serve as the core development and execution partner, or we can integrate into an existing effort where added rare disease expertise, clinical leadership, and operational support are needed.
Rare disease trials often involve small patient populations, high caregiver burden, complex conditions, and very little room for error. That means the protocol has to be practical, patient-centered, and built around the realities of participation rather than forced into a standard template.
How does your model reduce hand-offs?

We connect development strategy, trial readiness, and execution so what is designed can realistically be delivered. Instead of separating planning, startup, and execution into disconnected silos, we keep those stages aligned under one model.

Yes. We support programs through centralized oversight, scalable infrastructure, and strategically connected sites, allowing us to help with specialized studies as well as broader multi-site efforts.
Our first conversation usually focuses on where the program stands today, what stage of development it is approaching, what support is needed across design, readiness, and execution, and how we may best fit into the effort.

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.