This webinar took place on January 13th, 2026, and spotlighted how RealiseD project pioneered a collaborative, end‑to‑end approach to clinical trials in ultra‑rare diseases. During the session, we guided participants through the project’s objectives, structure, and methodologies—and showcased how they could contribute to this transformative movement.
This interactive session:
- Explored the unique challenges of conducting trials in ultra‑rare diseases
- Ignited early‑stage collaboration among stakeholders
- Identified current obstacles and uncovered practical, actionable solutions
- Aligned participants around shared principles for interpreting URD data
Agenda
- Introduction– by Kathy Williams, Executive Director, Global Regulatory Affairs, AstraZeneca, and RealiseD project lead
- Presentation – by Ralf-Dieter Hilgers, Professor at SFU and RealiseD coordinator
- Discussion Pannel
- Solange Corriol – Independent consultant in Regulatory Affairs and Policy
- Donato Bonifazi – CEO of Consorzio per Valutazioni Biologiche e Farmacologiche
- Helene Le Borgne – Policy Officer at European Commission
- Audience Q&A
- Closure
About RealiseD
RealiseDis an Innovative Health Initiative lead y Sigmund Freud Private University and AstraZeneca that unites nearly 40 partners from academia, regulatory bodies, clinical research institutes and hospitals, patient organisations, pharmaceutical companies or European Research Infrastructures to establish new gold standards for clinical trials in rare and ultra-rare diseases.