IndoUSrare and GORD Foundation are honored to announce the 2026 Abbey Meyers Khushi Bridging RARE Award Honorees:
Rare Disease is a global problem, a human problem, and the individuals below have all contributed to making the rare disease world a better place. Patient Worthy shares in congratulating them for their work, dedication and contributions.
- ANISH BHATNAGAR
Advancing Innovation Where Patients Need It Most
A leader in orphan drug development, Dr. Anish Bhatnagar is being recognized for his commitment to advancing therapies for underserved rare disease populations and his leadership in the Prader-Willi syndrome community.
He led the team at Soleno Therapeutics that developed Vykat XR, the first FDA-approved treatment for Prader-Willi syndrome.
- SUMATHI IYENGAR
Turning a Family’s Journey Into a Movement
When her son, Amalan, was diagnosed with Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome (WAS), Dr. Sumathi Iyengar transformed her family’s search for answers into a mission of collective action.
By connecting families, physicians and researchers, she helped build the community that became the Wiskott-Aldrich Foundation. For more than a decade, her advocacy has strengthened the patient voice across research and therapeutic development – building bridges between families, clinicians, researchers, regulators and therapy developers.
- KUMARASAMY THANGARAJ
Connecting Genomic Discovery to Patient Diagnosis
With more than three decades of groundbreaking work in population genetics, mitochondrial science and rare neuromuscular disorders.
Dr. Kumarasamy Thangaraj has helped advance the understanding and diagnosis of rare diseases.
His research on endogamy and founder effects has contributed to advances in rare disease diagnosis, screening and precision medicine.
His leadership across major initiatives – including GenomeIndia, the Paediatric Rare Genetic Disease mission and the Society for Mitochondrial Research and Medicine – has helped advance genomic diagnosis in India while contributing to global genomic research.
A recipient of the Vigyan Shri (2025) and Padma Shri (2026), his work represents the powerful intersection of discovery, collaboration and patient impact.
