September 5–6, 2025 — The Society for Novel and Rare Diseases (SNARE), in collaboration with the Centre of Excellence in Molecular Biology (CEMB), University of the Punjab, successfully organized the SNARE Summit 2025 under the theme “Leaving No One with Rare Diseases Behind.” Held at the Pearl Continental Hotel, Lahore, the summit brought together leading academics, clinicians, and researchers to discuss new insights, challenges, and collaborative strategies for addressing rare diseases in Pakistan.

The inaugural session featured distinguished addresses from Prof. Sajid Maqbool (Chief Guest & Patron-in-Chief, SNARE), Prof. Dr. Javed Akram (President, SNARE) Prof. Dr. Muhammad Ali (Vice Chancellor, University of the Punjab), Prof. Dr. Huma Cheema and Prof. Dr. Aftab Mohsin (Senior Vice President, SNARE), Prof. Ahsan Waheed Rathore (Vice Chancellor, UHS Lahore), Prof. Zia Ul Haq (Vice Chancellor, KMU Peshawar), Prof. Shabir Ahmed Lehri (Vice Chancellor, BUMHS Quetta), and Prof. Moazur Rahman (Director, CEMB). The speakers underscored the importance of strengthening national testing and research capacity, raising awareness, and building patient-centered care systems for rare and novel diseases.

The summit was preceded by a Pre-Conference Workshop on “Understanding Genetics and Rare Diseases” co-organized by SNARE and CEMB at the Sajid Maqbool Auditorium, University of Child Health Sciences, Lahore. Experts including Dr. Sadia Saeed (University of Lille, France), Ms Fizza Akbar (Aga Khan University), Prof. Dr. Saqib Mehmood (FMH), Prof. Jaida Manzoor (UCHS), and Dr. Afia Iqbal (Kinnaird College for Women University) shared their expertise. From CEMB, Dr. Asma Ali Khan and Dr. Azra Mehmood contributed significantly, presenting on Rare Disease Challenges in Pakistan, reinforcing CEMB’s commitment to advancing genetic research and cost-effective diagnostics.

On Day 2 of the summit, the Plenary Session was chaired by Prof. Tahir Masood, Prof. Aziz Ur Rehman, Prof. Salman Kirmani, Prof. Moazur Rahman, and Prof. Junaid Rashid, who guided in-depth discussions on clinical genetics and translational applications. Later, a session dedicated to Case Series and Case Presentations was chaired by Prof. Muhammad Yaqoob Qazi, Prof. Abbas Raza, Prof. Saqib Mehmood, Dr. Asma Ali Khan, and Dr. Azra Mehmood, showcasing real-world patient experiences and diagnostic insights.

The summit also featured poster presentations, encouraging young researchers and clinicians to present their work and exchange ideas with senior faculty.

With its multi-faceted program — from pre-conference workshops to plenary sessions, case-based discussions, and poster exhibitions — the SNARE Summit 2025 highlighted the urgent need for collaborative action on rare diseases in Pakistan. CEMB’s role as co-organizer and the active contributions of its faculty affirmed the institute’s leadership in bridging cutting-edge research with clinical solutions for rare disease patients.