Rare Diseases and Rare Cancers in the Era of Systems Biology Symposium
Save the Date: November 12-13, 2025
The Mellowes Center 3rd annual symposium, "Rare Diseases and Rare Cancers in the Era of Systems Biology," will be held on Wednesday and Thursday, November 12-13, 2025 as a two-day hybrid event featuring seminars and panel discussions from expert researchers and clinicians in four focus areas: From Mechanisms to Medicine in Mitochondiral Diseases, Diagnostic Discovery of Diseases, Human Diseases of the Epigenome, and Functional Modeling and Validation of Disease Variants.
Our November symposium will bring together regional and international speakers to explore the current landscape and future directions of rare disease and rare cancer research, advocating for greater understanding and expanded therapeutic interventions.
We are eager to welcome all participants to our 3rd annual symposium, where we hoe to engage in new and insightful discussions and collaborations.

Register Now!
Don't miss out—click the link to register for our 3rd annual Rare Disease and Rare Cancer Symposium!
Keynote Speakers
Marni Falk, MD is an attending physician and Executive Director, Mitochondrial Medicine Frontier Program at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. She also holds the Distinguished Endowed Chair in the Department of Pediatrics and is a Professor, Division of Human Genetics, Department of Pediatrics, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine.
Danny Miller, PhD is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Pediatrics, Division of Genetic Medicine, and the Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology at the University of Washington and is an attending physician at Seattle Children's Hospital.
Schedule of Events
Wednesday, November 12:
8:45-9:15am
Introduction and Welcome
9:15am-Noon
Panel Session 1: From Mechanisms to Medicine in Mitochondrial Diseases
Noon to 1:00pm
Lunch, Posters and Networking
1:00-2:00pm
Keynote Speaker Dr. Marni Falk, MD
2:15-5:00pm
Panel Session 2: Diagnostic Discovery of Diseases
5:00-6:30pm
Social hour, Posters, Networking
Thursday, November 13:
7:45-8:00am
Welcome
8:00-10:00am
Panel Session 3: Human Diseases of the Epigenome
10:15-11:15am
Keynote Speaker Dr. Danny Miller, PhD
11:30am-1:30pm
Rare Storytellers
1:30-2:30pm
Posters and Networking
2:30-5:00pm
Panel Session 4: Functional Modeling and Validation of Disease Variants
5:00-6:30pm
Social hour, Posters, Networking
Rare Storytellers Meets Milwaukee | Details Coming Soon
The Mellowes Center is proud to partner with Harmony 4 Hope, a nonprofit that brings together stories, songs, and science to educate, empower, and advance rare disease research.
We’re excited to bring you another inspiring Rare Storytellers event on Thursday, November 13 at 11:30 AM (CT).
Our featured storyteller and clinician are currently being finalized—please check back soon for updates!
Event Location
Medical College of Wisconsin
Bolger Auditorium, Health Research Center
8701 Watertown Plank Rd.
Milwaukee, WI 53226
All sessions are hybrid.
