Our Team

Meet Our Board

Khartik Uppalapati - President

Khartik Uppalapati is a dedicated leader committed to making a difference in his community.

In 2021, he was diagnosed with chronic lymphedema. This condition hasn’t deterred his passion for positive change.

As Founder of RareGen, Khartik brings a wealth of determination, knowledge, and drive to his role. Despite facing health challenges, he remains focused on giving back and supporting those in need.

With strong beliefs in fairness and inclusivity, Khartik advocates for equal opportunities for all. He understands the importance of community and works tirelessly to connect and empower individuals facing similar struggles.

Through his leadership, Khartik is determined to build a more compassionate and inclusive society for everyone.

Highlights of Khartik’s Advocacy & Debate Career:

Rare Disease Researcher @ Harvard Medical School, University of Pennsylvania, CCHMC
TedxYouth Organizer
Top 100 in US Debate

Viraj Kamath - Vice President

Viraj Kamath is a leader and highly passionate individual who is on a mission: giving back to his community. Viraj comes from humble beginnings, from being born with a rare liver disease known as PFIC, to having to move continents to the United States in order to be treated for his disease.

Viraj, recognizing the resources he has been blessed with, has made it his mission to provide to those that are in need.

As a Founder of RareGen, Viraj believes in the power of community, and strives to connect and support those facing similar struggles to him. Through his leadership, not only with RareGen, but in all things he does, Viraj aims to create a caring, equitable, and inclusive society for everyone.

Highlights of Viraj Kamath’s Advocacy & Working Career

Rare Disease and Public Health Researcher @ UT Austin, CCHMC
Former ASSIP Intern at GMU
Innovator @ 2024 Wharton x M&T Management and Technology: Summer Institute

Eeshan Dandamudi - Director of Research Operations

Eeshan Dandamudi is an innovative leader and dedicated advocate working to transform healthcare accessibility and policy.

Diagnosed with eosinophilic asthma at birth, he understands the challenges of living with a rare condition and has used his experiences to drive meaningful change. As a Director at RareGen, he has led initiatives to advance rare disease research and policy reform, collaborating with global health organizations to address healthcare disparities. Eeshan has bolstered Raregen’s representation across major global summits, including the United Nations Summit of the Future, and COP 29.

Eeshan has worked on AI-driven healthcare solutions, legislative advocacy, and international policy development, partnering with organizations such as the United Nations, WHO, and the European Commission to improve insurance accessibility, patient rights, and healthcare infrastructure for those with rare diseases. His work continues to push boundaries in public health innovation and global policy reform.

Highlights of Eeeshan Dandamudi’s Advocacy & Working Career

Won the Junior Science and Humanities Symposium (JSHS) Greater Washington DC Championship and NJSHS Oral Qualifier
3x qualifier as a Gold Public Forum Debater at the Tournament of Champions (Top 150, once ranked as high as 14th in the nation)
Conducted rare disease research at Harvard Medical School

Pranav Ayyappan - Director of Digital Health Policy

Pranav Ayyappan is a leader and passionate individual who is on a mission: making healthcare access more equitable and eradicating healthcare inequity. Pranav comes form a family of immigrants, being born in india and then traveling to the US at a very young age. He, unfortunately, suffered from a lot of healthcare problems in the US and often times was not able to receive proper healthcare.

Pranav, recognizing the resources, has made it his mission to provide to those who are in need and enhance the pillar of public health in his career.

As a board member, Pranav believes in the power of collaboration and support and strives to connect and support those facing similar struggles as himself. Through his leadership and resilience with Raregen, Pranav aims to create a caring, equitable, safe, and inclusive society for everyone.

Highlights of Pranav Ayyappan’s Advocacy & Working Career

Blogger and writer in Medium Garnering 6000 followers and has written over 200+ blogs.
Neuroscience Researcher at Harvard, UPenn, and Drexel
Advocated/Testified for many bills regarding healthcare inequity.