Our Team

Meet Our Board

Khartik Uppalapati - Co-Founder, 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

Adan Eftekhari - Co-Founder, Vice President

Adan Eftekhari is a leader and highly passionate individual who is on a mission: giving back to his community. His drive doesn’t come from a personal diagnosis—it comes from seeing how easily people with rare conditions get overlooked, and refusing to accept that. Adan has channeled that conviction into advocacy work, using his voice to push rare disease awareness into spaces where it’s rarely heard and to make sure those living with these conditions aren’t left to fight alone.

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

As VP at RareGen, Adan believes in the power of community, and strives to connect and support. Through his leadership, Adan aims to create a caring, equitable, and inclusive society for everyone.

Highlights of Adan Eftekhari’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

Viraj Kamath - Director of Research Operations

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.

Viraj 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 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

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.