A key participant in our 2026 National Symposium
A loyal partner of the Rare Diseases Foundation since 2023, UCB strengthened its commitment in 2026 by becoming the lead partner of our National Scientific Symposium.
On this occasion, Véronique Marie André, Director of Epilepsy Research at UCB, spoke during the plenary session on the topic: “
.”
A presentation that highlighted patient-centered research aimed at better understanding unmet needs and the mechanisms of disease. It combines scientific innovation, cutting-edge technologies, and partnerships to transform scientific advances into concrete therapeutic solutions
Looking Beyond the Symptom
UCB’s approach aims to go beyond symptomatic treatment to focus on modifying the course of the disease and achieving a lasting improvement in the quality of life for people with severe neurological and immunological diseases.
Supporting projects that have a direct impact on patients
This commitment also takes the form of concrete support for research. In 2026, UCB and the Rare Diseases Foundation awarded a €30,000 grant to a project in the humanities and social sciences focused on generalized autoimmune myasthenia.
The winning project, “MY-EDUC,” led by Aurélie Gauchet and Damien Oudin-Doglioni (Université Grenoble Alpes, LIP/PC2S), aims to bring about tangible, short-term improvements in patients’ quality of life.
A loyal and committed long-term partner
UCB regularly supports the Foundation’s initiatives, particularly through the National Scientific Symposium and the RARE Meetings. This ongoing support reflects a shared commitment to advancing research and strengthening synergies among stakeholders in the ecosystem.
"Inspired by patients, guided by science"
As Slimane Bouyakoub, President of UCB Pharma France, points out:
“UCB is a group of women and men inspired by patients and guided by science. […] Through our values, our culture, and the commitment of each and every one of us, we work to improve patients’ lives through our therapeutic solutions.”
A Shared Vision for the Future
The Rare Diseases Foundation is delighted with this long-term partnership with UCB, which is based on a shared vision: to accelerate scientific progress and tangibly improve the lives of people affected by rare diseases.
“UCB is a group of women and men. ‘Inspired by patients, guided by science’—these words accompany our logo and form the foundation of our corporate strategy, our culture, and our Patient Value Strategy (PVS). We are convinced that by focusing on value for patients, we create value for society as a whole.”
Founded in Brussels nearly a century ago, UCB is an international biopharmaceutical company that, thanks to its commitment to innovation, has successfully transformed itself over time and continues to do so. Our areas of expertise are immunology and neurology; through our pursuit of excellence, our differentiated solutions, and our approach based on collaboration and internal and external partnerships, we aspire to become a leader in these fields.
Integrating sustainable development considerations is essential to us; we are fully committed to ensuring that our company’s growth does not come at the expense of society or the planet.
"It is through our values, our culture, and the commitment of each and every one of us that we work to improve patients' lives through our therapeutic solutions."
Slimane BOUYAKOUB, President of UCB Pharma France