Every month, We The Action recognizes lawyers who embody our mission to expand access to justice and deliver free legal services where they are critically needed. On the eve of Rare Disease Day, we are especially proud to honor David Ralston, whose partnership with the RUNX1 Research Program helped a patient-led nonprofit navigate complex regulatory questions, enabling them to continue advancing research while expanding access to clinical trials for families affected by a rare genetic disorder.
Congratulations, David!
“What gives me hope in the rare disease advocacy space is knowing that people will continue to iterate on how they address these problems. Knowing how far the space has come in my career, there's going to be amazing developments, and I'm excited to witness the progress.”
— David Ralston, We The Action Volunteer
Meet the Volunteer: David Ralston, a graduate of the University of Houston Law Center, has spent his career helping organizations navigate regulatory complexity while staying focused on mission.
Drawing on decades of experience in healthcare law, David volunteered with the RUNX1 Research Program to review its programs, assess risk, and help leadership chart a responsible path forward while continuing to support patients.
David viewed the project as an opportunity to bring his background in healthcare law and nonprofit governance to an organization navigating complex regulatory questions.
Recognizing the responsibility of advising the Board, he provided a clear analysis to help leadership understand risk, document diligence, and move forward with confidence.
The Impact of Supporting Rare Disease Communities: RUNX1 Research Program recognized that many families were facing high out-of-pocket costs for travel, care, and clinical trial participation, even as they contributed to research that could advance treatment for others.
David worked closely with the RUNX1 team to understand the organization’s operations, review each clinical trial, and evaluate whether additional review through the Office of Inspector General would be necessary. His analysis clarified the level of risk and provided leadership with the documentation and confidence needed to make informed decisions.
With David’s guidance, the organization launched a medical cost relief program to ease the financial burden on patients participating in clinical trials.
“I was so impressed by how knowledgeable David was,” says Dr. Katrin Ericson, President and Executive Director of RUNX1 Research Program. “He clearly read our project post and had direct, relevant experience to our needs. David saved us time and money and gave the board and myself the confidence to proceed with our course of action supporting patients.”
Without that guidance, the organization may have pursued a lengthy, costly regulatory process or delayed patient support out of concern about compliance. Instead, they were able to continue moving forward, saving valuable time and resources while expanding access to participation.
Improving the Lives of People Affected by Rare Disease: There are more than 10,000 rare diseases affecting over 400 million people worldwide. We The Action is proud to partner with the Rare As One Network, a collective of patient-led organizations driving research to improve the lives of people affected by rare diseases.
David noted that “we have seen families and parents of children with rare diseases step forward to found nonprofits and even entire companies, pushing for solutions to incredibly difficult problems, and those successes show that rare does not mean unsolvable.”
“They roll up their sleeves and say, ‘If no one else is working on this, I will.’ They are trying to save their child, and if they cannot, they commit to helping other families,” says Dr. Ericson. “That determination is incredibly powerful.”
Learn more about our partnership with the Rare As One Network and sign up for a project today!