In conversation with Małgorzata Kosla

In this issue of The FEBS Journal, we interviewed Małgorzata 'Gosia' Kosla, who together with her husband Piotr, established the PACS2 Research Foundation when their daughter Lena was diagnosed with the ultrarare PACS2 syndrome as an infant. PACS2 syndrome is a neurodevelopmental disorder caused by de novo pathogenic mutations in the PACS2 gene and is linked to early-onset epilepsy, global developmental delay and cerebellar dysgenesis. According to Simon's Searchlight, as of 2024, around 32 cases have been described in medical research; there are currently no clinically approved therapeutic agents for treating PACS2 syndrome. The PACS2 Research Foundation has become a global community for other families affected by PACS2 syndrome and promotes collaborative research between scientists and clinicians, aimed at finding a clinically approved drug for treating PACS2 syndrome. Gosia's perspective offers important and unique insights into the lived experience of rare disease, the power of patient (and parent!)-led initiatives and the evolving role of advocacy groups in impacting research and clinical practice.