Sunitha Malepati is the Founder of the Buffalo Initiative, a bold effort to build a new patient-led model for drug development. It draws its name from the way buffalo confront storms head on, just as patient communities do. After her daughter was diagnosed with a disorder that has no treatments, Sunitha launched Buffalo to close the gap between scientific discovery and the families often left behind by traditional drug development models.Â
An attorney with a background in private investment and nonprofit law, Sunitha brings a unique mix of legal, entrepreneurial, and advocacy experience to the rare disease space. She also serves as Vice President of the CACNA1A Foundation and sits on the Governing Board of COMBINEDBrain, a collaborative consortium focused on advancing clinical trial readiness for rare neurodevelopmental disorders.Â
A two-time Chan Zuckerberg Initiative grantee, Sunitha has been nationally recognized for her leadership in patient-driven innovation and has spoken at forums including the White House Cell and Gene Therapy Forum, Milken Global Conference, and BIO International Convention. She is passionate about elevating rare disease families from storytellers to strategic partners in building a smarter, more inclusive future for medicine.Â