Meet The Team

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Karan Kanhai, MD, PhD is a global medical affairs and clinical development leader with over 20 years’ experience across oncology, haematology, and rare disease. A UK-registered physician, he has led international medical strategy, clinical programmes, and product launches, working across Europe, the US, and Asia-Pacific. His expertise spans clinical trial design, regulatory strategy, and market access, with a strong focus on translating scientific innovation into meaningful patient impact, particularly for underserved communities.

Faiza Syeda is a medical doctor with clinical experience across a range of medical roles and a strong grounding in patient care, medical records, and evidence-based practice. She also holds advanced certification in clinical research, clinical data management, and pharmacovigilance.

She is passionate about promoting public health and rare diseases, and enjoys turning medical knowledge into practical, accessible insights. She is also interested in medical research, and how it can help improve health and understanding of diseases. As a contributor to Rare Disease Watch, Faiza brings a clinically informed perspective, with a focus on accuracy, patient-centred insight, and clear communication of medical evidence. Her work aims to improve health literacy, support informed decision-making, and help readers navigate complex health topics with confidence and awareness.

Deborah Udaw is a health writer with an interest in rare diseases and public health awareness. She contributes to Rare Disease Watch by exploring underreported conditions, diagnostic challenges, and the importance of accessible, evidence-informed health communication. Her work is driven by a commitment to clarity, responsible reporting, and increasing understanding of complex health issues.

Yustikarini is a linguistics graduate and experienced translator and content writer. With a background in linguistics, she brings strong analytical skills her written content. Her work spans technical documentation and SEO-optimised web articles. At Rare Disease Watch, she contributes to making accurate scientific and health information accessible to a global readership through precise, thoughtful writing.

Oluwole Jacob is a researcher with a background in pure and applied zoology and holds a BSc in Biology from the Federal University of Agriculture Abeokuta (FUNAAB). His work includes contributing to the Happy City Index through analysis of urban wellbeing indicators, supporting evidence-informed reporting and policy insight.

He also holds a Higher National Certificate in Cyber Security. As a contributor to Rare Disease Watch, Oluwole applies a rigorous, analytical approach to research and clear, accurate science communication.

Muhammad Abdullah is a Doctor of Pharmacy with expertise in pharmacology and clinical pharmacy. He has a strong grounding in evidence based medicine, therapeutic management, and patient centered care. He has experience in interpreting and communicating complex pharmacological data, linking clinical insight with practical application in healthcare settings.

In addition to his clinical background, Muhammad is an experienced direct response copywriter, applying principles of clear, purposeful communication to health and medical content. As a contributor to Rare Disease Watch, he integrates pharmacological expertise with precise, research informed writing to enhance understanding of rare diseases, treatment pathways, and emerging therapeutic developments. His work supports the platform’s commitment to accuracy, transparency, and advancing awareness through evidence based communication.

Mikaiah Oyepintemi is a medical laboratory scientist and health writer with experience spanning diagnostic medicine, evidence-informed health communication, and digital health education. His clinical background provides a strong foundation in laboratory testing, disease interpretation, and the role of accurate diagnostics in clinical decision-making.

Alongside his laboratory practice, Mikaiah works at the intersection of healthcare and content, translating complex medical and scientific information into clear, accessible writing for professional and public audiences. His interests include rare diseases, diagnostic challenges, and the importance of reliable laboratory data in improving patient outcomes.

Dr. Richa Lal is a medical professional specializing in Anaesthesia with extensive experience across clinical practice, medical content editing, and healthcare management. She has worked in leading hospitals and organizations in India, Singapore, and the UK, contributing to preventive healthcare programs, clinical coding, health data analysis, and medical quality management. Currently based in Glasgow, she is a medical article editor with a strong focus on accuracy, evidence-based content, and clarity. Her background includes mentoring editors, managing medical teams, and collaborating on clinical software implementation, reflecting a balanced blend of clinical expertise and analytical skills.

Steffie holds a PhD in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, where her research focused on developing drug delivery approaches for biomedical applications. Her scientific background has given her experience in analysing complex research and understanding how emerging discoveries can shape healthcare and treatment development.


Steffie has developed a strong interest in science communication and enjoys presenting scientific ideas in ways that are clear, thoughtful and engaging. Through her writing, she hopes to create useful resources for curious students, researchers seeking to understand new developments, and patients and carers who value information explained with clarity, compassion and reliable evidence. 

She aims to help readers better understand advances in health and biomedical science, particularly in the rare disease field.

Maha Mohamed is a Communication Specialist with a medical background, combining clinical understanding with strong communication and organisational skills. She currently works in a fast-paced environment, supporting coordination and delivering clear, effective communication across teams.

She has a growing interest in medical writing and public health, particularly in the field of rare diseases. Her interest developed through observing the challenges families face in accessing treatment for rare conditions, even when they are potentially manageable.

Through her writing, Maha aims to present clear, accurate, and accessible medical information to support awareness, improve understanding, and empower patients and communities.

Tarunikaa Muppala is a healthcare writer and editor with a strong background in infectious disease epidemiology and regulatory affairs. She holds an MSc in Applied Infectious Disease Epidemiology from UCL and has experience translating complex scientific and clinical research into clear, accurate, and engaging content for diverse audiences, having edited healthcare articles at Klarity and supported toxicological risk assessments for medical devices at L&T Technology Services.

Her academic research, including work on HIV acquisition and outcomes among women in Europe and Canada, reflects a commitment to equity, evidence-based decision-making, and making data meaningful for real-world healthcare decisions.
Passionate about scientific communication, she enjoys breaking down complex topics into accessible and accurate messages that can inform, educate, and empower readers from clinicians to the wider public.

She is particularly drawn to rare diseases and the work of Rare Disease Watch, as it combines her interests in patient-centred communication, epidemiology, and making underrepresented health conditions more visible. Beyond writing and research, she has contributed to global health initiatives such as the National Pulse Polio Immunisation Programme 2022 in India and was part of a team at the Global Health Hackathon 2025 at Imperial College London to design community-focused sanitation solutions in Lagos, Nigeria.