On October 22 – 23, 2023 Tbilisi State Medical University, the Georgian Foundation for Genetic and Rare Diseases and the Wilhelm Foundation organized the 12th International conference on Rare and Undiagnosed Diseases (UDNI) in Tbilisi (Georgia). The conference was dedicated to the challenges and achievements of rare and undiagnosed diseases. The event was supported by the Shota Rustaveli National Science Foundation of Georgia (MG-ISE-23-1447). 

The conference was opened by Oleg Kvlividze Executive Director of Georgian Foundation for Genetic and Rare Diseases, Professor Zurab Vadachkoria Rector of TSMU, Professor Tinatin Tkemaladze Head of the Department of Molecular and Medical Genetics of TSMU, Dr. William A. Gahl Head of the Undiagnosed Diseases Program at the National Institutes of Health and Helene Cederroth President of the Wilhelm Foundation. 

More than 400 delegates from 38 countries participated in the conference. International and local experts presented their reports and shared experiences to the audience. Current issues in rare and undiagnosed diseases, recent advances in gene therapy, international initiatives and importance of data sharing were widely discussed throughout the conference. Professor Tinatin Tkemaladze presented a report about rare diseases in Georgia. Leading field professionals from diverse clinics also shared their reports. TSMU students Sandro Surmava and Anastasia Sukhishvili presented their reports. The conference proceedings will be published in a special edition of the scientific journal of the Undiagnosed Diseases Network International (UDNI).