Professor Bobby Gaspar is a distinguished physician-scientist who is a thought leader in translating basic research from bench-to-bedside and strategic work that facilitated bringing life-saving therapies to patients with rare diseases. He has over 30 years of experience in pediatric medicine working in the NHS and the biotechnology sector, and is the founding member of Orchard Therapeutics, where he serves as Chief Executive Officer. In this Q&A, Professor Gaspar provides insight into the regulatory approval and policy considerations for bringing novel therapies for rare diseases from discovery through to clinical application.