Coordinating Hub

Yunna Bystrova
Executive Coordinator

  • Yunna Bystrova joined MICYRN in February 2023 and soon found her home in the RareKids-CAN Network, where every day brings a new puzzle to solve (and occasionally, a few to create). Her career path has taken her from the Apparel to the Music industries across Europe and Asia, giving her a wide range of project management and organizational experience.

    A committed team player with a love of learning, Yunna thrives on keeping things running smoothly so others can focus on the big picture.

    As Executive Coordinator for RareKids-CAN, she blends efficiency with a healthy dose of curiosity, helping the team make a meaningful impact for children and families affected by rare diseases.

Kelly Sandhu
Project Manager

  • Kelly Sandhu (MSc, BSc) is the project manager for RareKids-CAN, providing management leadership. She has a Master's in Health Psychology and has worked in multiple specialties in paediatric research, such as rheumatology, neurology and renal. With a strong passion for research, Kelly has over ten years of experience in academic and clinical research across Europe and Canada. She was awarded the Edward Jenner Leadership Award from the National Health Service in the UK. This has contributed to her leadership approach when training and mentoring research staff, students, and volunteers.

Dr. Catherine Strandt (DMSc)
Project Manager

  • Dr. Catherine Strandt (DMSc) is the Project Manager for RareKids-CAN, providing leadership across academia, nonprofit, government, and industry to advance pediatric rare disease research and innovative drug development. She specializes in rare disease strategy, clinical trial readiness, and patient advocacy, and holds a Doctor of Medical Sciences from Northeastern University.

    Previously, Dr. Strandt was a Clinical Research Fellow at Global Genes, co-leading the Research Readiness Program, and worked at Harvard Medical School and Boston Children’s Hospital supporting multi-disciplinary research for rare genetic and neurological disorders. She serves on the Boards of STEPS Medical Clinics and CureAP4 and is President of the Vancouver, BC Alumnae-i Network for Harvard Women, championing patient-centered research, mentorship, and community engagement.