Professor David Coman is a general paediatrician who specialises in rare disease — conditions that are individually uncommon, but collectively affect six to eight per cent of Australians, and are very often diagnosed far too late. He directs a national clinic for Ataxia Telangiectasia and was recently awarded a $2.5 million NHMRC grant for a phase 2/3 treatment trial. He works closely with rare disease support groups and teaches across four Queensland universities.