Nomination Letter for Governing Board Member

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Nomination Letter for Governing Board Member

Nele Labi

Deputy Secretary General for Innovation

Ministry of Social Affairs of Estonia

[email protected]

5th November 2026

Dear ERDERA Coordinator,

As the Deputy Secretary General for Innovation for the Ministry of Social Affairs of Estonia, I am writing to formally nominate Mari Teesalu for the position of Principal Representative and Mart Uusjärv for the position of Permanent Deputy on the ERDERA Governing Board for Estonia. Nominee's Credentials and Roles:

Mari Teesalu is the Science Adviser at the Ministry of Social Affairs of Estonia. She has worked as a scientific adviser in health policy since 2020, holds a PhD in genetics from the University of Helsinki, and has served as the Ministry’s principal contact for EJP RD and ERDERA. Her experience in research policy, scientific coordination, and supporting policymakers with evidence makes her well qualified to serve as Estonia’s Principal Representative on the ERDERA Governing Board.

Mart Uusjärv is the Head of the Analysis Department at the Ministry of Social Affairs of Estonia. He has extensive experience in public administration and policy development and is responsible for strengthening evidence-informed decision- making, coordinating analytical and research activities, and supporting international research cooperation in health and social policy. His experience makes him well qualified to serve as Estonia’s Permanent Deputy on the ERDERA Governing Board. We kindly request that Mart's nomination be considered retrospectively, effective from 21 May 2026.

Governing Board Responsibilities:

The ERDERA Governing Board is the ultimate decision-making body regarding the strategic directions and priorities of the ERDERA programme, excluding final decisions on topics of joint transnational calls, which fall under the mandate of the Board of Funders. Responsibilities include:

1. Strategic Steering: Ensuring coherence between ERDERA activities and relevant European/national/international initiatives and policies.

2. Approval of Priorities: Providing feedback and approving ERDERA priorities through the rolling annual plans.

3. Progress Monitoring: Delivering input on the ERDERA progression and providing feedback on key strategic milestones and deliverables.

Nomination Letter for Governing Board Member

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4. Facilitating Uptake: Contributing to the facilitation of the uptake of ERDERA results and catalysing the exchange of best practices at the national level.

5. Sustainability Reflection: Reflecting on the sustainability of ERDERA outcomes and research resources.

Nomination Process:

According to the ERDERA governance structure, each participating country is required to nominate one Principal Representative and one Permanent Deputy who shall actively participate in the activities and meetings of the Governing Board in a cooperative manner. Nominated representatives must not be members of other ERDERA bodies to avoid conflicts of interest, except in specific cases where countries have limited human resources. Endorsement:

I endorse the nomination of Mari Teesalu as Principal Representative and Mart Uusjärv as Permanent Deputy. I believe that their complementary expertise and dedication will contribute significantly to the strategic decision-making processes of the ERDERA initiative.

Please find attached the nominees’ curricula vitae for your review. We are confident that Mari Teesalu and Mart Uusjärv will be valuable members of the Governing Board and will help advance our collective goals in rare disease research.

We look forward to your positive response and to the official appointment of Mari Teesalu and Mart Uusjärv to the ERDERA Governing Board. Warm regards,

Nele Labi Deputy Secretary General for Innovation Ministry of Social Affairs of Estonia Attachments:

 Mari Teesalu Curriculum Vitae  Mart Uusjärv Curriculum Vitae