CMTUK Conference 2026 — 40 years Turning Knowledge into Support
25 April 2026 | Hilton Reading
This year, we didn’t just come together to learn and connect, but to mark forty years of CMTUK. Forty years of supporting people living with Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease across the UK. You could feel the weight of that milestone in the best possible way, in a room that brought together patients, families, clinicians, and researchers — all there for the same reason. There are not many spaces like it.
For many attendees, this is one of the few occasions each year to be in a room full of people who truly understand what it means to live with CMT. That sense of belonging was there from the very first hour.
With Thanks to Our Sponsors
We are truly grateful to our sponsor Dorset Orthopaedic for their support of this year’s conference. Their generosity helps us bring the CMT community together and continue our work in supporting people living with Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease.
CMT Research and Treatment
One of the most anticipated sessions came from Professor Mary Reilly and Dr Chris Record, who shared the latest updates on genetic research, ongoing clinical trials, and emerging therapies for Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease.
It’s the kind of session you leave feeling genuinely encouraged. Not with empty promises, but with the real sense that the science is moving forward. For anyone who has spent years waiting for answers, that matters more than words can say.
Podiatry and CMT
Later in the morning, Robert Isaacs, specialist podiatrist, delivered a session that clearly resonated with the room. He spoke about how foot care shapes mobility, how small adjustments can make a real difference to daily comfort, and why specialist support plays such an important role in living well with CMT long-term.
Grounded, practical, and full of advice people could actually take home and use.
Movement, Exercise, and What’s Possible
Suni Narayan, specialist physiotherapist, opened the afternoon by exploring the role of exercise and movement for people living with CMT at every stage. Her session challenged some assumptions in the best possible way, and with an interactive element woven in, she encouraged attendees to rethink what staying active can look like and to feel more confident in their own bodies.
A Talk That Stopped the Room
Another moment that stayed with many in the room came from Jamie Heath, who spoke with real honesty about resilience, identity, and living with Charcot-Marie-Tooth.
His talk wasn’t about overcoming CMT. It was about continuing to show up, even when things are uncertain, even when progress feels slow. A powerful reminder that behind every diagnosis there is a whole person, and that the emotional side of living with CMT deserves just as much space as the medical one.
The Moments Between Sessions
If you’ve been to a CMTUK conference before, you’ll know that some of the most important conversations don’t happen on stage. They happen over coffee, during lunch, in the corridor between sessions when someone catches your eye and you realise you’re not alone in what you’re going through.
This year was no different. The room was full of those moments, and for many people, that sense of connection is just as valuable as anything covered in the formal programme.
Forty Years of CMTUK
This year’s conference also gave us a chance to pause and reflect on something significant. Forty years of CMTUK. From its beginnings as a small support network to a nationwide organisation, the goal has always stayed the same: to support individuals and families affected by Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease through knowledge, connection, and care.
Seeing so many people gathered together in that room was a reminder of just how much that work has meant over the decades.
Thank You
A heartfelt thank you to everyone who made the CMTUK Conference 2026 possible, including our speakers, sponsors, volunteers, and every single person who made the journey to Hilton Reading. Your support is what keeps this community strong.