Our Future Health: the power of participation
Behçet’s UK has become an affiliate charity of Our Future Health, (see news article) the UK’s largest health research programme, which is in partnership with the NHS. This groundbreaking initiative aims to transform healthcare by improving the prevention, early detection, and treatment of diseases.
For rare conditions like Behçet’s, securing dedicated research funding and interest is a major challenge. Your participation is vital to changing that. As Tony Thornburn, Chair of Behçet’s UK, explicitly notes in his Summer 2026 newsletter appeal:
In my 9 years as your Chair, this is the second most important thing I ask of you. Being perfectly candid, or downright blunt, if you squander this opportunity, on your heads be it.
Why Your Involvement Matters
- Attract researchers: Building a large group of Behçet’s participants allows us to encourage scientists to launch specific foundation studies.
- Unlock disease history: Combining this research with our upcoming Patient Registry helps map out exactly how the condition progresses over time.
- Personalised medicine: The programme analyses genetic and lifestyle factors to discover why health conditions develop and provide tailored risk assessments.
Inside the Health Questionnaire
The baseline research is built on a comprehensive online questionnaire designed to collect crucial contextual information. It covers five core areas:
- About you: Basic physical traits like age, sex, height, weight, and ethnicity.
- Work & education: Your current employment history, income brackets, and background.
- Lifestyle details: Day-to-day habits including screen use, socialising patterns, and alcohol intake.
- Family health: The medical background of your parents and siblings.
- Personal health history: Your own past check-ups, current diagnoses, medications, and active symptoms.
How to Take Part
Joining is straightforward, secure, and open to adults across all four nations of the UK.
- Register online and complete the confidential health questionnaire.
- Book a local appointment at one of over 500 UK venues to provide a small blood sample and have brief physical measurements taken.
Don’t miss this opportunity to advance rare disease research and help change the future of Behçet’s care.