Behçet’s UK 2026 Conference & AGM

Held Saturday 17 October 2026
Nottingham and Online Zoom Webinar
The 2026 conference was a hybrid event – those who wished to attend in person could do so at the Mercure Nottingham Sherwood Hotel and with the assistance of Aston Media Productions, we live-streamed the event by Zoom Webinar for those wanting to attend online.
Conference & AGM Report
Report to follow
Watch again
By session
Welcome
Patron welcome
Annual General Meeting
Epidemiology & the Patient Registry
Behçet’s Patient Registry
A patient’s journey: resilience, community & holistic care
Where is the action in Behçet’s? A new theory of everything
Behçet’s centres and the holistic support model
Wellbeing in children & young people with Behçet’s
Ocular symptoms and flares
The CNS role and monitoring of immunosuppressants
Medical Panel Q&A
Conference close
By presentation
Dr Situnayake – Consultant Rheumatologist & Clinical Lead at Birmingham Centre of Excellence
Dr Megan Rutter – Consultant Rheumatologist
Daisy
Dr Situnayake & Dr Graham Wallace – Associate Professor University of Birmingham
Rebecca Hyder – Support Co-ordinator
Dr Laura Forrest – Consultant Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist
Mr Sree Sreekantam – Consultant Ophthalmologist
Carlene Johnson & Emerson Perez – Specialist Behçet’s Nurses
Chair & Panel: Dr D Situnayake, Dr M Rutter, Dr G Wallace, R Hyder, Dr L Forrest,
Mr S Sreekantam, C Johnson, E Perez
2026 Conference & AGM Programme
2025 Conference & AGM – Morning Session 1
- WELCOME
Tony Thornburn, Chair, Behçet’s UK
- PATRON WELCOME
Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick, Patron of Behçet’s UK
- AGM 2025
REPORT FROM THE CHAIR
Tony Thornburn
TREASURER’S REPORT
Alan Lane, Hon. Treasurer, Behçet’s UK
MEMBER CONSULTATION
Tony Thornburn
FUNDRAISING
Rachael Humphreys, Trustee, Behçet’s UK
BEHÇET’S UK MEMBERS AWARD
Tony Thornburn
THE JUDITH BUCKLE AWARD
Rachael Humphreys
PARENT VOICES PROJECT
Rachael Humphreys
AOB / QUESTIONS FROM MEMBERS
Conference 2026 – Morning Session 2
- EPIDEMIOLOGY & THE PATIENT REGISTRY
Dr Situnayake – Consultant Rheumatologist & Clinical Lead at Birmingham Centre of Excellence
- BEHÇET’S PATIENT REGISTRY
Dr Megan Rutter – Consultant Rheumatologist
- A PATIENT’S JOURNEY: RESILIENCE, COMMUNITY & HOLISTIC CARE
Daisy – Behçet’s Patient
Conference 2026 – Afternoon Session 1
- WHERE IS THE ACTION IN BEHÇET’S? A NEW THEORY OF EVERYTHING
Dr Situnayake & Dr Graham Wallace – Associate Professor University of Birmingham
- BEHCET’S CENTRES AND THE HOLISTIC SUPPORT MODEL
Rebecca Hyder – Support Co-ordinator
- WELLBEING IN CHILDREN & YOUNG PEOPLE WITH BEHÇET’S
Dr Laura Forrest – Consultant Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist
Conference 2026 – Afternoon Session 2
- OCULAR SYMPTOMS AND FLARES
Mr Sree Sreekantam – Consultant Ophthalmologist
- THE CNS ROLE AND MONITORING OF IMMUNOSUPRESSANTS
Carlene Johnson & Emerson Perez – Specialist Behçet’s Nurses
- CONFERENCE CLOSE
Rcahael Humphreys
Annual Report

The Behçet’s UK Annual Report for the year ending 2025 can be read here: Behçet’s UK Annual Report 2026
Judith Buckle Award
The 2026 Judith Buckle Award was awarded to Dr Graham Wallace, Associate Professor, University of Birmingham
Behçet’s UK Members Award
The 2026 Behçet’s UK Members Award was awarded to Ruth Favede
