More conference information and tickets can be found at http://bit.ly/CMTUKConference

CMT United Kingdom is a small but national-reaching UK charity that provides essential services to its members and the wider community affected by the hereditary medical condition CMT (Charcot-Marie-Tooth). CMT damages the peripheral nerves, which means that muscles become progressively weaker over time, particularly in the hands and feet. 

The conference, of which the main sponsor is Dorset Orthopaedic, includes speakers from around the globe, plus updates from the CMT Kids division, updates on a research project CMT UK has contributed to and an opportunity to ask the sponsors about their CMT-friendly products and services. Attendees can also meet other people from the CMT community in the social lounge and join the live quiz on Saturday evening for a fun round-up to the conference.

The speakers at the conference include

· Professor Mary Reilly (Patron of CMT UK), who is one of the leading UK authorities on CMT and is Professor of Neurology at UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology. Mary will be giving an update on diagnosis and potential therapies.

· Marina Kennerson PhD. Professor of Neurogenetics/ Neurosciences, ANZAC Research Institute and Sydney Medical School. Marina will be talking about how DNA can contribute to CMT.

· Imelda Hughes, Consultant Paediatric Neurologist, Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital. Imelda will be talking about CMT symptoms in children and the differences between CMT types.

· Wendy Foo, Occupational Therapist at Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital. Wendy will be talking about everyday life with CMT: how occupational therapy can help.

Chief Executive of CMT UK, Simon Bull, said “Usually we organise an in-person annual conference. However, with this year’s understandable government restrictions due to the coronavirus pandemic, we decided to move the conference on-line. This also gives the wider CMT community a chance to attend from anywhere in the UK, or even overseas. We are aiming for this year’s conference to be really informative with all the latest CMT findings from around the world. The online platform also has a social lounge element, so the CMT community is able to meet each other socially, too.”

Simon goes on to say “In the UK, some 25,000 people are thought to have CMT, making it the most common inherited neurological condition. Although there isn’t a cure for CMT and it can be very disabling, life with CMT can still be full, enjoyable and worth living. Most of CMT UK’s trustees are living with CMT, so they know first-hand the type of support that is needed for our members. For a small charity, it’s really active with lots of information available about the condition, managing it, and living well. Without all the very generous support we receive, such as from the conference’s main sponsors, Dorset Orthopaedic, we would not be able to support all our members and health professionals.” 

More information and tickets can be found at http://bit.ly/CMTUKConference