Three ladies sitting together on a sofa. They are all smiling at the camera. The lady in the centre is wearing a Retina UK tshirt.
Conferences

Retina UK Annual Conference 2025

  • Date and Time info: 20/09/2025 from 10:00:00 to 16:00:00
  • Location: Holiday Inn London - Regent's Park Carburton St London W1W 5EE
  • Face-to-face

We will be back in London (and online) in 2025 for our Annual Conference.

Our Annual Conference is an excellent opportunity to find out the latest news from Retina UK, hear from expert speakers, meet other members of our community and to make new connections. The line-up for our 50th anniversary year conference includes the following:

Programme

9.30am Registration opens – network and visit our exhibition stands.
10.00am Welcome and housekeeping.
10.05am From vision to reality: 50 years of progress (Kathy Evans, Chair of Trustees, Retina UK).
10.25am The journey so far: genes, machines, misses and marvels (Professor Michel Michaelides, Professor of Ophthalmology, University College London and Consultant Ophthalmic Surgeon, Moorfields Eye Hospital).
10.45am Restoring the retina: a project at the cutting edge of treatment research (Professor Jane Sowden, Professor of Developmental Biology and Genetics at University College London (UCL) Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health).
11.15am Break
11.45am From bench to breakthrough: Biotech and inherited sight loss (speakers from Aavantgarde, Octant, Alkeus Pharmaceuticals, Sepul Bio and Beacon Therapeutics).
12.15pm Iterative innovation and accessible technology (Christopher Patnoe, Head of EMEA Accessibility and Disability Innovation at Google).
12.45pm Lunch
1.35pm Creating change together (James Clarke, Head of Income Generation, Retina UK).
1.55pm Together we thrive: Exploring new possibilities (community members share their experiences):

  • Employment
  • Sport and leisure
  • Mobility and travel
  • Day to day living
3.00pm
In-person delegates
Your questions answered: Meet today’s speakers.
Online delegates
‘Ask the Expert’ with Professor Julie Silvestri, Clinical Director for Ophthalmic Services at the Belfast Health & Social Care Trust, Honorary Professor at the Centre Public Health at Queen’s University Belfast and Co-Lead for the NI Clinical Research Network.**
4.00pm Close

Are you aged 18-30 and living with inherited sight loss?

We know that travel costs and accommodation can be expensive, and we want to make it as easy as possible for you to attend our annual conference in person. That’s why we’re offering up to £100 towards your travel and accommodation costs which can be claimed with proof of attendance at the event. Terms and conditions apply (PDF document | 219 KB).

Please tick the box on the registration form and we will be in touch with information on how to claim after the event.

Register now