The Annual Meeting of the LifeArc Centre for Rare Mitochondrial Diseases took place on 16 April 2026 at Robinson College, Cambridge, bringing together over 70 delegates from across the UK and international partner institutions. We were also pleased to welcome representatives from Muscular Dystrophy UK (MDUK) and patient groups, reflecting the collaborative nature of the centre’s work.
The day offered a dynamic programme of updates spanning all three clinical and scientific work packages, alongside a dedicated PPIE workshop led by The Lily Foundation, which powerfully reinforced the importance of the patient voice in shaping research. A panel discussion on precision diagnostics further highlighted the centre’s commitment to advancing innovative approaches in rare disease.
Flash talks and poster presentations added energy to the programme, showcasing the breadth of work underway across the centre. The event also provided a valuable opportunity for the Centre’s External Advisory Board to engage directly with early- and mid-career researchers, gaining insight into both the progress made over the past year and the challenges inherent in delivering impactful rare disease research.
We were delighted that Professor Sir Steve Jackson FRS, Chair of the External Advisory Board, presented awards for the top-rated flash talk and poster to Nisha Nixon and Lucia Luengo Gutierrez, respectively.
Above all, the meeting was a fantastic opportunity to connect as a community—sharing ideas, strengthening collaborations, and celebrating progress towards improved diagnostics, biomarkers, and treatments for people living with mitochondrial disease.