The Great Hall at the Discovery Museum was abuzz with science and exciting conversations last Sunday as Newcastle university researchers, rare disease patients and members of the public gathered to celebrate the International Rare Disease Day.

With 104 attendees and 40 enthusiastic scientists, a wonderful panel debate on achievements and challenges in rare disease research, exciting hands on experiments (building a 3D skin model, DNA extraction, osteoarthritis diagnosis, muscle MRI scans, art installations and many more) and lovely food, we had an amazing day!

We’d like to thank all the presenters and attendees for participating in our event. We hope you enjoyed it as much as we did, and we hope to see you next year again!

Some feedback from our participants:

[The event] was great, no need for improvement!

Thank you for hosting such an amazing event!

Loved each and every bit.

Thank you for recommending this, I had a really great time! […] Everyone there was really nice and the activities were so fun

Many thanks to you all for giving your weekend to educate and entertain us.

We’re organising Genetics Matters again! Genetics Matters is a free annual event showcasing rare disease and genetic research at Newcastle, with hands-on experiments, laboratory demonstrations, scientist talks and free refreshments.

We’ll be at the Discovery Museum on the 25th of February, join us at http://tinyurl.com/3f4hwkks

Our annual International Rare Disease Day event is back. In 2024 it will be bigger and better, with more research tables, more satellite events and really interesting talks. Watch this space!

We had 100 people with us yesterday, despite Newcastle United playing at Wembley, raising awareness of rare diseases and rare disease research, chatting about science, performing experiments, and discussing aspects of medical research at Newcastle.

The room was buzzing with interesting conversation, and we have already had a lot of good feedback. Thank you to all the presenters and scientists, patient organisations and patients for participating, and thank you to everyone for coming and spending a Sunday afternoon with us. We really enjoyed the event and we hope that you did too.

See you next year!

Photos by Rachel Richman

Registration is now open for our FREE Genetics Matters event! Go to http://tinyurl.com/4rs83jbr to book, or scan the QR code on the poster. Hands-on research tables, friendly scientists and yummy cake, organised as part of the International Rare Disease Day. Please share!

A big thank you to all the presenters and attendees for making Genetics Matters a great event this year!

Our guest list is growing and we now have an exciting programme to share with you:

We can’t wait!

Celebrating rare disease research, the strength and courage of the rare disease community and patient involvement in science, and talking about genetic research in Newcastle and the importance of raising awareness of rare diseases and the patient journey, it is promising to be a great event.

If you haven’t booked your free place yet, please do so using the links below:

See you on Satuday!

T-12 to Genetics Matters, our annual event where you can find out about rare disease and genetic research in Newcastle, show your support for rare disease patients, perform simple fun experiments and chat to Newcastle scientists over tea and cake.

To book your free place, please click here.