New Horizons Frequently Asked Questions
What is New Horizons?
New Horizons is Duchenne UK’s annual conference for the Duchenne muscular dystrophy community. It brings together people personally affected by Duchenne, and those who are working to help Duchenne patients and their families. There will be presentations from the UK’s leading Duchenne specialists and researchers on the latest developments in research, treatment and care. It is also a chance to meet other members of the Duchenne community.
New Horizons 2027
We are delighted to be hosting our fourth New Horizons conference in February 2027.
What is the date of the event?
Friday 5th – Saturday 6th February 2027
Where will the event take place?
Holiday Inn London, Bloomsbury, Coram St, London WC1N 1HT.
How do I get to the venue?
Public Transport:
- Closest tube station: Russell Square (with elevator), then a two-minute walk
- Euston station: 10-minute walk
- King’s Cross Station: 15-minute walk.
Driving: There is parking at the venue (see below).
Is there parking at the venue?
- There is a car park at the Holiday Inn London, Bloomsbury.
- Another car park can be found at: Royal National Hotel underground car park, which is a four-minute walk from the venue. The address is 38-51 Bedford Way, London WC1H 0DG
- These car parks fill up very quickly, so it is advisable to book in advance.
What is the registration fee?
- New Horizons is free to attend, for parents and caregivers and families, healthcare professionals and academics.
- Those attending from pharmaceutical organisations will be asked to pay a £750 (plus VAT) registration fee per person.
Do you offer any grants to support the participation of Duchenne families?
Travel grant
We offer a travel grant to Duchenne families in the UK who live outside of the M25. This is £150 per family. The £150 travel grant will be issued after the event after we confirm your attendance. You don’t need to send us any receipts. Please tick the box on the registration form to indicate that you would like to receive a travel grant.
Childcare grant: We understand that childcare can sometimes make attending New Horizons challenging. We offer £150 to Duchenne families in the UK who would benefit from some support to cover childcare costs to attend this event. The childcare grant will be issued after the event, once we confirm your attendance. You don’t need to send us any receipts. Please tick the box on the registration form to indicate that you would like to receive a childcare grant.
What is included in the registration package?
Included in the free registration is access to all sessions provided throughout the 1.5-day conference programme (Friday afternoon and all-day Saturday).
Families and caregivers can also attend the drinks reception (5-8pm) on Friday evening.
Are meals included in my registration?
- Lunch and an evening meal on Friday 5th February are NOT included.
- Drinks and light snacks will be available at the Duchenne UK drinks reception on Friday 5th February in the evening.
- For those attending the conference on Saturday 6th February, lunch is included.
How can I register?
If you would like to attend, please register here.
Please note: Each individual who wishes to attend needs to complete the registration form for the event.
When does registration close?
Registration will close on 19th January 2027, unless the event reaches capacity before this date.
What is the cancellation policy?
We understand that unforeseen circumstances may occur which might prevent you from attending the conference. We do ask that if your plans change and you can no longer attend, you let us know as quickly as possible. The event is likely to be oversubscribed, and we want to ensure that we offer as many people the opportunity to attend as possible.
Please let us know if your plans change by emailing: newhorizons@duchenneuk.org
Can I send someone in my place?
Yes, this can be arranged. Please email the team to confirm the change and new name as soon as you can: newhorizons@duchenneuk.org
Can children attend?
The event is not designed for children under 12, and the agenda will not include a programme for children. If older children wish to attend (over 12), please register them to secure a space.
Can other family members attend?
Yes, family members can attend. Please register each individual to secure a space.
What are the timings of the event?*
Friday 5th February
1pm: Conference registration for New Horizons, & welcome tea and coffee
1:30pm: Introductory session for the newly diagnosed
2pm: Welcome to New Horizons 2027
2:15pm: Sessions commence
5pm: Conference ends
5pm: Duchenne UK drinks reception
Saturday 6th February
8:30am: Conference registration & welcome tea and coffee
9:30am: Welcome to Day 2
9:45am: Sessions commence
Lunch
5pm: Conference ends
*Timings are subject to change
What is the agenda?
The agenda will be shared in late 2026. The New Horizons conference agenda typically includes a mix of keynote talks, panel discussions, and networking sessions, all designed to provide practical information and insights for attendees.
Can I attend certain sessions?
You do not need to select specific sessions in advance; instead, you can choose to attend either Day 1, Day 2, or both. You are also free to step out at any time and have a cup of tea or coffee with a member of the Duchenne UK team.
Can I attend the event virtually?
The event will not be live-streamed, but the sessions will be recorded and available to the community after the event. If you’d like to receive this footage, please contact newhorizons@duchenneuk.org
Do you have a list of hotels in the area?
Please find below a small selection of hotels in close proximity to the venue. Unfortunately, the Holiday Inn is unable to provide a group rate for our event. We have no affiliation with the other two hotels.
- - Holiday Inn Bloomsbury
- President Hotel
- Royal National Hotel
What are the check-in / check-out times for the Holiday Inn Bloomsbury?
For those staying at the hotel, check-in at Holiday Inn London - Bloomsbury is from 3pm, and check-out time is 12pm. Contact the hotel directly for options available for early check-in or late check-out.
Is there anything in particular I should bring to the conference?
• Pen/notebook to make notes
• Sweater or jacket for the meeting rooms.
What conference materials can I expect to receive?
In a bid to limit the environmental impact of this event, we will be keeping conference materials to a minimum.
Everyone will receive a New Horizons conference brochure containing:
• Duchenne UK information
• New Horizons agenda
• Speaker information
• Fundraising information and how you can get involved and support Duchenne UK.
The agenda and speaker biographies will be available via our website. Furthermore, post-event summaries and key takeways will be shared with all attendees.
What is the suggested dress code for attending the conference?
The dress code is casual, no specific code is in place.
How do I find out the location of the meeting when I arrive on-site?
Follow the signs for the Duchenne UK New Horizons Conference from the hotel entrance.
What to do in the case of dietary requirements and other additional needs?
Please email the team to notify them of any specific dietary requirements or additional needs: newhorizons@duchenneuk.org
Is the venue accessible?
Yes, the venue is accessible. Read more about accessibility at the venue here. There is also accessible parking:
• Wheelchair Accessible Parking Spaces: 2
• Parking Drop-Off Point is adjacent to entrance
• Please contact the hotel to reserve these spaces.
Who is Duchenne UK?
Duchenne UK is a charity that was set up in 2012 by Emily Reuben and Alex Johnson after both of their sons were diagnosed with Duchenne. The founders began their journey as two mothers united by this devastating diagnosis for their sons, but their determination transformed them into globally respected advocates and thought leaders.
They set up Duchenne UK to tackle some of the big challenges in drug development in their search for a cure for Duchenne. What started as a personal mission evolved into a professional crusade, marked by rigorous analysis of the Duchenne research and care landscape and an unwavering commitment to systemic change.
Their ability to combine lived experience with scientific and policy knowledge has broken boundaries, accelerated access to clinical trials, shaped national guidelines, and influenced regulatory decisions.
Today, each holds an OBE in recognition of their extraordinary impact, symbolising how their dedication and expertise have redefined what patient-led advocacy can achieve, driving innovation and change, and hope for thousands of families.
What is Duchenne?
Duchenne muscular dystrophy is a progressive condition diagnosed in childhood. It is the most common and severe form of muscular dystrophy.
The information on this page can help you to understand more about Duchenne, the symptoms and causes.
What causes Duchenne?
Duchenne is a genetic disease that causes muscle weakness and wasting. It’s a progressive, life limiting condition.
Duchenne is caused by a mutation in the dystrophin gene and it is typically diagnosed in childhood between the ages of three and six. You can find out more the genetic causes of Duchenne and how it is inherited here.
Duchenne is a multi-system disease which causes all the muscles in the body to gradually weaken, including the heart, and breathing muscles.
Treatment
There is currently no cure for Duchenne, but there is hope. We are at the forefront of advancing treatments and care for everyone affected by the disease.
Current treatment and supporting therapies for Duchenne can help to ease the symptoms of the disease. Duchenne UK is funding research into new treatments that could have greater impact and more acceptable side effects.
Further questions or more information
Please contact newhorizons@duchenneuk.org