14 April 2026
The BSR annual conference happening later this month includes some interesting research-relevant sessions for 2026.
Highlights include:
- National data with international impact – looking at how data produced by the UK rheumatology community is impacting global research. This session will also present the first comparison of UK data with Europe, using data from our collaboration with RheumaFacts. Tuesday 28th April, 11:10, Alsh
- From the first patient recruited in Melton Mowbray to today: 25 years of world-leading BSR registers research – the teams behind BSR’s PsA, JIA, RA and AxSpA registers will discuss our globally respected models for long-term observational research, their successes, and how you can access the data. Wednesday 29th April, 09:00, Hall 1
For anyone interested in discussing the registers, please join us at 8am on Wednesday 29th April for coffee on the SEC mezzanine, or look out for relevant team members at the BSR stand throughout the conference
- NIHR and rheumatology research: reflecting on progress, shaping the future – an overview of research successes in the UK and an exploration of future research avenues for rheumatology. Tuesday 28th April, 9:00, Carron
- Hormones, health, and autoimmunity: a look at the emerging data informing our understanding of reproductive health in inflammatory rheumatic diseases, as well as the research gaps. Wednesday 29th April, 11:10, Hall 1
For those getting into research, keep an eye out for:
- Top tips: how to get your paper published – Rheumatology Advances in Practice Editor-in-Chief Mwidimi Ndosi will provide expert advice for those looking to publish their first paper. This talk will be suitable for all, including trainees, nurses, AHPs and students. Wednesday 29th April, 10:35, Exhibition Hall Stage 1
Mwidimi and Rheumatology Editor-in-Chief Ernest Choy will be available after the session to chat one-on-one, alongside the staff for both BSR journals.
- Clinical research fellowship proposal presentations – join the current cohort of the BSR Clinical Research Fellowship as they present their top proposals, developed throughout the fellowship. Thursday 28th April, 15:20, Exhibition Hall Stage 1
- Online lunch and learn: Rheumatology Co-Editor Vinod Ravindran and colleagues present an overview of cross-sectional, retrospective and cohort studies. Thursday 28th April, 13:00, Online
- Online lunch and learn: Rheumatology Associate Editor Sham Santhanam and colleagues will lead a workshop on current publication ethics challenges, including AI, data fabrication and navigating the “pressure to publish”. Wednesday 29th April 13:00, Online
Poster and abstract highlights
- Patients with psoriatic arthritis managed in services with access to multi-specialty clinics experience better clinical outcomes - results from the BSR-PsA. Gareth T Jones et al.
- Non-melanoma skin cancer risk with Janus kinase inhibitors compared to interleukin-6 inhibitors in rheumatoid arthritis: results from a national cohort study. Zixing Tian et al.
- Identifying and characterising axial spondyloarthritis flares using the ‘Evaluation of Ankylosing Spondylitis Quality of Life’ (EASiQoL) patient-reported outcome measure via an online portal: a baseline analysis. James Prior et al.
Plus, check out our abstract award winners. The Heberden highlights oral abstracts session takes place on Tuesday 28th April 11:10, Lomond Auditorium.
Check out more of the programme below.