Lydia X Osteoporosis Symposium
The Lydia X Osteoporosis Project team warmly invites you to join us for an interactive day of learning and practical advice focused on bone health and osteoporosis.
Wednesday 20 May 2026
Queen Margaret University (QMU), Musselburgh, Edinburgh
Registration and refreshments from 08:30
Symposium concludes at 16:30
About the Event
Join the Lydia X Osteoporosis Project (LOP X) for an inspiring day of learning, practical guidance, and interactive experiences, designed for anyone with an interest in bone health and osteoporosis.
This unique event brings together people living with osteoporosis, family members and carers, health and social care professionals, and members of the wider community who want to learn more about maintaining strong bones and preventing fractures.
Led by the LOP X team, the symposium will raise awareness of osteoporosis as a significant public health issue, while highlighting the latest research alongside practical, evidence-informed approaches to supporting bone health.
All sessions are designed to be accessible, inclusive, and engaging, with no specialist knowledge required.
This event is free to attend as it is part of the Lydia-funded project. However, places are limited and advanced registration is required to secure your place. As we expect a high level of interest, we kindly ask that you only register if you are confident you are able to attend for the day. If circumstances change, please do email events@qmu.ac.uk to advise you are no longer able to attend.
- Overview
- Speakers
- Programme
- Venue
Osteoporosis affects over 3 million people in the UK, including around 250,000 people in Scotland. Often developing without symptoms until a fracture occurs, osteoporosis can have profound physical, emotional, and social impacts.
The Lydia X Osteoporosis Symposium will support participants to explore practical strategies to help prevent osteoporosis, strengthen bones, and support everyday life with the condition.
The day will bring together expertise from osteoporosis research, healthcare, and lived experience. Expert speakers will explore a wide range of topics, including lifelong bone health, osteoporosis care, and the role of nutrition, exercise, and lifestyle in maintaining strong bones.
Alongside expert talks, the symposium will offer a variety of interactive and practical sessions. These include exercise workshops, opportunities to try weight-bearing and strength-based activities, flamenco dance sessions, and cook-off showcasing bone-friendly recipes.
Open to both professionals and the general public, this symposium provides an opportunity to learn, connect, and take proactive steps towards stronger, healthier bones.
Connect, learn, and take practical steps to support your bone health — join us on Wednesday 20 May 2026 at Queen Margaret University
Dr Peter Gillett, Retired Consultant Paediatric Gastroenterologist
Dr Peter Gillett is a retired Consultant Paediatric Gastroenterologist and worked at the Royal Hospital for Children and Young People, Edinburgh until July 2025. Dr Gillett's career has spanned the era of capsule biopsy starting in 1990 and after appointment, he helped set up the NHS Lothian paediatric coeliac service in 2001. Dr Gillett has worked with many dietitians interested in coeliac disease over the last 25 years, including the establishment of a Dietetic led paediatric service in 2019. Dr Gillett was involved in the development of the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guideline ‘coeliac disease: recognition, assessment and management (NG20)’ in 2015, the European Society for Paediatric Gastroenterology Hepatology and Nutrition (ESPGHAN) 2020 and 2022 follow-up guidelines for children and young people, the Test of Change project, and the new adult British Society of Gastroenterology (BSG) Coeliac disease guidelines due to be published in 2026. For over 15 years Dr Gillett has been a regular advisor to Coeliac UK as a member of their Health Advisory Council.
Dr Helen Gillett, Consultant Adult Gastroenterologist
Dr Helen Gillett is an Adult Gastroenterologist at St John’s Hospital Livingston and is the former medical lead for the NHS Lothian coeliac service. Dr Gillett was member of the Scottish Government Test of Change Group which led to the development of the Scottish dietitian-led coeliac pathway and is a member of Coeliac UK’s Health Advisory Council. Dr Gillett’s work in Lothian was integral to the establishment of the British Society of Gastroenterology (BSG) interim COVID guidance in 2020 promoting a safe no-biopsy strategy in the UK. Dr Gillett is also a member of the BSG group looking at new guidance for the UK.
Victoria MacDonald, Advanced Practice Occupational Therapist and Lifestyle Medicine Practitioner
Victoria is an occupational therapist with over 25 years’ experience working within the NHS. Working within Rheumatology, Victoria provides a service to the whole of NHS Highland. Victoria is passionate about holistic care and as an accredited Lifestyle Medicine Practitioner, she integrates this approach into her NHS work to support patient wellbeing.
Dr Stelios Psycharakis, Associate Professor and Principal Investigator of the Aqua Steps Project
Dr Psycharakis is a Senior Lecturer (Associate Professor) at the University of Edinburgh and the Principal Investigator of the Aqua Steps project on falls prevention for frail older adults. Dr Psycharakis’ interest in sport and exercise started at a young age. Born in Crete and surrounded by the sea, Dr Psycharakis took up swimming as a teenager and represented Greece at international competitions. He still seizes every chance of splashing around, from snorkelling with his parents, to squeezing in a few lengths at the pool during his kids’ swim classes. Much of Dr Psycharakis’ early research has been on performance swimming, but nowadays he focuses primarily on how aquatic exercise can help reduce injury and illness and improve health and rehabilitation. Key research topics include falls prevention, treatment and management of back pain, and overuse injuries in swimming.
Becca Freeden, Physiotherapist and PhD Candidate
Becca is a Physiotherapist with specialist experience in pelvic health and rehabilitation, and she enjoys looking at the whole picture to help people establish lifelong exercise habits. Becca is working towards a PhD which explores bone health in perimenopause, a time of life when bone density is known to reduce. The focus of Becca’s PhD is to explore lifestyle in perimenopause and the barriers to making positive lifestyle changes. Becca’s PhD explores how working in a group with peer-support and input from multiple disciplines impacts on the individual's perimenopause experience.
Draft as at February 2026.
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08:30 |
ARRIVAL & REGISTRATION |
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09:00 |
WELCOME |
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09:10 |
Professor Sara Smith |
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09:30 |
Dr Barbara Hauser, Consultant Rheumatologist |
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10:10 |
Dr Helen Gillett, Consultant & Adult Gastroenterologist and Dr Peter Gillett, Retired Consultant Paediatric Gastroenterologist A Fractured Relationship? Bone health & gut liver disease Halle / Room 3148 |
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11:00-11:20 |
COMFORT BREAK & TIME TO MOVE TO THE PARALLEL SESSIONS |
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11:30 |
PARALLEL SESSIONS |
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11:30-12:10 |
Dr Stelios Psycharakis, Associate Professor and Principal Investigator of the Aqua Steps Project
Halle / Room 3148 |
Flamenco Dancing Taster Session TBC 35 minutes Room 0051 / level 1
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12:10-12:20 |
TIME TO MOVE TO OTHER PARALLEL SESSIONS |
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12:2-13:00 |
Becca Freeden, Physiotherapist and PHD Candidate Opportunities and challenges for bone health in perimenopause and beyond. Halle / Room 3148
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Flamenco Dancing Taster Session TBC 35 minutes Room 0051 / level 1 |
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12:50-13:55 |
LUNCH Posters available to view in Guthrie's |
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14:05 |
PARALLEL SESSIONS |
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14:05-14:45 |
NUTRITION TBC (30 mins & 10 mins Q&A) Halle / Room 3148 |
COOK OFF 40 minutes and 5 minutes to move Room 3157 14:05 - 14:45 |
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14:05-14:45 |
WEIGHTS DEMO and stuff gathering dust 35 mins and 10 mins to move to Halle Level 0 14:05-14:45 |
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14:45-14:55 |
TIME TO MOVE TO OTHER PARALLEL SESSIONS |
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14:55-15:35 |
Victoria MacDonald Unlocking your 'superpowers' to support your wellbeing Halle / Room 3148 |
COOK OFF 40 minutes and 5 minutes to move Room 3157 14:55 - 15:35 |
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15:40-15:50 |
COMFORT BREAK Water will be served on the third floor outside the Halle |
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15:50- 16:20 |
Lived Experience TBC |
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16:20-16:30 |
SUMMARY OF THE DAY, THANKS and CLOSE |
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Location and Getting Here
We are delighted to be hosting the Lydia X Osteoporosis Symposium at Queen Margaret University Campus. The campus is easily accessible whether you are travelling by bike, on foot, by public transport, or by car.
QMU campus is located close to Musselburgh, east of Edinburgh city centre. The best way to access the campus is through public transport or walking/cycling. We have Musselburgh train station at our front door and bus services stopping on campus. National Cycle Route 1 provides direct access via active travel. Vehicular access can only be gained from the A1.
Sustainability is a key element of the campus's design, and we further encourage it with a Green Travel Policy. Staff, students, and visitors are encouraged to travel sustainably, and car parking is on a first-come, first-served basis.
If you need to travel by car, please ensure you add your registration number when booking your place at our symposium. Please note spaces are not guaranteed and are only subject to availability. If you do not provide your car registration in advance, you will be required to pay the daily parking fee of £6.
We have included some details below to help you find us.
Get to QMU by public transport
If you have any questions, please contact events@qmu.ac.uk
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