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I think I’m not alone in saying that I have high hopes for 2022.
Firstly, for a gradual return to something that we might describe as “normality” after the outbreak of the covid-19 pandemic, which of course is not at all over, but whose impact will hopefully become progressively less devastating and disruptive thanks to, among other things, the vaccine roll-out.
This means, among other things, a return to more face-to-face interaction and in-person events, including the upcoming conferences of IFMRS member organizations. First up is the ORS Annual Meeting, where I will be chairing an IFMRS session on “Advancing Orthopaedic Science Globally Through Digital Learning”, which will include presentations on HubLE, the MSK Knowledge Portal, and our Future Global Leaders workstream, and is a must-attend for anyone reading this who is planning to be at the conference. We will also be hosting a joint IFMRS-ECTS session at the ECTS Congress in May, on “The Challenges and Opportunities in Advancing Global Musculoskeletal Research”, focusing on our rapidly-evolving work on international education and global outreach.
We are also planning a face-to-face meeting for our Fleisch workshop in November, as well as a series of virtual workshops in the Spring, following the success of last year’s. Watch this space!
I also have high hopes this year for the IFMRS and for our increasingly interconnected community, and our rapidly developing program of work, in line with our 3-year Strategic Plan. It’s been two years now since I took up the role of CEO of the IFMRS, and the Federation has grown a lot during this time. Having articulated a renewed sense of purpose in 2020, and made big strides towards achieving ambitious goals in 2021, we are now well-placed to really deliver against our many objectives, as we continue our journey in an increasingly rapidly-changing world. As ever, our partners and member organizations are central to these efforts, and the more we can genuinely work together towards shared aims, the more it will benefit each of us and the entire musculoskeletal community.
We have also matured, as an organization and as a federation. In particular, the decision by our members last year to create an elected Board and a new, representative Council is a great reflection of an organization that is becoming more inclusive, more focused, and more in charge of its destiny. Our new Board is a great combination of new members and more “experienced” ones, and also a good reflection of our very diverse membership.
A few other things that I’d like to highlight from our plans for the year include:
- Strengthening the involvement of the global MSK research community, particularly from low-and middle-income countries, and increasing our ability to support MSK researchers globally, which we will capture in an overarching action plan
- In partnership with others, making knowledge more “diffused” and easily accessible
- Growing and evolving HubLE as our key hub for information and network-building for early career researchers (but not only) across the world
- Building and integrating the MSK Knowledge Portal with other databases, particularly around single-cell data, and improving the overall user experience
- Influencing effectively at the international level, building on the GMUSC’s strategic framework published last year
- Developing our work in key areas, including rare diseases, building on the Rare Bone Disease Summit
And that is not all. What we’ve chosen to do with this newsletter, however, is provide an overview of some of the highlights for 2022, with a special focus on the key events of our member organizations. In this respect, we hope that this newsletter might be useful as a kind of “planner” for the year.
On that note, let me wish everyone a very Happy New Year. Working together, we can definitely make it so.
Federico Moscogiuri
IFMRS CEO
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The roles of research societies
Natalie Sims
Past President, ANZBMS
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Academic societies have been central to my career development. As a PhD student, my research was enriched by two academic societies: the Australian Society for Medical Research (ASMR), and the Australian and New Zealand Bone and Mineral Society (ANZBMS). Conferences organised by these two societies gave me opportunities to present my doctoral research, and to discuss my work with experts in the field beyond my own supervisor. I also heard, and was inspired by, prominent researchers from around the world. It was through presentations and social events at the conferences organised by these societies that I secured my first postdoctoral position. While in that position, still in Australia, I travelled to my first international conferences: they were organised by the International Society for Bone Morphometry (ISBM), and the American Society for Bone and Mineral Research (ASBMR).
Simply put, these conferences expanded my world and changed the way I did research forever. Perhaps you’ve experienced something similar? As students, the first engagement we have with academic societies is conference attendance. It’s remarkable really, to think how much the scientific and medical communities depend on the exchange of ideas that conferences facilitate, and that these events depend on the efforts of individuals who volunteer their time and ideas to make them happen. I’ve been involved in organising many conferences around the world, and while it’s a lot of work, it’s incredibly rewarding.
But of course, academic societies do far more than training the next generation of researchers through conferences. Over the years I have learned and participated in many initiatives by which academic societies strengthen research and improve patient care. Here are some examples. Research is published thanks to the work of our learned societies; many journals, like the Journal of Bone and Mineral Research, Endocrinology, and the Journal of Biological Chemistry, are society journals. Researchers are financially supported by grants, travelling fellowships, laboratory exchanges. Resources, methods, and ideas are shared through online learning environments, Zoom catchups, and mentorship programs. Societies also form an important link between researchers and patient advocacy organisations. Funding for research is improved by societies acting as advocates to governments and funding agencies. this has been particularly important for musculoskeletal research, which is under-funded because musculoskeletal health is under-recognised as a problem.
It is through academic societies that experts can come together to reach agreement on key issues in the field, including consensus guidelines for patient treatment, and provide expert guidance to government organisations on the approval of new therapies and government programs to improve health. Connecting with each other also helps us to share our highly specialised knowledge, push each other further to do the highest quality research, and provide benefits for patients with both rare and common conditions that affect the musculoskeletal system.
The international nature of research means it’s important that we not only continue to support and strengthen our own country- or region-specific academic societies, but that we also build musculoskeletal research around the world. The IFMRS provides a valuable, and indeed unique, channel for our community to come together and share knowledge, build networks, and together speak with one voice.
This is why I’m excited about joining the Board of IFMRS. We can all learn from each other by sharing our educational resources, program ideas, and knowledge. I’m looking forward to being inspired by what is happening around the world, and to working with all of you to build a stronger musculoskeletal research community worldwide.
Natalie Sims
IFMRS Board Member
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The IFMRS has a new Board, consisting of 9 members who have been nominated and democratically elected by our member organizations.
We’re delighted to welcome new Board Members, Natalie Sims, Claus Gluer, Ed Guo, and Yuuki Imai, who are joining previous Board Members Roland Baron and Bente Langdahl (who continue in their role as Co-Chairs), Rob Blank (Treasurer), Ralph Muller (Secretary), and Jen Westendorf.
You can read more about them here.
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The H Fleisch Workshop Is Back!
Having had to postpone our plans for a face-to-face workshop in 2021 due to the pandemic, we are planning to welcome people back to Bruges, Belgium, on 20-22 November this year!
The Herbert Fleisch Workshop is a 3-day residential workshop designed to bring together international investigators and young and mid-career scientists working in musculoskeletal research, for a weekend of learning, discussion, and networking with the hands-on participation of some of the top people in this field.
In addition, we are planning to host a series of virtual workshops in the Spring led by key musculoskeletal researchers and scientists, covering a range of exciting topics.
Watch this space!
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Last year was a challenging but incredible year for Hubble. Since our relaunch in May, we released 45 pieces of content, we had about 4000 visits to our website and 105.6K tweet impressions!
We look forward to expanding our activities in 2022 to support early investigators from across the world.
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Are you presenting your work at ORS 2022 Annual Meeting?
Share your experience at HubLE Exchange!
If you’re attending the ORS conference on 6 February, be sure to attend our session on “Advancing Orthopaedic Science Globally Through Digital Learning (Crosstalk Workshop)" (Sunday, Feb 6th from 1.30 pm - 3 pm), which will include, among others, our Editor-in-Chief Jonathan Gustafson.
We are also organizing a social event at the conference for people interested in contributing to or being involved in HubLE – be sure to follow us on Twitter (@IFMRSHubLE | @IFMRSGlobal).
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HubLE Exchange provides a platform for scientific exchanges and reports from scientific meetings featuring HubLE international community of early investigators in the MSK field.
To submit your EOI for sharing your ORS 2022 experience with HubLE, visit our website www.huble.org or scan this QR code:
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Submission
To submit your EOI for sharing your research or your opinion with HubLE, visit our website www.huble.org or scan the QR code opposite.
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MEMBER SOCIETIES' 2022 ANNUAL MEETINGS
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ASBMR 2022 Annual Meeting
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Save the Date for the 2022 ASBMR Annual Meeting and Pre-Meeting Symposium!
The 2022 ASBMR Annual Meeting will be held September 9 – 12 in Austin, Texas, USA.
ASBMR is excited to announce the pre-meeting symposium will be entitled Rare Diseases: From Molecules and Mechanisms to Therapeutics. This year’s pre-meeting will be held one day prior to the start of the Annual Meeting.
Stay up to date with the latest details on registration, abstracts, and much more by visiting the ASBMR Annual Meeting website.
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Registration is still open for the ORS 2022 Annual Meeting.
The ORS is looking forward with plans for an in-person 2022 Annual Meeting, February 4 – 8, 2022 in Tampa, Florida.
Visit the ORS website for information about this year’s Keynote Speakers, Scientific Sessions, Spotlight Speakers, Career and Personal Development Sessions, Research Section Scientific Meetings, and more.
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Join the International Society for Clinical Densitometry for the Society’s 28th Annual Meeting – Musculoskeletal Health Assessment in 2022: From Bench to Bedside. This year's conference will be held in a fully virtual format allowing you to attend the entire conference from your home or office.
The ISCD Annual Meeting provides a forum for the exchange of the most current research and clinically relevant, evidence-based information regarding skeletal health assessment.
Learn more about our scientific program and register to attend.
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The 2022 ECTS Congress in Helsinki
ECTS 2022 is just around the corner and we are really looking forward to meeting many of you, live again, in Helsinki, from 6-10 May 2022. This is a welcoming and safe city with direct flights from most hub airports in Europe, North America, and Asia.
We are planning to merge our dynamic and stimulating environment of the ECTS face-to-face events with new developments in meeting technology by enhancing online components for live participation and discussions during selected scientific sessions to facilitate participation for those unable to attend in person.
The Scientific Programme Committee has put together a varied programme that highlights the diversity of our field. We’ll be covering new technologies such as organ-on-chip approaches for basic and clinical science, diving into chronobiology, bone metabolism, and sleep disturbances, and exploring the latest insights in cranial defects for the clinician and basic scientist. The latest studies into disturbances in calcium and phosphate homeostasis will be reviewed and discussed as will the epidemiology, prevention, and clinical management of osteoporosis. We will be discussing the latest news in the osteoclast field, skeletal angiogenesis, osteosarcoma, and mechanobiology.
For more information on our scientific programme and the long list of eminent main programme speakers, please visit our website: www.ects2022.org.
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Help us drive the science forward: be part of the ECTS community
Grow a diverse network of friends, colleagues, peers, and collaborators within the musculoskeletal community. ECTS is a volunteer-led, not-for-profit medical/research society and since 1963, is your connection to multidisciplinarity, high-quality science, and an international network of researchers working in the calcified tissues and related fields.
Excellence, Inclusion, Collaboration, and Transparency are at the heart of everything ECTS does. A large number of free educational resources and activities await you, take a look at our initiatives here.
Membership is open to anyone working in the field at whatever stage in their career and from anywhere in the world.
Join or renew your membership now.
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2022 IBSM Congress Update
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The International Society of Bone Morphometry (ISBM) will be holding its XVth Congress from the 10th-13th July 2022 in Odense, Denmark.
Abstract submissions open 1st February 2022 and close 25th March 2022
The Congresses of the ISBM are held every three or four years with up to 200 participants. The attendees represent a highly select group involved in basic bone and cartilage research and the preclinical and clinical development of bone-active drugs. In addition to the main 2-day symposia featuring invited speakers, short talks, and posters, a long-standing tradition of our meeting is training workshops (imaging and histology). Over the years, this has been a popular feature of our meeting – welcomed by trainees and established investigators new to the field.
The sessions for the 2022 congress include the following:
- Spatial transcriptomics and genomics
- Intravital imaging of bone regeneration and development
- Osteocytes and novel insights into osteoporosis
- Remodeling and modeling – clinical and pre-clinical perspectives
- Clinical assessment of bone structure and response to load
- The bone/gut axis
- Bone regeneration and development
- Training workshop: Basic bone histomorphometry and µCT analysis
- Training workshop: Advanced bone histomorphometry and CT imaging
- Training workshop: Tissue clearing and advanced imaging techniques – spatial transcriptomics, intravital imaging,
Prominent invited keynote speakers include Professors Natalie Sims (Australia), Mary Bouxsein (Harvard, USA), Bente Langdahl (Denmark), Anja Hauser (Germany), Alina Bozec (Germany), Reinhold Erben (Vienna), Christa Maes (Belgium), and Maria Serrat (USA).
We look forward to welcoming you to Odense in July 2022. Please visit our conference website for further preliminary programs and details on registration and housing. https://event.sdu.dk/isbmconference2022/conference
For those that cannot join us in person, we are still working on virtual options for asynchronous streaming of some program content.
Thomas Andersen (ISBM President)
Michelle McDonald (ISBM 2022 POC Chair)
J. Ignacio Aguirre (ISBM POC Member)
Ralph Müller (ISBM POC Member)
Rick Sumner (ISBM POC Member)
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IBSM Board and Membership Opportunities:
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The ISBM membership is growing and in response, we are establishing new opportunities for our current and new members to get more involved in society. Through the training workshops at our 2022 meeting, we will be developing topic-focused working groups.
In addition, as we renew the structure of our board and society we are planning ways to engage and support our early to mid-career members. We are seeking leaders and topic experts that are interested in advancing key areas within the field and promoting the overall goals of the ISBM.
Please fill out this brief survey to express your interest, even if you will not be able to join us in person for the 2022 ISBM meeting, or feel free to contact us through our website for more information.
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OTHER SOCIETIES' 2022 ANNUAL MEETINGS
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It is our pleasure to invite you to the 10th International Conference on Children's Bone Health, to be held 2-5 July 2022 in the lively Irish city of Dublin.
This Conference will bring together scientists and clinicians from a wide range of disciplines to gain a better understanding of the growing skeleton in health and disease. The scope ranges from basic molecular mechanisms to clinical aspects, from bone physiopathology to treatment. We invite anyone with an interest in bone metabolism and bone mass in children, adolescents and young adults to attend. The ICCBH conference takes place every two years. The 2019 meeting was attended by over 600 participants from across the globe, making it truly multinational and multidisciplinary – a unique networking opportunity.
Check the site for more info.
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The 5th Annual Scientific Meeting for the Australian and New Zealand Society for Sarcopenia is being held 7-9 July 2022. This is a multi-disciplinary meeting brings together basic scientists and clinicians from exercise physiology, physiotherapy, nutrition, medicine, nursing, epidemiology, health economics and public health.
Sarcopenia and frailty are potentially devastating conditions that affect many people globally and present a major challenge to the functional independence and quality of life of our older population
Organising chairs Dr Anthony Villani and Prof Andrea Maier welcome internationally renowned speakers; Prof Gordon Lynch, Prof Sarah Hilmer, A/Prof Michele Callisaya & Prof Renuka Visvanathan. Further information can be found at- https://anzssfr.org/future-meetings. The event has special pricing in place for all ANZSSFR members.
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The JSBMR's 2022 Annual Meeting will be held on July 22 – 23, 2022.
For more information reach out to the JSBMR secretariat.
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The Annual Scientific Meetings of The Australian & New Zealand Bone and Mineral Society & The Molecular and Experimental Pathology Society of Australasia will run from the 1 - 4 August, 2022 at the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre, Australia.
Registrations will open in February 2022!
Visit the conference website for more information: www.anzbms-mepsa.org
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We are pleased to inform you that the 7th International Meeting on Bone Marrow Adiposity (BMA2022), will be held in Athens, Greece on September 28th-30th, 2022.
The objective of this meeting is to provide an environment that allows the exchange of knowledge and recent advances in clinical and basic research in the emerging field of bone marrow adiposity. By the end of the meeting clinicians will improve their ability to assess difficult tasks in the diagnosis and treatment of metabolic bone diseases while basic scientists will identify useful links between laboratory and clinical research.
The congress will offer numerous networking opportunities so that you will be able to meet and interact with leading scientists and researchers, friends and colleagues as well as sponsors and exhibitors.
We are looking forward to welcoming you in Athens.
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The Spanish Society of Bone and Mineral Metabolism Research (SEIOMM) is a multidisciplinary society including specialists of Rheumatology, Internal medicine, Traumatology, Endocrinology, Nephrology, Gynecology, Geriatrics, Rehabilitation, Nursing and Basic Research, among others.
The XXV Meeting of SEIOMM will be held in Madrid from October 6th to 8th, 2022. The preliminary programme will be available very soon.
If you wish to join us more information is available at: www.seiomm.org or you can contact us by email at seiomm@seiomm.org
Hope to see you in October!
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In our continued effort to provide professional growth and promote communication and collaboration to our members, especially under current pandemic situation, International Chinese Musculoskeletal Research Society (ICMRS) has created monthly Scientific Frontier Webinar series starting from April 2020. Each webinar features experts in the areas of basic and clinical research, industrial, drug development and commercialization, mentoring and career development. The webinars are usually held for 1 hr including Q&A on Saturday night 9 pm US EST and are open to public. If you are interested in joining, visit our website for future webinar announcements: https://icmrs.net/ICMRS-Webinars-External/
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