OARSI Weekly Briefing - May 7, 2021

 

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May 7, 2021 Briefing-at-a-Glance
OARSI Connect '21 Recap | OARSI AWARDS | Osteoarthritis Management Programs Delphi Survey | Publications Committee | Discussion Group Events | Important Dates & Upcoming Deadlines | Past Briefings | Join / Renew

OARSI Connect '21 Recap

OARSI Connect '21 wrapped up last week. Over 900 registrants from around the world learned and networked for four consecutive days on our virtual meeting and networking platforms. The conference included:

  • 1 Presidental Address
  • 2 Pre-Conference Workshops
  • 7 Plenary Sessions
  • 6 Award Winners 
  • 3 Networking Sessions
  • 12 Concurrent Sessions

All of the above-mentioned sessions were recorded and will be available to registered attendees on the meeting platform site for a year following the conclusion of the World Congress. To access the recordings, click HERE and navigate to the session(s) you would like to view. 

If you missed OARSI Connect '21 you can still register and have access to the recordings for the next year. Simply register HERE. 

OARSI Awards

The recognition of the OARSI Award Winners is always a highlight of the OARSI World Congress and this year was no different. This year's awards recognition included two new Rising Star awards. During the Opening Plenary Sessions' Presidental Address the following award winners were recognized.

Lifetime Achievement Award: Alan Grodzinsky, ScD; MIT
This award is intended to honor a person who has devoted much of their career to the advancement of the science associated with osteoarthritis.

Basic Science Research Award: Anne-Marie Malfait, MD, PhD; Rush University
The purpose of the OARSI Basic Science Research Award is to promote advancement in basic research in the field of osteoarthritis. Research targets include all areas of basic science with relevance to osteoarthritis. 

Clinical Research Award: Phil Conaghan, MBBS, PhD, FRACP, FRCP; University of Leeds
The purpose of the OARSI Clinical Research Award is to recognize excellence in clinical research related to osteoarthritis.

Rising Star Basic Science Research Award: Silvia Monteagudo, PharmD, PhD; KU LEUVEN
The newly created “Rising Star” Award is to recognize contributions from mid-career researchers (within 12 years of starting PhD or residency training – extensions considered for clinical rotations and parental leave).

Rising Star Clinical Research Award: Ida Haugen, MD, PhD; Diakonhjemmet Hospital
The newly created “Rising Star” Award is to recognize contributions from mid-career researchers (within 12 years of starting PhD or residency training – extensions considered for clinical rotations and parental leave).

Rising Star Clinical Research Award: Jamie Collins, PhD; Brigham and Women’s Hospital
The newly created “Rising Star” Award is to recognize contributions from mid-career researchers (within 12 years of starting PhD or residency training – extensions considered for clinical rotations and parental leave).

Congratulations to all of this year's winners. To view a list of previous winners, please click HERE. 

Osteoarthritis Management Programs Delphi Survey

Have you worked with an Osteoarthritis Management program? Participate in a research study by taking a brief survey to establish a recommended set of measures for evaluating OA Management Programs. Click here to participate in the survey.

Meet the OARSI Publications Committee

The Publications Committee oversees the journals of OARSI (OAC and OAC Open) and the relationship with the publisher of the journals.  This committee evaluates the publisher and negotiates new or renewal publisher and editor contracts, provides advice to the editors and discusses issues related to the journals.

Frank Beier, MD, MS Committee Chair

Frank Beier is the Canada Research Chair in Musculoskeletal Research and the Chair of the Department of Physiology and Pharmacology at the University of Western Ontario. He is also a member of Western University’s Bone and Joint Institute. His lab explores mechanisms controlling cartilage and joint biology, both during skeletal development and in diseases such as osteoarthritis, using genome-wide gene expression studies and genetically modified mice for osteoarthritis research.  For example, his research first implicated the EGFR pathway, several nuclear receptors, and the channel protein Pannexin 3 in this disease. Based on the identification of these pathways as mediators of osteoarthritis pathogenesis, several of his current projects attempt to translate these basic findings towards clinical applications. 

Dr. Beier has published more than 140 peer-reviewed articles and gave more than 120 invited presentations across the world. His work is currently supported by a Foundation Grant from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research and funds from the NIH. He was a member of the Board of Directors of the Osteoarthritis Research Society International (OARSI) and is a current member of several editorial boards, including Deputy Editor for Osteoarthritis & Cartilage. He was the Chair of the 2017 Cartilage Gordon Conference and was awarded the Basic Science Award from OARSI in 2019. He served as standing member of the SBSR study section at NIH and currently is a standing member of the SBDD study section.

In addition to his research, Dr. Beier is passionate about mentoring the next generation of scientists and about EDI and social justice in academia and beyond. Dr. Beier lives in London, Canada. He has six children and, consequently, enjoys every moment of quiet he can get, especially while hiking and biking outside. 

Committee Members
 

  • Frank Beier (Canada)
  • Jason McDougall (Canada)
  • Felix Eckstein (Austria)
  • Martijn van den Bosch (Netherlands)
  • John Loughlin (United Kingdom)
  • Ilana Ackerman (Australia)
  • Shi-Cong Tao YI (China)
  • Joel Block - BD (United States)
  • Henning Madry - BD (Germany)
  • Flavia Ciccutini (Australia)

OARSI Discussion Group Events

OARSI's Discussion Groups bring together individuals with a focus on specific OA-related specialty areas. Most Discussion Groups met prior to or after OARSI Connect '21. 

The Spinal Osteoarthritis Discussion Group will meet on Monday, May 10th at 4:30 EDT. Click HERE to register. 

Finally, be on the lookout for an email from OARSI Headquarters that will allow you to formally join a discussion group(s) by adding a Discussion Group in your OARSI profile. This will allow headquarters to have formal rosters of each of the discussion groups and send targeted emails to each Discussion Group. 

Important Dates & Upcoming Deadlines

  • 2021 Membership Dues: Be sure to renew your OARSI dues (or join today!). Join / Renew.
  • April 29  - May 1, 2021: OARSI Connect '21 (Pre-Congress programming April 28). Register today.

  • April 27 - May 11, 2021: Discussion Groups. Learn More.

 Join / Renew

Past OARSI Briefings