October 2024
Dear OARSI membership,
The abstract submission deadline, November 22, for our World Congress in Incheon, South Korea, April 24-27, 2025 is approaching. Program Chair Mona Dvir-Ginzberg and Abstract Chair Muneaki Ishijima and their Program Committee members have produced a truly exciting line-up of topics and top-quality invited speakers that will be announced shortly. Thank you so much for the hard work!
Incheon is part of the capital Seoul area and the Songdo Convensia is located about 1hr 30 min from the vibrant mega-city of Seoul (or 45 min express train from the Incheon airport (ICN). There is excellent modern community transportation for fast, convenient and inexpensive travel. I suggest that you, if you have the possibility, take this opportunity to spend a few extra days of vacation to experience the lovely hospitality, culture, and amazing sights of the greater Seoul area! Please see travel information, for things to do, discounts, etc.
Royal Guard Changing Ceremony at Gyeongbokgung Palace (Source: VISITKOREA)
The City of Incheon plans to have a welcome booth at the Incheon Airport and will provide complimentary shuttle transport service for OARSI registrants to/from the Incheon Airport and Songdo Convensia (more details will follow). The transfer time is about 1 hr. The options of alternative accommodation and housing (guest houses etc.) are also very reasonable in Incheon for members on a tight budget.
Further, please note OARSI offers up to 30 travel stipends for presenting early career investigators to support travel to South Korea. Please see details during the abstract submission process and be sure to apply to be considered for an ECI travel stipend when submitting your abstracts.
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On October 12, the OARSI Board of Directors met and covered an extensive full-day agenda including but not limited to committee reports, journal reports, important budget considerations and future World Congresses. To already note in your calendars, our meeting on April 23-26, 2026, will be held in West Palm Beach, Florida, USA, and on April 22-25, 2027, we are scheduled for Barcelona, Spain.
OARSI is proud to welcome two new national Ambassadors: Prof Nesrine El Sayed, Cairo University, Egypt, and Opeyemi Babatunde, Keele University & University of Ibadan, Nigeria!
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Finally, as always, for the great science that you have written up, please consider our excellent two high-quality scientific journals to publish your work! Our two Co-Editors in Chief for Osteoarthritis and Cartilage (OAC), Anne-Marie Malfait and David Hunter, and Editor in Chief for Osteoarthritis and Cartilage Open (OAC Open), Henning Madry, all do truly amazing work with their editorial teams.
OARSI Board of Directors meeting, Oct 12, 2024
OARSI inspires!
Martin Englund, MD, PhD
OARSI President