OARSI 2012

Dear Colleagues,

It is with great pleasure that we invite you to the 2012 Osteoarthritis Research Society International (OARSI) World Congress to be held in Barcelona, Spain from April 26-29, 2012. Usually, the annual congress is held in September but for the first time we are permanently moving the meeting to April. Thus after 2012, the annual congress will be in spring so please note the new date on your future calendars!

The annual OARSI Congress is a global forum for all people involved in OA research and treatment: basic scientists from academia and industry, clinical investigators, radiologists, rheumatologists, orthopedic surgeons, physicians in physical medicine and rehabilitation, allied health professionals and policy makers. In keeping with the diverse, multidisciplinary, international membership of OARSI, our meeting will feature speakers from around the world presenting up-to-date information on a wide range of topics related to joint damage and OA. This year’s program includes five plenary sessions, fourteen concurrent sessions and six breakfast sessions. As in past years, and by popular demand, there will be a debate. This year’s debate will probe whether OA is a mechanical or an inflammatory disease. In addition, two pre-congress sessions will be held, one on genetics, genomics and functional analysis of OA susceptibility and another on the actual situation of OA in Ibero-American countries.

A range of topics related to OA will be covered at the Congress including development, genomic technologies, biological surgical repair, pain, regenerative medicine, clinical outcomes and patient expectations, biomechanics, rehabilitation, chondrocyte physiology, imaging, biomarkers and clinical trials. The Congress will close with the Year in Review in which internationally renowned research leaders will summarize progress in key areas of OA endeavors with a common methodology.

Finally, mentorship sessions are planned for young investigators, giving them the opportunity to discuss their ideas with leaders in diverse fields of research and a special session will be focus on a special theme chosen by the young investigator sub-committee.

Breakfast workshops allow attendees to meet experts in specific areas of basic or clinical science. This year’s Workshops will focus on important aspects of osteoarthritis including in vitro models of OA, genetic modified animal model, biomechanics, publishing animal studies, hand OA and more.

We warmly invite you to attend what promises to be a landmark World Congress on advances in OA-related research. OARSI has a unique focus on OA, with an emphasis on the search by industry and academia for a cure. The Congress provides an opportunity to join a global network of individuals from a broad range of disciplines, working towards a better understanding of OA. Whether you are a returning member, or joining us for the first time, we welcome you to OARSI 2012 in Barcelona.