2016 OARSI World Congress on Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis and Cartilage 24 (2016) iii

2016 OARSI World Congress on Osteoarthritis Promoting Clinical and Basic Research in Osteoarthritis March 31eApril 3, 2016 Amsterdam RAI Convention Center Amsterdam, The Netherlands Welcome letter Dear Colleagues, It is with great pleasure that we welcome you to the 2016 Osteoarthritis Research Society International (OARSI) World Congress to be held in Amsterdam, The Netherlands, from March 31 e April 3, 2016. The annual OARSI Congress is a global forum for all people involved in OA research and treatment from academia and industry, including basic scientists, clinical investigators, radiologists, rheumatologists, orthopedic surgeons, physicians in physical medicine and rehabilitation, allied health professionals and policy makers. In keeping with the multidisciplinary international membership of OARSI, this meeting will feature a worldwide selection of expert speakers presenting state-of-the-art information on a wide range of topics related to the biology, pathogenesis and treatment of joints as the relates to OA. This year's program includes three scientific plenary sessions, 12 concurrent sessions and six breakfast workshops, as well as Pre-Congress workshops and lunchtime symposia. A wide range of topics related to OA will be covered, examples of which are sessions devoted to: anti-NGF treatments for OA pain; muscle, sarcopenia and OA; joint tissue biomechanics; skeletal progenitors in tissue homeostasis and repair; resolution of inflammation; the role of microRNAs in the pathogenesis, detection and treatment of OA; and others on the basic science side. And on the clinical side, sessions devoted to: cartilage repair and FGF18; intervertebral disc disease; cost-effectiveness of OA treatments; quantitative imaging of noncartilage joint tissues; and pragmatic trials and implementation research. A Pre-Congress workshop will be devoted to diverse basic and clinical science perspectives on joint pain. As usual, the Congress will close with the Year in Review in which internationally renowned research leaders will provide an overview of recent progress in key areas of OA research. 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 focus on a theme chosen by the young investigator sub-committee. Breakfast workshops allow attendees to meet and speak with experts in specific areas of basic or clinical science. The workshops will focus on important aspects of osteoarthritis including: novel approaches to delivery of IA therapy in OA; adipocytokines in OA; healing therapies for OA, including yoga; and getting value out of preclinical models: translation and prediction, among others. Clearly it is going to be another stimulating World Congress on the advances in OA-related research. Attending this meeting will also allow you the opportunity to join a global network of individuals from a broad range of disciplines, all working toward a better understanding of OA with the goal to prevent or treat or cure the disease. Thank you for joining us at the OARSI World Congress 2016 in Amsterdam and entering the discussion. John Loughlin, PhD OARSI President Michael Nevitt, PhD, MPH Congress Chair Tonia Vincent, FRCP, PhD Abstract Chair

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.joca.2016.01.009 1063-4584/$ e see front matter