The 11th Meeting of the Orthopaedic Research of the Japanese Orthopaedic Association

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J Orthop Sci (1996) 1:245

Iournalof

th0paedic Science TheJapanese Orthopaedic Association

Editorial

The llth Meeting of the Orthopaedic Research of the Japanese Orthopaedic Association TAKASHI SAKOU, M.D., CHAIRMAN Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Kagoshima University, Faculty of Medicine, 8-35-1 Sakuragaoka, Kagoshima 890, Japan

The 11th Meeting of the Orthopaedic Research of the Japanese Orthopaedic Association is to be held in Kagoshima for 2 days on October 17 and 18 this year. More than 400 papers related to the field of orthopedics will be presented. We have received many more applications for the abstract form than expected and the selection of papers will be limited. I anticipate that the participitants will be mainly from orthopedic surgery institutes. The program will focus on recent advances in basic research in osteogenesis. T h e r e will be two special lectures, on osteoporosis and BMP, and three symposiums, on the recent advances of basic research in OPLL, avascular osteonecrosis of the femoral head, and the mechanism of bone tumor metastasis, as well as a panel discussion on cartilage/bone formation. Basic research in orthopedics is expanding to encompass various fields. Recently, excellent achievements in molecular biological and genetic studies have been presented at this meeting. However, although large numbers of papers were received, high quality papers were few in number. We need to improve our overall standards. Basic research should be clinically relevant to elucidate clinical problems, this being necessary for the development of clinical medicine. So I would regard this point as being as important as the originality of the study in determining which papers are to be selected for presentation. Basic research is generally difficult to understand,

and I would ask speakers to ensure that their presentations are clear to clinicians, since many orthopedic surgeons will be attending. It is self-evident that molecular biology and genetic studies will occupy the larger portion of our research in the near future. Now we must deepen our knowledge of these fields, but it will be difficult. The basic research system in our country differs somewhat from systems in E u r o p e and the United States. Currently, there are few specialists in basic research in the clinical sector and related institutes, and there is little room for more such specialists. Postgraduate medical doctors generally engage for several years in research and they then usually leave to resume clinical studies. Further, in our country, the opportunities for specialists in basic research to mature are limited. Improvements in this situation require political intervention. For better research in our Present situation, I think it is indispensable that future efforts are interdisciplinary and involve international collaboration. Above all, the ideas and designs of our studies must be attractive and refined. As the Chairman I hope that this meeting will be attractive scientifically, and that many scientists from fields other than orthopedic surgery will attend. Takashi Sakou, M.D. Chairman 11th Meeting of the Orthopaedic Research of the Japanese Orthopaedic Association