Today, at the 2020 World Congress on Osteoporosis, Osteoarthritis and Musculoskeletal Diseases, five investigators were awarded the first International Osteoporosis Foundation (IOF) Skeletal Rare Diseases Academy Awards in recognition of the quality of their research related to rare disorders of the skeleton.

The five winning researchers, selected by members of the IOF Skeletal Rare Diseases Academy, were awarded a certificate and grant in the value of 1000 USD in recognition of their outstanding abstracts. 

The awards were presented to the following investigators by Professor Nicholas Harvey, Chair of the IOF Committee of Scientific Advisors and Co-Chair of the IOF SRD Academy, in a virtual award ceremony: 

• J.L. Liu, Department of Endocrinology, Key Laboratory of Endocrinology of the Ministry of Health, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Peking Union Medical College, Chinese Academy of Medical Science, Beijing, China
  Bone microstructures of adult patients with post-surgical hypoparathyroidism and non-surgical hypoparathyroidism (abstract P839)
   
• G. Orlando, Musculoskeletal Science and Sports Medicine Research Centre, Department of Life Sciences, Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester, UK
  Physical function and mobility in adults with x-linked hypophosphatemia (abstract P621)
   
• H. Florez, Metabolic Bone Diseases Unit, Department of Rheumatology, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain Trabecular bone score in osteogenesis imperfecta. Is it useful? (abstract P128)
   
• P. Marozik, Institute of Genetics and Cytology of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus, Minsk, Republic of Belarus
  Novel mutations in col1a1 and col1a2 coding regions in patients with osteogenesis imperfecta (abstract P828)
   
• G. Marcucci, Department of Biomedical, Experimental and Clinical Sciences, University of Florence, Italy
  Management of hypoparathyroidism and pseudohypoparathyroidism during pregnancy: a retrospective observational study (abstract P1097)

“We sincerely congratulate the investigators of the winning abstracts for their excellent research which provides valuable new insights into the pathogenesis, diagnosis, and management of rare skeletal disorders,” said Professor Harvey.

Professor Maria Luisa Brandi, Convener and Co-Chair of the IOF Skeletal Rare Diseases Academy and IOF Board member, added:

“The new research highlighted here today reflects the continued progress which has been made in our understanding of rare skeletal diseases. Indeed, for diseases such as hypophosphatasia and x-linked hypophosphatemia, tremendous leaps have been made which now offer patients new and life-changing options for management of their disease. Although there is still a long way to go, our hope is that with increasing knowledge we will be able to significantly advance patient management from diagnosis to treatment.”

Abstracts presented at the WCO-IOF-ESCEO 2020 will be published in Osteoporosis International Volume 30, Supplement 1 and are available at http://virtual.wco-iof-esceo.org/  

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About the IOF Skeletal Rare Diseases Academy
The International Osteoporosis Foundation’s (IOF) Skeletal Rare Diseases Academy is comprised of leading experts in the field whose mission is to advance and disseminate much needed knowledge in the field, and communicate the importance of diagnosis, management and support for rare diseases. Areas of activity will include publications in scientific journals, developing  educational programmes and training courses, and providing practical informational resources for patients and healthcare professionals. In addition, the Academy will present awards to recognize and promote research excellence and the work of young scientists in the field.

The IOF SRD Academy is financially supported by Kyowa Kirin, which has no input into the Committee, abstract selection or awards. 

About IOF
The International Osteoporosis Foundation (IOF) is the world's largest nongovernmental organization dedicated to the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of osteoporosis and related musculoskeletal diseases. IOF members, including committees of scientific researchers as well as 260 patient, medical and research societies, work together to make fracture prevention and healthy mobility a worldwide heath care priority. https://www.osteoporosis.foundation  @iofbonehealth