MRC National Musculoskeletal Ageing Network

MRC LEC researchers awarded major international research prizes at 2022 World Congress in Osteoporosis, Osteoarthritis and Musculoskeletal Diseases

The International Osteoporosis Foundation (IOF) has awarded the prestigious IOF Olof Johnell Science Award to Elaine Dennison, Professor of Musculoskeletal Epidemiology at the University of Southampton’s MRC Lifecourse Epidemiology Centre (MRC LEC). Presented annually on the occasion of the World Congress on Osteoporosis, Osteoarthritis and Musculoskeletal Diseases, the IOF Olof Johnell Award recognises individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the field of osteoporosis in a scientific or policy implementation area worldwide. The prestigious Award is named after the late Professor Olof Johnell, a renowned investigator whose legacy includes major contributions to epidemiologic research, guideline development, and healthcare policy in the field of osteoporosis.

“I am delighted to present this prestigious Award to Elaine Dennison, who has been a valued colleague for over 25 years. She is an internationally recognized clinician, researcher, and educator who has been Instrumental in driving research in the field of musculoskeletal aging, osteoporosis and metabolic bone diseases. The MRC Lifecourse Epidemiology Centre is privileged to have Professor Dennison on the team.”

Professor Cyrus Cooper, Director, MRC LEC, and President of the International Osteoporosis Foundation

The annual ESCEO-IOF Pierre Meunier Young Scientist Award, presented at the virtual WCO-IOF-ESCEO 2022 Congress, recognizes young investigators in the field who have demonstrated outstanding scientific merit early in their careers. The 2022 Award was presented to Dr Nicholas Fuggle, NIHR Academic Clinical Lecturer in Rheumatology, again from the MRC LEC, University of Southampton.

“The ESCEO-IOF Pierre Meunier Young Scientist Award is awarded to a young investigator who has demonstrated outstanding scientific merit early in his or her career, prior to reaching a prominent academic position, and who is expected to be a future thought-leader in the musculoskeletal field. We are delighted to present this prestigious award to Dr Fuggle, who has already made significant contributions to research in the fields of musculoskeletal ageing, sarcopenia, osteoporosis, epigenetics, and digital healthcare. We also thank him for his valuable support and commitment to advancing secondary fracture prevention through his role in the IOF Capture the Fracture® programme.”

Professor Jean-Yves Reginster, ESCEO President and Co-Chair of WCO-IOF-ESCEO 2022

The excellent work of MRC LEC Early Career Researchers was also recognised: Dr Millie Parsons and Dr Faidra Laskou received ESCEO-AgNovos Healthcare Young Investigator Awards. Dr Jean Zhang and Dr Nick Fuggle received ESCEO-IOF Young Investigator Awards.

Opened by the MRC LEC Director and IOF President, Professor Cyrus Cooper, the 2022 IOF-ESCEO World Congress on Osteoporosis, Osteoarthritis and Musculoskeletal Diseases was notable for the substantial contributions from MRC LEC researchers, with plenary presentations and meet the expert sessions given by Professor Cooper, Professor Nicholas Harvey, Professor Elaine Dennison and Professor Kate Ward. MRC LEC Early Career Researchers Dr Nick Fuggle, Dr Millie Parsons, Dr Gregorio Bevilacqua and Dr Leo Westbury contributed oral presentations covering their scientific work as part of the MRC LEC programmatic research.

The World Congress on Osteoporosis, Osteoarthritis and Musculoskeletal Diseases is the world’s largest forum for the presentation of clinical research and new advances in the prevention and management of musculoskeletal disorders, including osteoporosis, osteoarthritis, sarcopenia, and frailty. Despite the WCO-IOF-ESCEO 2022 being held as a virtual congress, the event attracted over 7000 delegates and more than 1000 abstract submissions, from musculoskeletal researchers from across the globe.

For complete information visit
https://virtual.wco-iof-esceo.org/

The WCO-IOF-ESCO 2023 is planned from May 4-7, 2023 in Barcelona, Spain.