OARSI 2011

It is with great pleasure that we invite you to the 2011 Osteoarthritis Research Society International (OARSI) World Congress to be held in San Diego, California from September 15-18, 2011. The annual OARSI Congress is a global forum for all people involved in osteoarthritis research and treatment: basic scientists from academia and industry, clinical investigators, radiologists, rheumatologists, orthopaedic surgeons, 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 osteoarthritis. This year’s program includes four plenary sessions, sixteen concurrent sessions and four breakfast sessions. As in past years, and by popular demand, there will be a debate. This year’s debate will probe whether subchondral bone or articular cartilage is the best target for DMOAD development.

A range of topics related to osteoarthritis will be covered at the Congress including obesity, genetics and epigenetics, pain, hand OA, hip OA, rehabilitation, inflammation and immunity, stem cell therapies, chondrocyte homeostasis, 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 endeavour. Finally, mentorship sessions are planned for young investigators, giving them the opportunity to discuss their ideas with leaders in diverse fields of research.

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 animal models of pain and nociception, establishing clinical trials, cell therapy options for OA, and more.
We warmly invite you to attend what promises to be a landmark World Congress on advances in osteoarthritis-related research in California. OARSI has a unique focus on osteoarthritis, 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 osteoarthritis. Whether you are a returning member, or joining us for the first time, we welcome you to OARSI 2011 in San Diego.

Linda Sandell, PhD OARSI President	Amanda Fosang, PhD Congress Chair	Francois Rannou, MD, PhD Abstract Chair