Welcome

The Programme and Local Organising Committee Chairs, and the Presidents of the IFMRS, ANZBMS and JSBMR, extend their warmest welcome to you at our inaugural combined meeting of the Australian and New Zealand Bone and Mineral Society (ANZBMS) and the International Federation of Musculoskeletal Research Societies (IFMRS), in conjunction with the Japanese Society for Bone and Mineral Research (JSBMR), in Brisbane, Australia, over 17-21 June 2017.

This meeting will highlight the shared mission of all three societies - to raise global awareness of the importance of musculoskeletal research, foster integration of clinical and basic science, and facilitate the translation of science to health care and clinical practice.
Our scientific programme includes invited plenary presentations, symposia and seminars, basic and clinical abstract presentations, young investigator awards, and interactive poster sessions. Our speakers are drawn from a truly international profile, including Australia, Asia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, Europe, the United Kingdom and the USA. Key themes in contemporary musculoskeletal science being presented include:

• Genomics and the skeleton
• The future of osteoporosis management
• Cancer and bone metastasis
• Muscle, mechanical forces and bone
• Biology and treatment of rheumatic diseases
• Live imaging of bone cells
• Infection, the immune system and bone
• Innovations in orthopaedics
• Therapeutic advances
• Rare/childhood bone diseases
• Fracture prevention and fracture care
• Advances in bone biology

We hope you enjoy being welcomed to the beautiful city of Brisbane by Australia’s traditional owners, with a wonderful opening function to follow. The Local Organising Committee will also be organizing student and young investigator barbeques, a gala dinner-dance, and early morning exercise sessions each day in the beautiful Southbank Parklands of Brisbane, on the edge of the river.
Over the next few days, there will be many opportunities to network and discuss science and medicine, ensure equity of opportunity, find new funding and research opportunities, and build collaborations and contacts with international colleagues. We are sure that you will find this to be a truly exciting meeting presenting both the breadth and depth of clinical and basic musculoskeletal research.
We hope you enjoy the meeting!

Mark Forwood LOC Chair
Mark Cooper & Mike Rogers ANZBMS POC Co-Chairs
John Eisman & Roland Baron IFMRS POC Co-Chairs
Seiji Fukumoto & Riko Nishimura JSBMR POC Co-Chairs
Emma Duncan ANZBMS President
Roland Baron and Bente Langdahl IFMRS Co-Presidents
Sakae Tanaka JSBMR President