Organizational Committees
Congress Presidents
John A. Kanis (UK) / Pierre D. Delmas (France)
Steering Committee
Pierre D. Delmas / Chairman
Silvano Adami (Italy)
Harry K. Genant (USA)
Ghassan Maalouf (Lebanon)
Hajime Orimo (Japan)
Ego Seeman (Australia)
Ex-Officio:
Cyrus Cooper / IOF Committee of Scientific Advisors (UK)
Judy Stenmark / IOF Committee of National Societies (Australia)
Bess Dawson Hughes / IOF General Secretary (USA)
Scientific Program Committee
C. Cooper, Chairman (UK)
S. Bavonratanavech (Thailand)
J.P. Bonjour (Switzerland)
S. Cummings (USA)
R. Eastell (UK)
R. Josse (Canada)
E. Lau (Hong-Kong)
M. McClung (USA)
T. Matsumoto (Japan)
P. Miller (USA)
A. Mithal (India)
T. Nakamura (Japan)
E. Orwoll (USA)
C. Pongchaiyakul (Thailand)
R. Rizzoli (Switzerland)
P. Sambrook (Australia)
T. Songpatanasilp (Thailand)
N. Taechakraichana (Thailand)
P. Yuktanandana (Thailand) Invitation to attend the 2008 IOF World Congress on Osteoporosis
It is with great pleasure that I invite you to attend the IOF World Congress on Osteoporosis to be held from December 3-7, 2008, in Bangkok, Thailand. Some 4,000 medical professionals attended the previous IOF World Congress on Osteoporosis, held in 2006 in Toronto, Canada. We are determined to make the Bangkok event even better, with more participants, a broader scientific program and special seminars aimed at health professionals in various disciplines.
Osteoporosis is now recognized as a major health problem in countries around the world.
But as awareness of osteoporosis increases, so does the amount of information available. At the IOF World Congress on Osteoporosis you will have a chance to hear, and interact, with the world’s experts and to view the latest data on all aspects of basic and clinical osteoporosis research, including the many new developments in bone cell biology, epidemiology, diagnosis and treatment. In addition, numerous presentations will focus on new drugs which can prevent bone loss and reduce fracture occurrence for patients with osteoporosis.
It is also appropriate that, for the first time, IOF has selected an Asian city to host this biannual event. Of course osteoporosis is a global problem, but Asia is the region where the increase in osteoporotic fractures will be greatest – according to one estimate, by 2050 one out of every two fractures worldwide will occur in Asia.
The Queen Sirikit Convention Center has outstanding facilities to host the meeting. The city of Bangkok offers a wide range of cultural, sightseeing and entertainment activities. On behalf of my colleagues on the steering and scientific committees, and the entire IOF family, I look forward to welcoming you to Bangkok for this exciting congress, which will attract the world’s leading physicians, scientists and health care professionals.
Congress Presidents -
John A. Kanis, M.D., Emeritus Professor, President, International Osteoporosis Foundation
Pierre D. Delmas, M.D., Ph.D. Professor of Medicine, Honorary President, International Osteoporosis Foundation
The IOF World Congress on Osteoporosis marks the first time that this global event will be held in Asia. The Asian region will experience the greatest increase in osteoporosis-related fractures in coming years, and it is representative of IOF’s scope that the 2008 Congress will be held in Bangkok.
The IOF World Congress on Osteoporosis is the only global congress dedicated specifically to all aspects of this debilitating and widespread disease. Besides the opportunity to learn about the latest science and developments in diagnosis and treatment, and the latest socioeconomic studies, participants will also have the chance to meet and learn from other physicians from around the world.
The IOF World Congress on Osteoporosis will bring together members of three important groups within IOF – the Committee of Scientific Advisors, the Committee of National Societies, and the Committee of Corporate Advisors. IOF is the only international health federation with this comprehensive structure, allowing scientists, health care professionals, activists and industry to work together to prevent osteoporosis and improve the lives of patients around the world. We are very proud of this global network of people who are dedicated to fighting the “silent epidemic”; my colleagues and I will be pleased to give you more information about how you can work with the IOF family.
I hope you will join us in Bangkok.
Daniel Navid, Chief Executive Officer of the International Osteoporosis Foundation
The IOF World Congress on Osteoporosis 2008 will build on previous successful IOF congresses and add several novel innovations. The Congress is the best opportunity for scientists and clinicians to learn about the latest research in osteoporosis, and to share their experiences with colleagues from around the world.
In addition to much-appreciated plenary lectures on the latest developments in clinical and translational science, and overviews of key topics, we have decided to expand the opportunities for specialist physicians, particularly in the fields of orthopaedics and gynaecology, to meet global experts to discuss specific clinical challenges and learn how best practice is applied in different regions of the world.
As in previous years, young scientists will have the opportunity to present their latest findings, and we will stage a special session on “late breaking news”. A large poster exhibition will give hundreds of researchers the chance to show their findings, while our corporate partners will organize interesting satellite symposia that introduce new options in diagnosis and treatment.
The IOF Committee of Scientific Advisors, along with the IOF World Congress on Osteoporosis scientific committee and steering committee has taken an active role in preparing an exciting scientific program, and on their behalf I look forward to welcoming you to Bangkok.
Cyrus Cooper, M.D. Chairman, IOF Committee of Scientific Advisors, Chairman, IOF World Congress on Osteoporosis 2008 Scientific Committee
It is with great pleasure that I invite you to Bangkok.
By deciding to stage the 2008 IOF World Congress on Osteoporosis in Asia, the first time that this prestigious gathering has been held in the region, IOF has recognized the growing problem of osteoporosis in the region and the increasing sophistication of Asian health professionals.
While we look forward to a large Asian participation, we also recognize that this is a global conference, and I would like to offer a warm welcome to our international guests, who, if history is any indication, will come from some 90 countries.
I also hope that delegates will find some time to enjoy the many sights and sounds of Bangkok, one of the world’s most interesting and enjoyable cities. I think you will enjoy Thai hospitality and my colleagues and I will be pleased to do whatever we can to make this a wonderful congress.
Dr. Suthorn Bavonratanavech, Chairman of the Organizing Committee, President of Thai Orthopaedic Association, Founder member of Thai Osteoporosis Foundation, AO Trustee of AO Foundation
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