Due to the current pandemic situation and expected travel restrictions in Thailand and Asia-Pacific as a whole, the International Osteoporosis Foundation (IOF) has transitioned its upcoming 8th IOF Asia Pacific Regional Conference to a virtual format, to be held December 1-2, 2021.

The online scientific programme has been redrafted to accommodate the new online format. With its strong clinical focus, the high quality programme offers clinicians valuable insights into new advances and best clinical practice. Abstract submissions are invited until the deadline of September 15, 2021. All accepted abstracts will be published in a supplement issue of Osteoporosis International and can be displayed in the e-Poster area during 3 months. The top ranked abstracts will be selected for an oral presentation – a unique opportunity to bring regional research to an international audience. IOF will also be offering IOF Young Investigator Awards in recognition of the best abstracts by young researchers from the Asia-Pacific region.

IOF CEO Dr Philippe Halbout stated: 

“We look forward to hosting an exciting scientific programme which will include live virtual presentations, moderated in real time by the chairs, and allowing the participants to interact with the speakers during the Q&A sessions. With a strong clinical focus, the Conference is expected to attract broad regional attendance from physicians in the field and the virtual format will make the Conference more easily accessible to delegates from throughout the region. We’re also incredibly pleased to be hosting joint sessions with APOA, APCO and APFFA, underlining the importance of regional collaboration, and the role of orthopaedists, in the prevention and care of osteoporosis and related fractures.”

In addition to six Meet-the-Expert sessions on clinical topics, and six plenary lectures, programme highlights include two joint sessions. The Joint Session with IOF and the Asia Orthopaedic Association (APOA) will be dedicated to Post Fracture Care & FLS Development. Chaired by Dr Peter Ebeling (Australia) and  Derrick Chan (Taiwan), the session will discuss the role of orthopaedic surgeons and geriatricians in post fracture care, the development of a Hip Fracture Registry in Asia, and Post-Fracture Care and Fracture Liaison Service development in the region. A joint session with IOF and both the Asia Pacific Consortium On Osteoporosis (APCO) and the Asia Pacific Fragility Fracture Alliance (APFFA) will be chaired by leading regional experts, Dr Manju Chandran (Singapore) and Dr Joon Kiong Lee (Malaysia). The session will look at how to drive policy change to promote best practice in fracture care in the Asia Pacific, the management of osteoporosis, and the expectations and challenges of post-fracture care coordination programs in the region. Each of the joint sessions will be followed by a panel discussion to allow for debate and Q&A. 

As well, a live session for delegates who are able to attend on site in Bangkok is planned before the opening ceremony of the virtual conference on December 1st, 2021. The joint IOF and ESCEO Symposium ‘Management Of Osteoporosis In 2021, South Asia Meets Europe’, will feature talks by leading European and Asian experts, reviewing and comparing the assessment and treatment of osteoporosis in the two regions.

Find out more about the IOF Asia-Pacific Virtual Osteoporosis Conference

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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 268 patient, medical and research societies, work together to make fracture prevention and healthy mobility a worldwide health care priority. IOF counts 44 member societies in the Asia-Pacific. 
https://www.osteoporosis.foundation   @iofbonehealth