After the successful ECTS Annual Meeting in Liverpool 2023, where we reconnected in person after a long hiatus, we are looking forward to the ECTS Annual Meeting in Marseille, taking place from 25th to 28th May 2024. In addition to showcasing cutting-edge research and the latest breakthroughs in the musculoskeletal realm, our goal is to create a stimulating environment for successful scientific exchanges and professional development within our musculoskeletal community. We also aim to provide an exceptional opportunity to strengthen existing collaborations and forge new connections during the pre-congress venue on May 24th. The ECTS 2024 Scientific Program Committee has curated a program that caters to the interests of clinicians, basic scientists, and health professionals. This program includes a Basic Science section of ECTS 2024.
The conference will be held in Marseille, a European city with a rich cultural and historical background, as well as stunning Mediterranean landscapes. As part of the ECTS 2024 ancillary program on Friday 24th, workshops and six open fora have been organized by ECTS societies and members. These sessions will explore specific topics with a focus on novel insights and advancements. These sessions offer opportunities for researchers, clinicians, and healthcare professionals to engage in focused discussions, exchange knowledge, and gain insights into the latest developments in the fields of bone mechanobiology, glucocorticoids on bone in rheumatic diseases, interaction between osteoclasts and their environment, as well as diabetes and bone.
On Saturday, we will start with the rejoicing of the ECTS Annual Meeting with the Basic Science Update, highlighting the latest development into transcriptomic in the musculoskeletal field, with remarkable advancements in single cell and spatial transcriptomic (Alexander Rauch, Germany). This session is a must-attend for everyone from the MSK field, providing a comprehensive overview of the latest transcriptomic state of the art technics. Following this insightful presentations, I will chair the Big Basic Science Session titled Immune disease and bone, which will delve into the intricate mechanisms how fibroblasts are essential components in crosstalk between the immune and the bone cells (Hiroshi Takayanagi, Japan). Additionally, Martina Rauner (Germany) will unveil the inflammatory pathways that affect bone resorption. Following the Maria Luisa Bianchi Award Lecture and the Steven Boonen Award Lecture, the plenary session will cover the latest news on the integrated control of osteogenesis and adipogenesis by Lorenz Hofbauer (Germany) and Annegreet Vlug (Netherlands). To conclude the day’s scientific agenda, the Basic Science Debate will feature a captivating exchange between Natalie Sims (Australia) and Ralph Müller (Switzerland) on classical bone histomorphometry versus emerging imaging techniques to obtain bone functional information. This debate promises to stimulate thought and encourage further exploration of this fascinating aspect of bone research.
Sunday’s agenda will commence with the Concurrent Symposium “Novel approaches to skeletal imaging“, addressing the new features in imaging technology in the bone field. Françoise Peyrin (France) and Alejandro Frangi (UK) will cover this session providing insight on synchrotron imaging, statistical shape and intensity modelling of bones. For those interested in exploring Bone extracellular matrix mechanics in rare diseases, an exclusive Meet the Expert session will provide an opportunity for in-depth discussion and knowledge exchange. The Sunday Plenary Symposium, which bridges the gap between basic and clinical science, will focus on new insights into osteogenesis imperfecta.
On Monday, the Concurrent Symposium titled “Bone metastasis” will unravel the intricate mechanisms governing this process. This session will discuss the latest targets in osteolytic bone metastasis by Sonja Loges (Germany) and the metabolic crosstalk between stromal and malignant cells in the bone marrow niche by Nick van Gastel (Belgium). After this informative session, the Plenary Symposium “What is New: New insights into bone anabolics” will explore the mechanism of action of anabolics. For those seeking hands-on guidance in bone histology, artificial intelligence in bone imaging, or single cell transcriptomic, the Meet the Expert sessions on Monday provide a unique opportunity to engage with a panel of experts in these fields.
The program on Tuesday concludes with a truly remarkable event that will undoubtedly make your stay worthwhile. Following the enlightening session on the new insights of molecular biology in osteocytes by Peter Croucher (Australia) and in the miRNA signaling in bone remodeling by Hanna Taipaleenmaki (Germany), the plenary session will cover HR-pQCT imaging and its application as a computational technique. In the last captivating talk on “Spatial imaging and transcriptomics,” Ralph Müller (Switzerland) will unveil his groundbreaking findings from biomechanical testing and simulation techniques of visualisation strategies for musculoskeletal tissues. This presentation is an absolute must-attend for any musculoskeletal researcher seeking cutting-edge knowledge.
In addition to the groundbreaking insights from our esteemed speakers, we are particularly eager to hear about the groundbreaking discoveries that you have achieved in the field of bone research in the past year. Moreover, early-career researchers will have the exceptional opportunity to present their work in the ECTS Academy New Investigator Seminar, providing an excellent platform to connect with peers in an engaging and informal setting.
I believe that ECTS 2024 will be a fantastic event for anyone interested in bone research. With its diverse range of speakers, sessions, and networking opportunities, it promises to be an engaging and informative experience.
Hope to meet you there!