Advances in Osteoporosis Prevention, Diagnosis and Treatment Presented at 9th International Symposium of National Osteoporosis Foundation

WASHINGTON, DC (May 12, 2011) – A faculty of internationally-renowned osteoporosis experts are gathering next week to share the latest clinically-relevant information on osteoporosis prevention, diagnosis and treatment at the National Osteoporosis Foundation’s (NOF) 9th International Symposium on Osteoporosis (ISO9): Translating Research Into Clinical Practice, May 18 -21 at The Cosmopolitan™ of Las Vegas in Las Vegas, NV. Held annually, ISO9 aims to bridge the gap between osteoporosis research and its application in clinical practice.

Conference presenters will focus on addressing primary and secondary osteoporosis, clinical considerations and therapeutics, socio-behavioral medicine, nutrition, education and emerging science. Additionally, presenters will cover topics including FRAX® Update: Issues in Clinical Practice; Matching Osteoporosis Therapy to the Patient; Working with Patients to Improve Compliance and Persistence and Putting Drug Side Effects in Perspective: Communicating Risk to Patients.

“Despite all we know about osteoporosis, it remains a disease that is significantly under-diagnosed and under-treated,” said Deborah T. Gold, PhD Chair, 9th International Symposium on Osteoporosis and NOF Trustee. “This is an exciting time in the osteoporosis field, both in basic research and clinical care. It can be a challenge to acquire the latest information in such a dynamic environment. To help meet that challenge, the ISO9 offers a comprehensive program on osteoporosis and delivers the most relevant information for clinical practice today.” 

Ethel Siris, MD of Columbia University has been awarded the premier Lawrence G. Raisz MD, Memorial Lecture and will speak on the issue of “Fracture as a Sentinel Event.” It will focus on the importance of a fracture as an indicator and a key risk factor for more fractures, point out our failure to evaluate and medically treat the post-fracture patient in the U.S. today and discuss strategies to assure that such patients get clinically assessed and appropriately treated to lower their elevated risk of additional fractures. 

“Osteoporosis now causes an estimated two million fractures each year and can result in immobility, pain, and other health problems,” said Robert R. Recker, MD, NOF President. “These conditions and circumstances could largely be prevented through proper prevention, diagnosis and treatment. The critical information shared at ISO9 will provide clinicians with the most current information and data to prevent osteoporosis, identify people at risk more accurately and properly diagnose and treat those with the disease.”

NOF and the American Society for Bone and Mineral Research (ASBMR) are also pleased to announce the jointly sponsored session, New Horizons in Bone Research, taking place on Saturday, May 21, 2011 at ISO9.  This session, lead by current ASBMR President, Sundeep Khosla, MD, will explore the future of osteoporosis therapies including new pathways under investigation and other promising therapeutic agents in development.

In addition, best-selling author and trusted authority on health, Jane E. Brody of The New York Times, has been confirmed as a speaker at ISO9. Ms. Brody is the only or principal author of more than a dozen books, including two best-sellers, Jane Brody’s Nutrition Book and Jane Brody’s Good Food Book. She has appeared on hundreds of radio and television programs and starred in her own 10-part show on public television, Good Health from Jane Brody’s Kitchen. She has written scores of magazine articles and won many prestigious awards for journalistic excellence. A highly regarded and sought after speaker, Ms. Brody lectures frequently to both public and professional audiences on issues relating to health and wellness.