The ICORS Congress 2025 Workshops
The Congress will be holding Workshops throughout the scientific programme.
Find out more and read below! 👀
Lead ICORS Member Society: International Chinese Musculoskeletal Research Society (ICMRS)
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Musculoskeletal degenerative diseases, such as osteoarthritis and disc degeneration, are among the most prevalent disorders and the fastest-growing health problems associated with aging and obesity in recent decades. Despite advances in therapeutics across medicine, these conditions remain among the few major diseases without a disease modifying treatment. Consequently, musculoskeletal disorders significantly impact patients’ quality of life, leading to chronic joint pain, limited mobility, disability, mental depression and economic burdens. Therefore, there is a critical need to explore the mechanisms underlying these disorders and identify new targets for the development of disease modifying treatments.
In this workshop, we will feature three leading experts in the musculoskeletal field who will share their latest findings and discuss emerging trends related to the mechanisms underlying musculoskeletal disorders. We will delve into cutting-edge technologies, including multi-omics, single-cell sequencing, metabolomics as well as lineage tracing, to better understand these conditions. Additionally, we will explore methods for measuring pain responses in animal models and discuss the use of non-human primate models to enhance clinical translation.
Lead ICORS Member Society: European Orthopaedic Research Society
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The rapid advancements in Artificial Intelligence (AI) are transforming various medical fields, and orthopaedics is no exception. This workshop aims to explore the cutting-edge applications of AI in the diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of musculoskeletal conditions. By bringing together leading experts in AI and orthopaedic research, we will showcase how AI-driven tools are reshaping clinical workflows, enhancing diagnostic accuracy, and optimizing patient outcomes. The workshop will cover a range of topics, including AI-based detection of trauma fractures, AI applications in spine surgery and diagnosing and managing low back pain, and the role of machine learning in improving patient monitoring and rehabilitation. In addition to the technical aspects, the workshop will address ethical considerations and practical challenges in integrating AI into everyday clinical practice. Attendees will engage in discussions about data privacy, the reliability of AI-driven diagnostic tools, and strategies to train healthcare professionals in leveraging AI technologies. This session is designed for both researchers and clinicians who are interested in understanding the future of AI in orthopaedics. Through presentations and interactive discussions, participants will leave with actionable insights into how AI can be applied to improve patient care and streamline orthopaedic practice.
Lead ICORS Member Society: European Orthopaedic Research Society
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Tissue models are raising increasing importance, since traditional 2D in vitro tests and in vivo animal models show limitations, connected to either scarce capability to mimic the complexity of the system, species-specific differences and/or ethical concerns. Hence, new models are needed to ensure reliability and reproducibility in the study of tissue pathophysiology and of the patient-specific response to drugs and biomaterials. In particular, in orthopedics, models are needed to mimic hard and soft tissues, both healthy and pathological, as well as complex systems (such as tissue interfaces and vascularized tissues).
Following the advance in biomaterials science and manufacturing technology, a variety of new biomimetic 3D- tissue models have been proposed, with increasing degrees of complexity. By tuning composition, morphology, mechanical properties and cells-loading, these models can closely simulate different tissues and reproduce the complexity of cell-cell and cell-ECM interactions. At the same time, they permit to tune several parameters of the micro-environment, to better mimic different tissues and pathological conditions.
Hence, these new precious tools can be biomimetic and patient-specific and can help overcoming the limitations of traditional 2D in vitro tests and of animal trials, thus offering excellent alternatives for a fast and reliable cell-based drug/biomaterials screening.
The symposium will discuss the unmet needs in tissue models from a clinical and a translational point of view. We will showcase advances in the fields of biomaterials-assisted with 4 presentation devoted to hard and soft tissue modelling, i.e. bone, cartilage, tendon and intervertebral disk. We will show how new materials (organic and inorganic), scaffolds (at different scales) and manufacturing techniques (3D printing, bioprinting, electrospinning) can be exploited to obtain higher biomimicry. Finally, we will highlight the new perspectives and future challenges in biomaterials-assisted tissue modelling, to advance towards clinical applications.
Lead ICORS Member Society: Sociedad Mexicana de Investigación en Ortopedia y Traumatología A.C.
Organiser: Dr Jose Manuel Perez, Mexican Federation of Orthopedics and Traumatology Colleges
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Objective: To describe the bone anatomical characteristics of Mexicans.
The genetic background, history, geographic conditions and the current health system will be analyzed.
The bone anthropomorphic studies carried out in this population will be shown.
The development of specific orthopedic implants for Mexicans will be discussed.
Lead ICORS Member Society: British Orthopaedic Research Society
Organiser: Dr Ines Reichert, King’s College Hospital
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The incidence of patients with Diabetes has increased more than fourfold since 1980 (WHO 2021). Diabetes affects multiple organs systems including bone, with an increased prevalence of osteoporosis, fractures, delayed fracture healing and Charcot neuroarthropathy. The latter often leads to clinical significant deformity of joints with consequent morbidity and mortality. The foot is most commonly affected, and often presents with severe ulceration at the pressure points of deformity, leading to infection, osteomyelitis and a high risk of amputation.
But Charcot neuroarthropathy may affect any joint and typically presents in patients with advanced peripheral neuropathy of various etiologies.
Even at an early stage, Diabetes may lead to an increased risk of infection, delayed fracture healing, stiffened joints and thickened soft tissues. The underlying pathophysiology is ill-understood but thought to involve an excessive local inflammatory response to minor trauma. Bone reacts with increased bone resorption due to hyperactivation of osteoclasts via the RANK ligand system resulting in an excessive bone turnover. Bone formation is insufficient to compensate in the acute phase. The inverse relationship with sensory neuropathy is at the core of the understanding of the disease but the exact link remains to be shown.
Whilst the patient with peripheral neuropathy usually does not suffer pain, pain would act as a clinical warning sign for patients – and it is the absence of pain which may lead to devasting consequence. Further, the lack of sensory feedback may cause an early change in walking pattern, enhancing an unfavourable mechanical environment for bone and joints, unable to react to load with the normal remodelling process.
Patients most severely affected are often young to middle-aged, particularly patients suffering from Diabetes Type I. Diabetes control can be extremely difficult, even in the most compliant patient. Better understanding of the disease process is highly warranted
Lead ICORS Member Society: Australian New Zealand Orthopaedic Research Society
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The relationship between cancer and bone is emerging as a major burden of modern cancer treatment. Patients are impacted both acutely and long term in survivorship by impacts to systems that interact with the bone.
This workshop will bring together expertise that span bone biology, bioengineering and cancer and its treatment- considering the individual as a whole.
Participants will learn about how therapies used to manage cancer negatively affect bone and what evidence is in the field to effectively mitigate these impacts (1st speaker: Tania Crotti). We will introduce sophisticated models that can be used to progress the field by advancing understanding of biological interactions (2nd speaker proposed Natalie Bock) and (3rd speaker: Joanne Bowen) Participants will gain novel insights into how organ systems interact with bone and can be modulated to manage bone care, ultimately improving outcomes.
Format: Presenters on the three topics, participant interaction with padlets to capture knowledge and responses
Lead ICORS Member Society: The Japanese Orthopaedic Association
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As the world faces the challenges of super-aging societies, spine-related disorders increasingly demand attention due to their significant impact on the elderly population. This workshop focuses on cutting-edge research addressing the unique spinal health issues prevalent in these demographics. By exploring recent scientific advancements and innovative therapeutic approaches, we aim to enhance understanding and treatment strategies for spinal conditions in aging populations.
The workshop will cover four critical topics. First, we will delve into the recent advances in understanding the pathogenesis of ossification of the spinal ligament, a condition prevalent in aging populations, highlighting molecular mechanisms and potential therapeutic targets. Second, the session will explore mechanisms underlying ligamentum flavum degeneration and fragility fracture development in the elderly, focusing on the biomechanical and cellular changes that contribute to spinal instability and fracture risk in super-aging societies. Third, we will discuss the role of microRNAs in spinal cord development, aging, and regeneration, shedding light on their potential as biomarkers and therapeutic agents in both neurodegenerative and regenerative contexts. Lastly, we will examine therapeutic strategies for spinal tumors using biological approaches, emphasizing personalized medicine and the use of novel biologics to improve outcomes in elderly patients.
By addressing these diverse topics, the workshop seeks to provide a comprehensive understanding of the latest developments in spine research that are most relevant to super-aging societies. The integration of molecular biology, therapeutic innovation, and clinical application will guide the future of spine care in aging populations, ultimately improving patient outcomes and quality of life.
Lead ICORS Member Society: The Japanese Orthopaedic Association
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Cartilage metabolism is a complex process influenced by several factors, including genetics, aging, and mechanical stress, and plays a pivotal role in joint health and disease. Research on cartilage metabolism encompasses a wide range of studies, from the molecular and cellular levels to the tissue, organ, and population levels. Various molecular and cellular mechanisms are involved in cartilage degeneration such as dysregulation of extracellular matrix components, inflammation, and chondrocyte senescence. This workshop aims to provide an overview of the current state of cartilage metabolism research to elucidate the mechanisms underlying cartilage development, growth, aging, and degeneration. In order to develop novel therapeutic strategies for cartilage-related diseases, each speaker will offer a comprehensive overview of the latest advancements in cartilage metabolism research, highlighting the diverse range of approaches used to study this topic. These studies have revealed the effects of mechanical loading, hypoxia, and inflammatory cytokines on chondrocyte metabolism and survival. While significant progress has been made in elucidating these mechanisms, the development of effective therapeutic strategies for osteoarthritis remains a major challenge. We will discuss the potential of targeting specific molecular pathways and growth factors to promote cartilage repair and regeneration. Future research would focus on identifying novel biomarkers, developing targeted therapies, and exploring regenerative medicine approaches to restore cartilage function and improve patient outcomes.
Lead ICORS Member Society: Korean Orthopaedic Research Society
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This session explores the latest advancements in regenerative medicine, with a specific focus on bone and cartilage repair. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and innovative molecular therapies are central to these breakthroughs, offering new hope for treating complex skeletal conditions.
The first presentation compares the efficacy of normal saline versus hydrogel as carriers for MSCs in a rat model of long bone fractures. This study aims to optimize MSC delivery methods, highlighting how the choice of carrier affects fracture healing outcomes and bone regeneration.
The second presentation investigates the role of Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) in enhancing osteogenesis and improving bone microarchitecture. Using an ovariectomized rat model to mimic post-menopausal osteoporosis, this research explores how BDNF could serve as a novel therapeutic agent to combat bone loss and improve bone strength.
The third lecture transitions from bench to bedside, focusing on high-function MSC-based therapies for osteoarthritis (OA). The discussion covers preclinical innovations and the challenges of translating these therapies into clinical settings, aiming to improve joint regeneration and reduce the progression of OA.
The final presentation delves into the emerging field of noncoding RNA therapeutics for osteoarthritis. This cutting-edge research investigates how specific noncoding RNAs can regulate cartilage degradation and inflammation, offering a new therapeutic avenue for OA management.
Together, these lectures provide a comprehensive overview of the current state and future directions in bone and cartilage regeneration. Attendees will gain insights into how these cutting-edge therapies can be applied to clinical practice, advancing treatment options for patients with fractures, osteoarthritis, and bone degeneration.
Lead ICORS Member Society: Korean Orthopaedic Research Society
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This session highlights innovative advancements in regenerative medicine, focusing on cutting-edge therapeutic strategies for peripheral nerve regeneration, diabetic wound healing, and meniscus repair. The session brings together pioneering research and novel technologies aimed at overcoming the challenges of tissue regeneration in these critical areas.
The first presentation explores the enhancement of peripheral nerve regeneration using functionally augmented mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). This study demonstrates how modifying MSCs improves their regenerative capacity, offering a promising approach for restoring nerve function after injury.
The second lecture delves into inhibiting the cytosolic function of CXXC5, a novel mechanism shown to accelerate diabetic wound healing. By enhancing angiogenesis and promoting skin repair, this research presents a breakthrough in the treatment of chronic wounds, particularly in diabetic patients who suffer from impaired healing processes.
The third presentation introduces a sprayable hydrogel integrated with optical mRNA nanosensors. This advanced material allows for real-time monitoring and therapeutic intervention in diabetic wounds, combining diagnostic and healing functions in a single platform. The technology represents a significant leap forward in wound care, offering personalized and responsive treatment options.
The final lecture focuses on meniscus degenerative tears, examining their pathogenesis and introducing novel regenerative therapies to improve outcomes following partial meniscectomy. These advanced techniques aim to preserve meniscal function and delay the onset of osteoarthritis, providing a promising alternative to traditional surgical approaches.
Together, these presentations offer a comprehensive overview of the latest developments in regenerative therapies for nerve, wound, and meniscus repair. Attendees will gain insights into cutting-edge techniques and their potential applications in clinical settings, paving the way for future advancements in regenerative medicine.
Lead ICORS Member Society: British Orthopaedic Research Society
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Osteoarthritis (OA) is a chronic disease of the articulating joints, characterised by progressive breakdown of articular cartilage, inflammation in the synovial fluid and remodelling of the underlying bone. OA affects 8.75 million people in the UK and is the major cause of joint replacements (2021 National Joint Registry UK). The knee is the most commonly affected joint with excessive mechanical loading, from injury, work, sports or obesity, contributing to the onset of OA. With no treatment and an ageing population, costs exceed >£12B annually in UK in direct and indirect costs, Versus Arthritis.
The aim of this workshop is to explore clinical conditions leading to early osteoarthritic changes and relevant multiscale computational and experimental models to characterise the interactions between biomechanical, inflammatory, and epidemiological factors that define predisposition to OA – before irreversible degenerative changes occur to the joint; we define this status as pre-OA.
Low-grade chronic inflammation in the synovia releases inflammatory molecules which, combined with mechanical perturbation, contributes to cartilage degradation and unbalanced bone remodelling. The interplay between the effects of mechanical loading and inflammation on the diverse joint tissues (cartilage, underlying bone and synovium) at various spatial (from molecules to body) and temporal (from seconds to years) scales is currently an unsolved problem. Recent progress in multiscale modelling and the access to multimodal biomarker data , will allow us to combine in silico, in vitro and in vivo approaches to diagnose pre-OA to avoid or delay the onset of OA.
Lead ICORS Member Society: European Orthopaedic Research Society
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Among musculoskeletal conditions, tendinopathies account for 30-50% of musculoskeletal-related primary care visits globally. These ailments cause pain, swelling, and limited range of motion, affecting people of all ages in both work and leisure activities. In the European Union alone, this results in annual healthcare costs of €800 million. Despite tremendous progress in understanding tendon tissue, cell biology, biomechanical environments, and cell-biomaterial systems for regenerative applications, research and knowledge in the field of tendons remain largely fragmented. The EORS has acknowledged this deficiency, and in recent years, tendon-related research has been well-represented at the annual congress.
The primary goal of the TENET COST Action is to establish the TEndon regeneration NETwork, a scientific network of excellence primarily based in Europe but extending globally. This network brings together a diverse group of experts, including academics, industry professionals, and regulatory bodies, to cover and connect multiple perspectives. The aim is to more efficiently develop, test, and translate advanced regenerative therapies for tendons.
This symposium will cover a range of topics, including “Current Insights in Tendinopathy and the TENET Agenda” presented by D. Doheva, “Cutting-Edge Research on Messenger Therapy for Tendons” by E. Rosado Balmayor, “Biomaterial-Based Approaches for Enthesis Regeneration” by M. van Griesven, and “Deciphering Achilles Tendon Injuries” by B. Wildemann.
Following the keynote talks, a dedicated roundtable discussion will be held to facilitate a dynamic exchange between speakers and workshop participants.
Lead ICORS Member Society: Canadian Orthopaedic Research Society
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In Canada, there are over 137,000 joint replacement surgeries performed annually. A new joint is expected to reduce pain, increase mobility, and improve the quality of life for most patients. Unfortunately, each year, approximately 8,000 to 10,000 of these joint replacements are unsuccessful and require more risky and expensive revision surgeries. The leading causes of failures are infection, aseptic loosening, instability, and fractures near the implant, all of which can be influenced by wear and corrosion processes. The current pre-surgery screening protocols do not satisfactorily predict which patients are most likely to experience implant failure. In addition, the types of implants used and surgical techniques vary across the country. While there is a cross-Canada network to track some data related to orthopaedic surgeries, there is no centralized database of failed implant data.
This workshop brings together a transdisciplinary team of recognized scientists and clinicians with combined expertise in corrosion, imaging, biology, and surgery, working towards the common goal of reducing the burden of orthopaedic implant failures.
We will discuss how biological reactions to a foreign body, like an orthopaedic implant, can result in adverse health effects and the failure of the implant. Our session will focus on how a transdisciplinary approach—and in particular the standardized analysis of failed implants across the country—is essential to ensure equitable healthcare. Throughout the workshop, we will emphasize how this issue cannot be solved through traditional “siloed” scientific approaches, and how transdisciplinary collaborations and a cross-Canada centralized database are critical to move this issue forward.
Lead ICORS Member Society: The Chinese Orthopedic Research Society
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Osteoarthritis (OA) is a multifactorial disease that affects more than 100 million patients worldwide and is among the most disabling conditions in developed countries, and a leading cause of chronic pain. Current treatment consists of symptom relief using pain medication and physical therapy. In end stage of the disease, the joint can be replaced with prosthesis, making OA common and costly on healthcare systems. Cartilage remains among the most difficult tissues to regenerate. Cell therapy is promising for treating cartilage-associated diseases.
The current workshop will discuss the impotant regulators such as Hedgehog in cartilagre development and repair. We also report the recently completed clincial trial using MSCs cell theraoy for OA management in China and the studies using exsosome for OA management, as well as the use of joint distraction as a new strategey for OA management.
Lead ICORS Member Society: Taiwan Orthopaedic Research Society
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Extracellular vesicles (EVs) derived from stem cells show strong potential for regenerating injured cartilage, bone, and tendon/ligament tissues. However, determining the best stem cell source, identifying active components in EVs, and understanding regulatory procedure are crucial for creating disease-specific EVs.
We analyzed miRNA profiles of exosomes from human iPSCs (hiPSC-EVs), bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hBMSC-EVs), and adipose-derived stem cells (hADSC-EVs). Results showed that hADSC-EVs and hBMSC-EVs had similar miRNA profiles, while hiPSC-EVs differed significantly. Only three miRNAs (hsa-miR-16-5p, hsa-miR-25-3p, hsa-miR-93-5p) were common across all three types EVs. These miRNAs target genes such as MAN2A1, ZNFX1, PHF19, and FBXW7, which are involved in cell growth, bone ossification, and cartilage development, potentially through the MAPK signaling pathway.
We also developed a novel EV production platform utilizing mRNA-encapsulated MSC-derived EVs and peptide-modified MSC-EVs. One innovative EV for osteoarthritis (OA) treatment, called “EXOS (EV-SOX9),” encapsulates SOX9 mRNA in MSC-EVs. This method led to a 100-fold increase in EV production and a 10,000-fold increase in SOX9 mRNA encapsulation, promoting chondrocyte regeneration in vitro and in vivo. Additionally, we primed adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) with a novel peptide for one day. The resulting peptide-modified MSC-EVs significantly enhanced chondrogenesis, indicating their potential as disease-modifying osteoarthritis drugs.
For cruciate ligament injuries, we cocultured anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) remnant cells with BMSCs to create “Coculture-EVs”. Compared to BMSC-EVs, these Coculture-EVs improved proliferation, migration, and collagen gene expression in ACL cells, BMSCs, and hamstring tenocytes, while also reducing apoptosis in hamstring tenocytes.
Lead ICORS Member Society: European Orthopaedic Research Society
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This workshop brings together experts from Asia and Europe to explore groundbreaking strategies in addressing the two most prevalent musculoskeletal disorders. With their talks, the speakers will delve into four key areas of emerging research: (1) Mitochondrial Carbohydrate and Fatty Acid Metabolites in Osteoporosis will offer new therapeutic avenues for osteoporosis, potentially revolutionizing our understanding of bone metabolism and opening doors to targeted interventions; (2) Secondary Cholic Acid Derivatives in Osteoarthritis will be shedding new light on yet unexpected metabolic influences and possible new targets for disease modification; (3) Traditional Decoction Medicine in Osteoporotic Disorders will investigate how ancient medicinal practices might hold yet undiscovered solutions to preventing future osteoporotic disorders, thus bridging traditional knowledge with modern scientific inquiry; last-not-least (4) will discuss the latest advancements in absorbable metallic biomaterials designed for orthopedic applications, focusing on their potential to revolutionize treatment strategies for both conditions.
Lead ICORS Member Society: International Chinese Musculoskeletal Research Society (ICMRS)
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Cell therapy, particularly that based on stem cells, has been deemed as a prospective approach to repair skeletal tissue injuries, but the specific intercellular signalling mechanisms, clinical evidence are still obscured. To further investigate the impact of the crosstalk between cell and matrix and cell to cell revealed the new sight on how cell therapy facilities tissue revitalisation. The process hs involved more than just integration of cells into tissue for repair. Several potential mechanisms including mitochondrial transfer between cells, small molecule regulation of cell activities and matrix guild cell proliferation and differentiation have been shown to be critical for revitalisation of tissue and somatic reprogramming. In addition, promising approach of using genome-engineered stem cells to sense the inflammatory reaction has also been designed for treatment of osteoarthritis and cartilage damage. In this symposium, we will explore current state of the art cell and molecular therapies for skeletal tissue regeneration and repair and their potential mechanisms. The symposium will cover bone, cartilage, tendon and nerve repair using these biological approached.
Lead ICORS Member Society: Chinese Orthopaedic Research Society
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Emerging evidence shows the importance of cellular metabolism in the control of the skeletal development and degeneration. In this workshop, we highlight three pivotal aspects of skeletal cell metabolism, including ①energy metabolism, ②inorganic compounds metabolism and ③inter-organic regulation of bone metabolism. ①Insufficient intracellular anabolism is a crucial factor involved in osteoarthritis. Based on a plant-derived natural photosynthetic system, Lin et al. found that restoring supplies of the crucial molecules ATP and NADPH improved cartilage homeostasis and protected against pathological progression of osteoarthritis. As the crucial powerhouse for cell metabolism, mitochondria are pivotal in bone homeostasis. Gao et al. found that mitochondria can be transferred intercellularly via the osteocyte dendritic network, thereby regulating angiogenesis of transcortical vessels, myeloid cell-mediated bone resorption and bone metastasis of tumor. ②Sulfate is one of the most abundant anions in the matrix of skeletal cells, providing enough inorganic source for biosynthesis of sulfated macromolecules. Zheng et al. found that sulfate metabolism regulated collagen secretion, matrix stiffness, and cellular lipid metabolism, whose abnormalities led to skeletal dysplasias, osteoporosis, and osteoarthritis in human. ③Hepatic osteodystrophy (HOD) is a metabolic bone disease that is often associated with chronic liver disease and is marked by bone loss. Lu et al. found that defects in a liver-bone axis contributed to HOD progression. Hepatic expression of the phosphatase PP2Acα was upregulated during HOD, leading to the downregulation of expression of the hepatokine lecithin-cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT), and thus to exacerbate the bone loss. These findings provide innovative insights into the metabolic dysregulation that underpins skeletal pathologies and hopefully advance the development of new drugs against therapeutic targets of metabolic significance.
Lead ICORS Member Society: AO Foundation
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This workshop will cover mechanical regulation and monitoring of healing at multiple scales. The first presentation will discuss installation of optimal interfragmentary motion across a fracture gap regardless of patient activity, utilizing a novel biphasic plate design. The fracture fixation plate is CE marked and is currently in clinical trials with over 100 operated patients. Therefore, in addition to the biomechanical aspects, new device regulatory approval will also be discussed. The assessment of fracture healing is still subjective, due to the lack of clinically available quantitative measures. Without reliable information on the progression of healing and uniform criteria for union and non-union, therapeutic decision-making hinges on the experience and subjective evaluation of physicians. Fracture stiffness is known as a valid outcome measure for the maturity of the repair tissue. Sensors are under development that target X-ray free and timely provision of reliable feedback upon the mechanical competence of the repair tissue and the healing environment to support therapeutic decision making and individualized after-care. The second presentation will describe how healing can be monitored remotely and in real time using sensors attached to standard fracture fixation plates. The sensor is in clinical handling trials with 11 patients implanted so far. In addition to the direct benefit of fracture monitoring to the individual patient, the wider implications on treatment guidelines and healthcare practice will be highlighted. The added advantage of the big data obtained will be described. The final presentation will highlight some of the effects mechanical load have at the cellular and even the protein level. In particular, the role of multiaxial load in mechanical activation of TGFβ, and subsequent chondrogenesis off human MSCs will be demonstrated. These results hold implications for both bone and cartilage regeneration and potential rehabilitation protocols.
Lead ICORS Member Society: Asia Pacific ORS
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This workshop is a collaborative effort of member countries of the ASEAN Orthopaedic Research Society. It aims 1) to review our current understanding of the cellular processes and mechanisms underlying tissue degeneration, and 2) to develop integrative strategies, harnessing biomaterials, stem cells, and their derived secretomes, and extracellular vesicles, for enhanced tissue repair. Participants will delve into the intricate mechanisms underlying tissue degeneration, and understand the cellular and molecular factors contributing to these changes. The program will then introduce cutting-edge approaches in regenerative medicine, emphasizing the roles of biomaterials, stem cells, secretomes, and extracellular vesicles, in promoting tissue repair and regeneration. Through these sessions, attendees will gain insights into the intricacies of tissue degeneration, and the latest developments of various therapeutic tools and their potential for treating various degenerative conditions. This workshop is designed for medical professionals, researchers, and students keen to expand their knowledge in regenerative medicine and explore novel strategies for tissue repair and restoration
Lead ICORS Member Society: Orthopaedic Research Society
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Many fractures have impaired healing. Fracture characteristics dictate this, as do patient factors. With an increasing global aging population, geriatric delayed union and malunion continue to be a clinical dilemma in orthopedic trauma. This workshop brings together a complementary set of expertise to discuss the challenges, opportunities, and future promises in our understanding of senile fractures from clinical, cellular, molecular, and translational perspectives. We will focus on defining the clinical needs for treating fracture healing in the context of aging. We will also explain some models of senile fracture healing, the impact of immunomodulatory interventions to accelerate fracture healing in preclinical models, and some molecular mechanisms that govern the healing process. Examples of promising therapeutic innovations, challenges, and potential solutions to overcome them will be given, followed by a discussion about achieving healthy bone aging.
Lead ICORS Member Society: Australian New Zealand Orthopaedic Research Society
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Our understanding of Osteoarthritis (OA) has progressed from being considered a local joint disease of wear and tear primarily of articular cartilage, to being a whole-joint disease with complex biological and biomechanical interaction and cross-talk between multiple joint tissues cells (cartilage, bone, synovium/joint-capsule, meniscus, ligaments), and the associated nerves, blood vessels and immune cells in these tissues. More recently, cross talk between the joint and more distant tissues and organs has come to the fore, not just with regard to the effect of these non-articular tissues/organs/systems such as adipose tissue on OA and its progression as a disease and illness, but also how the OA joint might influence and contribute to risk and progression of systemic conditions such as cardiovascular disease, chronic neuro-degenerative disorders, and chronic renal disease. This concept of OA as a not just a whole-joint but a “whole-organism” disease will be explored in this workshop, shedding new light on the arguably outdated concept that “No one has ever died of OA”. The workshop will begin with presentations from world experts covering the epidemiology of OA and associated co-morbid disease conditions in people, physical activity and mechano-biological mechanisms of systemic OA effects, the mechano-biology of cross-talk between joint tissues in OA pathogenesis, and the biological cross-talk between OA joint and distant tissues particularly the brain. These presentations will be followed by a Q&A discussion panel, including the invited speakers and additional members with expertise in the basic science of OA-co-morbid disease/tissue cross-talk and the clinical relevance and implications of this emerging field.
Lead ICORS Member Society: Australian New Zealand Orthopaedic Research Society
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Following significant advancements in computed tomography (CT) technology the early 2000s, there has been a continual increase in the use of CT scans in orthopaedics. Recent developments in low-dose, high-quality CT scans present multiple exciting opportunities for both clinical and research purposes. This workshop will discuss the latest improvements in CT technologies, dosage considerations, metal artefact reduction methods, automated segmentation tools and novel assessment techniques.
The current requirements of CT measurements to be used as a diagnostic tool will be presented from an industry and clinician standpoint. The optimisation of new CT technologies need to balance image quality achieved and radiation dose considerations. We will present challenges experienced using CT assessment techniques across spine, elbow, shoulder, foot, hip, knee and the hand. The improvements in the resolution of digital CT images expands the future measurement applications beyond skeletal structures to muscle, fat and organs. This in turn opens the possibility for longitudinal population studies of anatomy previously only possible in cadaveric libraries.
Our speakers will discuss their significant experience developing and validating new software methods that enable implant and fracture migration to be measured over time. The ability to accurately measure implant migration in consecutive CT scans allows investigators from non-specialised centres to screen new implants prior to widespread market introduction. Lower radiation doses have also enabled inducible skeletal and implant displacements to be measured using repeat CT scans which has exciting new potential to be used as diagnostic beyond the traditional research setting. Considerations include the patient specific axis likely to induce movement and the application of load performed under clinician guidance. Further software development is required to allow easier use for non-experienced observer to perform the measurements and most importantly correct clinical interpretation of findings.
Lead ICORS Member Society: Taiwan Orthopaedic Research Society
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Artificial intelligence (AI) has revolutionized medical practice. Orthopaedics can be significantly benefited from the application of AI in diagnosis and treatment plan. In this workshop, the application of AI in the diagnosis of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and meniscus injuries from MRI images, measurement of acetabular version after total hip arthroplasty (THR) by deep learning, predication of progression of osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee joint, prediction of vancomycin dosage in infection cases, as well as the application of generative AI to develop novel peptide therapeutics for frailty, will be presented in this workshop. By deep learning algorithms for object detection and image classification, ACL injuries can be accurately diagnosed and the trained algorithm outperformed second-year orthopedic resident. A similar AI model for accurate detection of meniscus injury will also be presented. Automatic measurement of acetabular version after THR using supervised training neural network required heavy manual labeling works. The use of synthesized radiographs with defined anteversion and inclination as ground truth significantly accelerated the machine learning process. Synthetic THR radiographs with randomized anteversion and inclination were used for training and validation. The trained model can automatically measured cup version. For prediction OA knee progression, a novel Vision-Transformer-based model was adopted using serial images from the same patients. The AUROC of identifying OA progression was 0.808, with 74.1% accuracy, 91.8% sensitivity and 71% specificity. Moreover, an AI-enabled automated antibiotics dosing system will be presented. Aging and frailty is a global issue and brings along heavy financial burden in healthcare sector. With generative AI, novel mini-proteins with around 100 amino acids are developed as therapeutic peptides to target PD-1/PD L1 axis to reverse immuno-senescence. The designed mini-proteins possess high stability and binding site specificity as well as affinity. The cost can also be significantly reduced compared to monoclonal antibodies.
Lead ICORS Member Society: Chinese Orthopaedic Research Society
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Prof Ling Qin, The Chinese University of Hong Kong
Prof Zhifeng Yu, Shanghai Jiao Tong University
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This paper writing and publishing workshop aims to help preclinical and clinical researchers to transform their presented papers at the upcoming 2025 ICORS and manuscripts in preparation into journal-level submissions for international orthopaedic and related journals.
The following areas will be addressed:
We will reserve time for panel discussion and communication with the workshop participants to address their particular interests, concerns or questions.
Lead ICORS Member Society: European Orthopaedic Research Society
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Patient stratification, precision medicine and personalised therapies have been intensively studied and applied in various medical domains but less so in orthopaedics. Furthermore, implant design, therapy standards, outcome measures and also models used in orthopaedic research are mainly based on or aimed at a Western population and hardly consider the diversity encountered in a global population as represented in ICORS.
Over decades the research on medical devices for orthopaedic and trauma care was focused to ensure sustainable long-term results with reasonable outcomes, well-documented in implant registries & meta-analysis. But for patients with a rare disease, due to specific anatomical, musculoskelettal, cultural, infection- or hypersensitivity-related surrounding conditions, the high standard-of-care with a one-treatment-fits-all-strategy is somehow misleading and not very helpful.
This workshop aims to give various perspectives on this matter to learn which patient differences regarding for instance genetics, ethnicity, anatomy, musculoskelettal condition, culture or socio-economic status may matter or not in orthopaedic practice or research.
Talk 1: Patient diversity including genetic, anatomical, ethnic, cultural, socio-economic differences in delivering orthopaedic care or conducting transferable research: What is (not) known? – A narrative review.
Bernd Grimm, Luxembourg Institute of Health, Luxembourg
Talk 2: Orthopaedic patients, treatments and outcomes in the context of diversity: The Japanese & Asian perspective in clinical practice with a focus on joint replacement
Yukihide Minoda. Osaka Metropolitan University, Osaka Japan
Talk 3: Orthopaedic patients, treatments and outcomes in the context of diversity: The Mexican and Latin-American perspective in clinical practice with a focus on bone anatomy and trauma surgery
José Manuel Perez, Hospital Santo Tomás, Querétaro, Mexico
Talk 4: Identifying distinct clusters of natural knee kinematics in a large caucasian cohort of patients and a unique total knee platform to enable personalised alignment and tibio-femoral kinematics with biomechanical evidence
Thomas Grupp, Ludwig Maximilian University Munich, Aesculap Tuttlingen, Germany
20 - 24 October 2025
Adelaide Convention Centre
North Terrace, Adelaide SA 5000, Australia
12 Stirling Street
Thebarton SA 5031