University of Southern Denmark. Odense, Denmark

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Morten Frost is a physician-scientist who employs a human-centric approach to identifying mechanisms of common and rare metabolic bone diseases. The research is conducted at the Molecular Endocrinology Laboratory, University of Southern Denmark, which strives to drive meaningful change for patients by integrating clinical and basic research approaches. The current research activities involve skeletal health in type 1 and 2 diabetes; consequences of mitochondrial function on bone formation; and the short and long-term skeletal effects of incretin hormones GIP and GLP-1 and incretin analogues. 

Massachusetts General Hospital, USA

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Marc Wein, MD, PhD, is an Associate Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School, an Associate Member of the Broad Institute, a Chen Institute MGH Research Scholar, and a principal faculty in the Harvard Stem Cell Institute. He is a practicing endocrinologist with expertise in osteoporosis and metabolic bone diseases. His laboratory studies molecular and cellular mechanisms that control bone remodeling and mineral metabolism. He received his MD and PhD from Harvard Medical School and completed his clinical training in internal medicine and endocrinology at Massachusetts General Hospital. He currently serves as Deputy Editor for the Journal of Bone and Mineral Research, and has received the 2024 Presidential Early Career Award for Science and Engineering and additional wards from American Society of Bone and Mineral Research, the American Society of Clinical Investigation, and the Harrington Discovery Institute.

University in Leuven, Belgium

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Geert Carmeliet started her doctoral work, as medical doctor, in the Centre of Human Genetics and obtained her PhD in Biomedical Sciences and Certification in Paediatrics at the KU Leuven, Belgium. She is Professor in Medicine, has been involved in training and teaching medical students and PhD students and has been Chairman of the Division of Clinical and Experimental Endocrinology, KU Leuven.

The lab (www.Mebodd.com) investigated the importance of vitamin D signalling and angiogenesis in bone development and disorders, but focusses now on how oxygen and nutrient supply might control skeletal cell fate and function. Our research aims to understand how cell metabolism regulates the fate and functioning of different skeletal cell types using in vivo van in vitro approaches. Besides investigating bone development  we also want to understand how disturbed skeletal cell metabolism contributes to bone pathologies such as osteoporosis, osteoarthritis and bone metastasis and how targeting skeletal cell metabolism can improve tissue engineering approaches for large bone defects.

University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand

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Based at the Faculty of Dentistry at Otago University for the last 18 years Dr Coates runs projects primarily examining angiogenesis, osteogenesis and stem cells. The team has conducted significant research in the field of dental bioengineering with a focus on novel antimicrobial grafting constructs. Dr Coates also has current stem cell research projects examining dental pulp, adipose-derived, and periosteal-derived stem cells. She has over 80 peer-reviewed publications, 4 patents, and has supervised to completion 24 doctoral students. She currently has 8 doctoral students working on a variety of projects. She will be joined in this presentation by her current PhD students Dina Abdelmoneim and Asrar Elahi sharing their research.

The University of Melbourne, Australia

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Professor Rachel Davey leads the Molecular Endocrinology and Musculoskeletal Research Group in the Department of Medicine, Austin Health at the University of Melbourne.
Her research investigates the physiological regulation of the musculoskeletal system and fat metabolism, focusing on the actions of sex steroids and calcitonin. She employs integrative physiological approaches combined with genetically modified pre-clinical models to delineate the cellular and molecular mechanisms through which hormones influence bone and metabolic homeostasis, with the goal of identifying new therapies for musculoskeletal and metabolic disorders. Her recent work includes mechanistic studies on the effects of gender-affirming hormone therapy during puberty and adulthood on bone cell function, structure, and strength, addressing critical gaps in understanding bone health in transgender populations.

The University of Melbourne, Australia

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Dr Sandra Iuliano is a nutritionist and internationally renowned researcher from the Department of Medicine at the University of Melbourne, Austin Health. Her research focuses on nutrition and exercise across the lifespan; specifically, to improve musculoskeletal health.  Her work has demonstrated that improving the quality of food provided to residents in aged care reduces adverse clinical outcomes (falls and fractures) and was cost saving for fractures. Her work has led to the inclusion of nutrition in the new Aged Care Act and the establishment of a Food and Nutrition Quality standard.  She is a member of the National Aged Care Advisory Council and is a strong advocate for better nutritional care for older adults.

Mater Research, Brisbane, Australia

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Dr John Kemp leads the Musculoskeletal Genomics Group at Mater Research. His research aims to identify new biological mechanisms that can be targeted therapeutically to improve skeletal health. Dr Kemp first developed a keen interest in genetics while studying a bachelor’s degree in genetics at the University of Pretoria (South Africa). After completing his Honours Degree, he secured a scholarship from the University of Newcastle Upon Tyne to study a master’s degree in medical genetics. Dr Kemp was subsequently awarded a Wellcome Trust PhD studentship in molecular genetics and life-course epidemiology from the University of Bristol. After completing his doctorate, he relocated to Australia and secured a NHMRC fellowship. During his postdoctoral studies he published numerous papers on osteoporosis genetics in high-impact journals, including Nature Genetics. His work identified hundreds of regions in the human genome associated with bone mineral density, offering significant potential for uncovering new mechanisms that regulate skeletal health.

St Vincent’s Hospital, Australia

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Nicholas Pocock graduated in medicine from Sydney University in 1978. In 1987 he became a Fellow of the RACP and in 1989 completed a Doctorate in Medicine under Prof John Eisman looking at the genetic contribution to bone mass. He is currently a Senior Staff Specialist in the Department of Nuclear Medicine at St Vincent’s Hospital, Darlinghurst Sydney, and Assoc Professor at the University NSW. Dr Pocock’s interests include the epidemiology and diagnosis of osteoporosis, and he has over 150 publications. He has previously been a member of the Australian Federal Department of Health advisory Committee on osteoporosis a member of the Federal Bone Densitometry Working group advising on changes to Medicare funding for DXA. He is currently a member of the ANZBMS, HBA and IOF scientific Advisory committees and the RANZCR Densitometry advisory Committee.

HealthPartners Institute, USA

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John Schousboe MD PhD is a health services researcher and clinician. He is the Past President of the International Society for Clinical Densitometry and he pioneered the use of bone densitometers to assess vertebral fracture and abdominal aortic calcification (AAC). He has more than 240 publications with over 11,000 citations (Scopus) and has published extensively on the methodology for scoring AAC and fracture as well as clinical risks associated with these conditions in leading journals such as the New England Journal of Medicine, Annals of Internal Medicine, Journal of the American Medical Association etc. He also has extensive experience conducting studies and analysing data in the areas of fracture prevention cost effectiveness, fracture epidemiology, vertebral fracture assessment, and compliance with medications to treat osteoporosis. He is a co-investigator at the Minneapolis site of the Osteoporotic Fractures in Men (MrOS) studies, and is site PI for the NIH funded “Calculator for Length of use of Bisphosphonates (CLUB)” project. He has been involved in leading and/or writing position statements as well as professional and clinical guidelines that are published in leading journals e.g. American College of Rheumatology: Task Force on treatment of rheumatoid arthritis 2008-2015; International Society for Clinical Densitometry (ISCD): Task Force on Vertebral Fracture Assessment 2004-2005, 2007-2008, and 2012-2013

Nutrition and Health Innovation Research Institute (NHIRI), Australia

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Dr Marc Sim received his PhD in Exercise Nutrition from The University of Western Australia in 2014. He is a Senior Research Fellow in the Nutrition and Health Innovation Research Institute (NHIRI) at Edith Cowan University. Marc’s research has been supported by Fellowships from the Royal Perth Hospital Research Foundation and the WA Future Health Research and Innovation Fund. Marc is a registered nutritionist and exercise scientist who studies the role of nutrition, physical activity and its impact on disease progression, more specifically musculoskeletal function and structure. His research is targeted at reducing falls and fracture in older populations, especially the interaction between the cardiovascular and musculoskeletal systems, and how they are supported by nutrition. Marc currently serves on Council for the Australian and New Zealand Bone and Mineral Society (ANZBMS).

Edith Cowan University, Melbourne, Australia

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Dr Cassandra Smith is a dedicated clinician-researcher and Accredited Exercise Physiologist with over a decade of clinical experience. She is a National Heart Foundation and Vice Chancellor’s Postdoctoral Research Fellow based at the Nutrition & Health Innovation Research Institute, Edith Cowan University. Dr Smith completed her PhD in 2022 and her current research investigates why, with age, bone is lost from the skeleton while calcium accumulates in blood vessels—focusing on the influence of menopause and its potential role in the sex disparity observed in cardiovascular disease. Her research program is guided by a consumer-driven approach that incorporates lived experience and community engagement to ensure real-world relevance—optimising interventions that not only save lives but also enhance their quality.

Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, Australia

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Clinical Professor Bronwyn Stuckey AM

Bronwyn Stuckey is a clinical endocrinologist with a special interest in reproductive endocrinology.  She is a consultant endocrinologist at the Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital in Perth, Western Australia, Medical Director of the Keogh Institute for Medical Research, and Clinical Professor in the Medical School, University of Western Australia. She is a Past President of the Australasian Menopause Society, a Life Member of the Endocrine Society of Australia, and a Member of the Order of Australia.