Letter from ASBMR President Suzanne Jan De Beur, M.D.
November 5, 2020

Dear Colleagues:
 

As we approach the final months of the year, I can still feel the energy that was generated from the 2020 Annual Meeting - Virtual Event. As I mentioned in my last letter, despite the many obstacles and uncertainties 2020 has presented, ASBMR is seizing this moment to transform our society to be more global, connected, innovative and inclusive. I feel that our “One Global ASBMR Family” is strengthening and I hope you feel it too.

The Annual Meeting Program Committee for the 2021 Annual Meeting is already hard at work using their creativity and energy as well as feedback from our members to plan the 2021 Annual Meeting in Toronto. I’d like to take this opportunity to thank those who completed the 2020 Annual Meeting Feedback Survey — each and every comment submitted was read by the Program Committee. Your input is invaluable in helping to plan and enhance future ASBMR Meetings. I am already excited about what is coming for the 2021 Annual Meeting.

The global engagement we experienced at the 2020 Annual Meeting - Virtual Event was at its highest level ever with participants from 60 countries — up from 44 countries in 2019 – and the momentum continues with the Annual Meeting content now available on the Education Resource Center, and through ongoing educational offerings.

Both the Meet-the-Professors Series and 2020 Webinar Series offer ongoing educational opportunities for the rest of the year. The new Member Spotlight Series, a biweekly collaborative seminar, aims to highlight the research of ASBMR members belonging to groups underrepresented in biomedical research. These programs and many others serve as opportunities to deliver cutting-edge, on-demand and innovative content beyond our Annual Meeting to increase member engagement and global reach.

For 2021 we plan to expand our year-round, online content even further. The Education Advisory Committee is currently working with many of our standing committees to identify and prioritize these offerings for the coming year. Have an idea for a topic or speaker? I encourage that you share it by emailing it to asbmr@asbmr.org.

Last month the Society introduced a new research grant program – the ASBMR First Independent Research Support & Transition (FIRST) Awards — aimed to assist early career investigators in establishing their own independent research career in bone, mineral, and musculoskeletal research. Four research grants of $60,000 USD each will be given to senior postdoctoral fellows or faculty-level investigators who have not yet received an NIH K/R01 award or major first career research grant equivalent. The deadline to apply is December 2, 2020 – ASBMR is dedicated to providing support for the research careers of our early career investigators and I encourage all eligible candidates to take advantage of this opportunity by submitting an application on the ASBMR website.  

Finally – and most importantly — 2021 membership renewals will be mailed out this month. During this difficult year, ASBMR has been there for each and every member. From providing complimentary registration to the 2020 ASBMR Annual Meeting - Virtual Event, to the increased offerings of virtual educational and networking opportunities, the value of ASBMR membership has never been higher. As a member of the ASBMR family, we pledge to expand and enhance your membership benefits without increasing membership dues for 2021. Renew now to remain a part of ASBMR’s growing One Global Family.”

 
Sincerely,
Suzanne Jan de Beur, M.D.
ASBMR President