Message from ASBMR President Suzanne Jan De Beur, M.D.
April 8, 2021

Dear Colleagues:
 
As COVID-19 vaccines roll out around the world, the question on everybody's mind is “when will life go back to ‘normal’.” While I can’t tell you the answer to that question, I can reaffirm amidst a year of uncertainty, one thing will always remain consistent: for more than 40 years, the ASBMR Annual Meeting has been the best place for us to share our research and knowledge with the bone, mineral and musculoskeletal research community, and our 2021 Annual Meeting will be no exception.
 
We are working to determine the most impactful way to safely bring our global community together for the ASBMR 2021 Annual Meeting. Ultimately, the ASBMR 2021 Annual Meeting will be either an in-person meeting with a virtual component or a fully virtual meeting. Earlier this week, we launched a survey to help gauge the personal thoughts of our members regarding travel to the ASBMR 2021 Annual Meeting.  If you have not already done so, please complete this three minute survey by next Thursday, April 15. Your feedback is extremely important and will be a critical factor Council considers when making a final determination on the format of this year’s Annual Meeting.
 
Last month, it was announced that abstracts are open for submission for the 2021 Annual Meeting. The impact of COVID-19 has affected our day-to-day lives in many ways, but I want to assure you all that your ability to present your research at the 2021 Annual Meetingwill not be impacted. This means that everyone will be able to present their research in October whether your abstract receives an oral or poster presentation, and regardless of whether you will attend the meeting in person or virtually. Also, just like in prior years, all abstracts accepted to the ASBMR Annual Meeting will be published in the Journal of Bone and Mineral Research (JBMR®) – the most respected and highly cited journal in the field. Abstract submissions are due by Wednesday, May 12, 2021.
 
I would also like to touch on the Listening Session on the Recent Violence Against Asian Americans that was held on March 24. It has been an extremely challenging year with raised awareness surrounding social injustices and racism — especially in the United States — including and most recently for our Asian and Asian American colleagues. I was inspired by the number of members who came together in support of and in solidarity with our Asian colleagues, and reinforced that we are more than just a professional, scientific and medical society – we are ‘One Global ASBMR Family’.
 
In the past year, ASBMR has taken steps to address issues of diversity, equity, and inclusion within our Society, and we continue to chart our path on how to best care for our colleagues and community. We aspire to listen, to reflect, and to take action as our community shares their hurt, their hope, and advice for how we can continue to cultivate a Society that is open and inclusive to all members from all backgrounds.
 
Lastly, next week U.S. based members will convene for our Virtual Capitol Hill Day occurring April 13-14. Members will be meeting with their elected representatives in Congress to advocate for the importance of federal funding and making the following asks:

• Additional Support to Assist Researchers Impacted by the COVID-19 Pandemic - ASBMR supports the Research Investment to Spark the Economy (RISE) Act (H.R. 869/S.289), a bipartisan bill that would provide NIH and other agencies funding to restore our nation’s research capacity to its pre-pandemic strength, prevent setbacks against the formidable challenges our nation faces, and further the goal of a robust, diverse, and inclusive STEM workforce.
• Continued Investment in NIH - ASBMR supports a $3.2 billion increase in NIH funding for FY2022, which will allow it to continue creating more opportunities for the next generation of researchers and provide a 5% increase across NIH Institutes and Centers, keeping pace with inflation and allowing it to fund new grants.
• Funding for Osteoporosis Testing - ASBMR is working to re-introduce legislation to improve access to, and utilization of, bone mass measurement benefits under part B of the Medicare program by establishing a minimum reimbursement of $98 for office-based DXA tests — the preventative and diagnostic test for osteoporosis.

If you are interested in participating in this year’s ASBMR Virtual Capitol Hill Day, please visit the ASBMR website to learn more and to sign-up.