Message from ASBMR President Suzanne Jan De Beur, M.D.
July 1, 2021

Dear Colleagues -

We are counting down the weeks until we reconnect the ASBMR community at the ASBMR 2021 Annual Meeting in sunny San Diego, CA, USA this fall!

I am thrilled to announce that ALL early stage investigator members presenting their research in-person in San Diego will receive a travel grant! The guiding principle for ASBMR leadership throughout the global pandemic has been to be here when our members need us the most. To this end, ASBMR has committed $140,000 to fund the expansion of our travel grants in recognition of the challenges that our members are still facing as a result of the pandemic.  Early-stage investigator members that present their research in-person in San Diego as an oral or poster presentation will receive $500-$750 USD. We are also providing travel grants to ALL mid-career stage investigator members that receive ORAL abstract presentations and present their research in-person in San Diego.

Members that submitted abstracts in May will be notified in late-July if they received an oral, plenary poster or poster presentation.  Presenters will have one week to confirm if they will be presenting in-person or virtually at the ASBMR 2021 Annual Meeting. Final presentation dates and times will be sent out in early-August, as well as final travel grant and award notices

More good news—early stage and mid-career investigators submitting Late-Breaking abstracts are also eligible for the expanded travel grant program. If you missed the opportunity to submit an abstract in May, I invite you to submit abstracts on clinical, basic and/or translational subjects that describe novel, groundbreaking research findings of the highest scientific impact during the late-breaking abstract submission period starting Wednesday, July 7. The deadline to submit your research is Wednesday, July 28. Members submitting abstracts during the Late-Breaking abstract submission period will be notified of their presentation times in late-August. 

If travel is not possible, ASBMR is here for you providing a robust, synchronous, virtual attendee experience so you can access all the benefits of attending the ASBMR 2021 Annual Meeting from the comfort of your home or office.

Annual Meeting registration — both in person and virtual – will open in late July. Housing registration will open simultaneously. We have negotiated the lowest rate available at the beautiful Marriott Marquis, the closest hotel to the convention center. You can only get this rate by booking through the ASBMR. I encourage you to follow ASBMR on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram so that you receive all the announcements and updates regarding the ASBMR 2021 Annual Meeting.

As recent conversations over race-based corrections to clinical algorithms have raised questions about the scientific data clinicians rely on to treat their patients across a variety of medical fields, the ASBMR has formed a task force to examine the inclusion of race and/or ethnicity in determination of bone fracture risk. Sherri-Ann M. Burnett-Bowie, M.D., MPH, Harvard Medical School and Jane A. Cauley, Ph.D., University of Pittsburgh will serve as task force co-chairs. The task force will present an update of its work at the ASBMR Annual Meeting. Read the full press release here.

Lastly, the 2021 ASBMR Leadership Election will begin later this month. All current ASBMR members will receive an email inviting them to cast their electronic ballot. Voting for ASBMR Officers and Councilors is an important benefit for current ASBMR members – if you have any questions about the leadership selection process, please visit the ASBMR website. Be sure your ASBMR membership is up-to-date and cast your vote for our next President-Elect, Secretary-Treasurer Elect and members of Council. Every single vote counts!

Sincerely,

Suzanne Jan de Beur
ASBMR President