Her research adopts a translational approach to identifying risk factors for osteoporosis and fractures, incorporating genetics, bone markers, and epidemiology. This work leverages large cohort studies and her expertise in orthopedics to advance understanding and care in the field. Her research is closely tied to improving patient care both locally and nationally, supported by her involvement in national guideline committees.

Prof. Åkesson’s research has been funded by National Research Councils and numerous foundations. She is a member of the International Osteoporosis Foundation (IOF) Committee of Scientific Advisors, co-chairing the Fracture Working Group and previously contributing to the “Capture the Fracture” initiative. She has held leadership roles in various international organizations within the musculoskeletal field, including GMUSK, the Bone & Joint Decade, ASBMR, ECTS, and SOF. Her university leadership roles include several high-level positions, most notably as Dean of the Medical Faculty.

Prof. Åkesson has supervised or co-supervised 17 PhD students and has published over 250 works, including original research articles, reviews, book chapters, guidelines, and popular science contributions, as well as serving on editorial boards.

After earning his physiotherapy degree at the University of Milan, Prof. Barbero began his clinical career with a focus on managing chronic spinal pain. He advanced his expertise by completing a Master’s degree in Manual Therapy and Rehabilitation of Musculoskeletal Disorders at the University of Genoa. He later earned his PhD from Queen Margaret University in Edinburgh, where his research explored the spatial relationship between myofascial trigger points and the innervation zone.

Prof. Barbero’s work bridges neurophysiology and clinical practice, aiming to improve the understanding and treatment of musculoskeletal pain. His research includes the development of innovative outcome measures, enhancing the assessment of pain conditions and enabling tailored, evidence-based therapeutic approaches.

Through his leadership at 2rLab and contributions to scientific publishing, Prof. Barbero continues to shape the field of rehabilitation and musculoskeletal research, advancing both clinical and academic excellence.

Dr. Batty’s career highlights include his tenure as Deputy Club Doctor at Manchester United, followed by his role as Head of Sports Medicine at Blackburn Rovers Football Club. He also worked with athletes of all ages and abilities at the English Institute of Sport. Notably, he was Head of Sports Medicine at Manchester City during their historic Premier League victory and served as England First Team Rugby Doctor for two years.

A former Vice President of the Faculty of Sport and Exercise Medicine UK, Dr. Batty has contributed significantly to setting professional standards in the field. He has held academic roles as Honorary Senior Lecturer at the University
of Salford and University of London and was an Honorary Consultant at Wrightington Hospital.

His clinical expertise focuses on musculoskeletal injury assessment, ultrasoundguided injections, injury rehabilitation, and exercise as a therapeutic tool to reduce risks of cardiovascular disease and cancer.

Prof. Bong earned his medical degree from the University of Wisconsin Medical School in Madison, USA, followed by residency training in Internal Medicine at Indiana University Hospital in Indianapolis. He completed his Rheumatology fellowship at Oregon Health Sciences University in Portland, USA. A founding fellow of the American College of Rheumatology, Dr. Bong is a former President of the Northwest Rheumatism Society based in Seattle, USA. He holds medical licensure in both the United States and Spain and is a member of the Official Medical College of Barcelona (COMB).

Prof. Bong has been actively involved in musculoskeletal ultrasound education and practice. He has been a member of the annual EULAR Musculoskeletal Ultrasound Faculty since 2010 and has served as an organizer and faculty member of the Barcelona Sonoanatomy Course since 2009. He holds Level 3 Musculoskeletal Ultrasound Competency Certification in Rheumatology from the European Federation of Societies for Ultrasound in Medicine and Biology (EFSUMB) and Level 2 Ultrasound Certification from EULAR.

Dr. Bong’s career is marked by a commitment to advancing rheumatology through clinical excellence, education, and his expertise in musculoskeletal ultrasound, which continues to benefit patients and professionals in Spain and beyond.

With a wealth of experience in implementing transformative agreements for open-access scientific publishing, Fabio’s role spans Europe, the Middle East, and Asia, with a focus on promoting evidence-based medicine and best practices.

In addition to his work at Wiley, Fabio lectures on artificial intelligence at the University of Chieti, advancing the application of AI in clinical settings and computational neuroscience.

Previously, Fabio held key positions at EBSCO Health and Elsevier, specializing in clinical decision support and data management.

His career reflects a strong commitment to integrating healthcare and technology to improve patient care and research outcomes.

He has authored over 100 scientific publications with more
than 500 citations and serves on the editorial boards and referee panels of several international scientific journals.

Prof. Dıraçoğlu holds key leadership roles, including Vice President of the Turkish Society of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and Secretary General of the Turkish Association of Manual Medicine and TETAD. He is an active member of prominent international groups such as EUROVISCO, ISIAT, Target to Treat in Osteoarthritis Working Group, GUIDA, FMSI, McMaster University MORE Group, and SIR. As a delegate of FIMM (International Federation for Manual/ Musculoskeletal Medicine), he contributes to global advancements in the field.

A recognized advocate for advancing injection methods in Turkey, Prof. Dıraçoğlu has worked to integrate complementary medicine into clinical practice using evidencebased approaches. He is a founding organizer of initiatives like Campinject, Ultra (Ultrasound-Guided Injections), and The League of Complementary Medicine.
Prof. Dıraçoğlu has been honored with several awards, including the “10 Best Papers” award at the 2004 European Congress of Physical and Rehabilitative Medicine (Vienna) and the 2009 Ord. Prof. Dr. Osman Cevdet Çubukçu Honorable Mention Award.

He has held various administrative roles, such as Vice Dean of Istanbul Faculty of Medicine and General Administrative Services Coordinator for Istanbul University Hospitals. Currently, he serves as Head of the Department of Physical
Medicine and Rehabilitation and Head of Pain Medicine at Istanbul University, Faculty of Medicine.

As a research fellow, Prof. Domżalski worked at Thomas Jefferson University of Philadelphia and A.I. duPont Hospital for Children in Wilmington, DE, USA, between 2004 and 2005. He achieved specialization in orthopedics and musculoskeletal traumatology in 2006 and received an associate professor degree by the Medical University of Lodz in 2011.

Since February 2015, he has been the Head of the Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology at the Medical University of Lodz, overseeing clinical and academic activities at the University Clinical Hospital. In 2020, he received the title of full professor, conferred by the President of the Republic of Poland.

Prof. Domżalski was a founding member and first president of the Polish Arthroscopic Society (PTArtro) in 2015. He is an esteemed lecturer at the SAPTA and SNACE arthroscopic schools and has been a member of the Polish National Examination Commission for orthopedics and traumatology of the musculoskeletal system since 2015. He currently serves as President of the Lodz Division of the Polish Society of Orthopedics and Traumatology (2023–2025).

An active participant in international orthopedic communities, Prof. Domżalski has been a member of the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons (AAOS) since
2006 and is also affiliated with ESSKA and ISAKOS. He serves on the editorial boards of Sports Medicine and Surgery of the Motor Organ and Orthopedics Poland.

In recognition of his expertise, Prof. Domżalski became a member of the FIVB Medical Commission in 2025, further cementing his leadership in the field of orthopedic medicine.

Dr. Doyscher completed his medical education in Germany, South Africa, and the United States, successfully passing both the German and US federal medical licensing examinations. He received his training in orthopedic and trauma surgery at the Centre for Musculoskeletal Surgery (CMSC) at the renowned Charité Berlin, one of Europe’s largest university hospitals.

During his tenure at Charité, Dr. Doyscher was instrumental in developing the orthopedic component of the Sports Medicine Department. He served as team doctor for 1. FC Union Berlin (soccer), Füchse Berlin (handball), the German Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation, and the German Athletics Federation.

Dr. Doyscher specializes in the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of muscle injuries and the non-surgical management of cartilage defects in athletes. His expertise includes musculoskeletal ultrasound, MRI diagnostics, and ultrasound-guided injection techniques, making him a leader in advancing sports medicine care.

A pioneer in digital therapeutics for chronic pain, Prof. Eccleston invented a Virtual Reality system for pain management and is passionate about service redesign, particularly through integrating expert systems into pain management strategies.

He has authored over 300 peer-reviewed publications and is widely cited, with an H-index of 86 (Web of Science). His contributions have earned him prestigious recognitions, including the Ronald Melzack Award (2018) from the International Association for the Study of Pain and the Patrick Wall Medal (2021) from the UK Faculty of Pain Medicine.

Prof. Eccleston founded and directed the Bath Pain Management Unit (1994–2008), establishing the first residential pediatric pain program. He continues to consult internationally on chronic pain management, focusing on service development and team training. From 2009–2019, he served as psychology editor for PAIN, and from 2010–2020, he coordinated the Pain, Palliative, and Supportive Care Cochrane Review Group.

An accomplished author, he has published three influential books with Oxford University Press: Embodied: The Psychology of Physical Perception (2016), European Pain Management (2018), and Work and Pain: A Lifespan Development Approach (2020, co-authored with Dr. Elaine Wainwright).

Prof. Eccleston also led the Lancet Child & Adolescent Health Commission report, “Delivering Transformative Action in Paediatric Pain”, furthering his mission to improve pain management globally.

He has received prestigious awards, including induction into the AOSSM Hall of Fame (2015), honorary memberships in ESSKA (2016), ISAKOS (2017), and EFORT (2022), and the Nordic Prize in Medicine (2016). His research is supported by organizations such as the National Institutes of Health, the
Norwegian Research Council, and the IOC.

Prof. Engebretsen collaborates with renowned research groups. His work on knee ligaments with May Arna Risberg in Oslo and Robert LaPrade in Minnesota has advanced ligament injury studies. At the Oslo Sports Trauma Research Center, co-chaired with Roald Bahr, his focus is on sports injury prevention. Within the Oslo Cartilage Group, he has contributed to translational research, including Norway’s first knee chondrocyte transplantation in 1997 and advancements in stem cell and surgical techniques.

He has served as President of the Norwegian Sports Medicine Society, the Scandinavian Foundation of Sports Medicine, and ESSKA, and held board roles in ISAKOS, the Orthopedic Research Society, and others.

As Editor of the British Journal of Sports Medicine (IPHP edition) and a reviewer for major journals, he continues to shape orthopedic and sports medicine research globally.

Dr. Fossati possesses a high-level skillset in the development of pharmaceutical products and medical devices, with a strong foundation in analytics, biochemistry, biology, pharmaceutical technology, quality control, pharmacology, and toxicology. He is highly experienced in Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) and adept at managing inspections conducted by global regulatory authorities.

In his career, Dr. Fossati has cultivated significant expertise in the development of both biological products and small molecules. His work spans biofermentation processes, highly active compounds, products of natural origin, and human molecular genetics.

He regularly engages with global medicines agencies and regulatory bodies, participating in consultations and advisory meetings. Dr. Fossati also manages the Chemistry, Manufacturing, and Controls (CMC) sections of pharmaceutical dossiers and technical files, ensuring compliance with international regulatory standards.

Dr. Giori, as Head of pre-clinical and clinical researches, coordinates all the activities at IBSA Group, focusing on the company’s diverse therapeutic areas and associated product portfolios.

An organic chemist by training, Dr. Giori has extensive expertise in herbal remedies. Prior to his role at IBSA, he served as Director of Phytochemical R&D at Indena, a global leader in the production of plant-derived active ingredients for pharmaceuticals, nutraceuticals, and cosmetics.

Dr. Giori is the author of numerous publications and international patents, reflecting his significant contributions to scientific innovation. He is also a sought-after speaker, frequently invited to lecture at universities worldwide, sharing his expertise in pharmaceutical development and phytochemistry.

Prof. Guerrasio specializes in the traumatology of the upper and lower limbs, foot surgery, and basic arthroscopic orthopedic procedures, with a focus on the knee and ankle. His extensive experience includes organizing and managing national and international courses for medical specialists, among these: cadaver-lab, workshops on anatomical risk management in musculoskeletal (MSK) surgery and MSK ultrasound trainings.

As Scientific Director of the IBSA International Academy-MSK Modules, Prof. Guerrasio plays a key role in advancing education in the field. In 2024, he earned Musculoskeletal Ultrasound Competency Diploma in Rheumatology Level 1,
awarded by the European Federation of Societies for Ultrasound in Medicine and Biology (EFSUMB).

Prof. Guerrasio’s commitment to clinical excellence and education has made him a prominent figure in orthopedic and musculoskeletal medicine, fostering improved surgical techniques and diagnostic approaches.

Prof. Matucci-Cerinic is also an influential figure in academic publishing, with over 1,000 peer-reviewed publications focusing on the pathogenesis, clinical features, and treatment of rheumatic diseases, particularly scleroderma,
spondyloarthritis, and osteoarthritis.

He is the Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Scleroderma and Related Disorders and serves as Associate Editor for Arthritis Research & Therapy and Clinical & Experimental Rheumatology. He is a past Associate Editor and Co-Editor of Rheumatology and contributes as a board member to several prestigious journals, including Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases, Rheumatology, Journal of Rheumatology, and Scandinavian Journal of Rheumatology.

His contributions have significantly advanced the understanding and treatment of rheumatic diseases globally, reinforcing his reputation as a pioneer in the field.

Prof. Mobasheri has held prominent positions in international organizations, including serving as President of the Osteoarthritis Research Society International (OARSI). He currently sits on the Scientific Advisory Board of the European Society for Clinical and Economic Aspects of Osteoporosis, Osteoarthritis, and Musculoskeletal Diseases (ESCEO). Additionally, he is a “Collaborateur Scientifique de l’Université de Liège” and Senior Strategic Advisor to the World Health Organization Collaborating Center for Public Health Aspects of Musculoskeletal Health and Aging at the Université de Liège, Belgium.

He is an active member of OARSI and the International Cartilage Regeneration & Joint Preservation Society (ICRS), where he serves on the translational science committee. Prof. Mobasheri is also on the editorial boards of Osteoarthritis and Cartilage Open, Osteoarthritis Imaging, and other leading scientific journals.

Prof. Mobasheri’s research focuses on cartilage biology, osteoarthritis, pain, and biomarkers. He has authored over 400 scientific articles and holds an H-index of 76 on Web of Science, reflecting the significant impact of his work on the field.

Since 2006, Prof. Šenolt has directed the Department of Experimental Rheumatology at the Institute of Rheumatology in Prague. He was named Associate Professor in 2010 and Full Professor of Internal Medicine in 2014.

His research interests include biomarkers, novel cytokines, epigenetics, synovial inflammation biology, and the development of innovative therapies for musculoskeletal rheumatic diseases. He has received numerous research grants and actively contributes to clinical trials targeting inflammatory rheumatic conditions.

Prof. Šenolt serves as President of the Czech Society of Rheumatology, Head of the Scientific Board at the Institute of Rheumatology, and Chair of the Accreditation Committee for Rheumatology Specialization. His work has had a significant impact on advancing both research and clinical practice in rheumatology.

She moderated Joint Challenge 2021 and her recent engagements include moderating events for the European Commission, the National Farmers’ Union UK, the Federation of European Risk Managers’ Associations, IFAH Europe, EuropaBio, Eunited, the European Medtech Alliance, Vaccines Europe, and the EULAR Conference for World Arthritis Day.

Dr. Smith’s diverse career has equipped her with a deep understanding of various subjects, including politics, health, environment, sustainable development, transport, and industry. Her ability to adapt to different topics and audiences has made her a sought-after moderator for a wide range of events.

From 1992 to 2008, Prof. Szántó served at the Internal Medicine Clinic of the University of Debrecen before transitioning to the Rheumatology Clinic, where he worked until 2019. Since January 2019, he has led the Department of Sports Medicine and the Sports Health Clinic at the University of Debrecen. Under his leadership, the department has played a pivotal role in advancing the education and practice of sports medicine.

Between 2001 and 2003, Prof. Szántó was a scientific fellow at RUSH University in Chicago, USA. He defended his PhD thesis in 2005 and was awarded a Doctor of Science (DSc) degree by the Hungarian Academy of Sciences in 2018. He currently serves as the secretary of the Committee on Musculoskeletal and Sports Sciences within the Hungarian Academy of Sciences.

In his role as Head of the Department of Sports Medicine, Prof. Szántó oversees the provision of comprehensive care for athletes suffering from overuse injuries and other sports-related conditions. Additionally, he manages the healthcare needs of local sports clubs and has contributed as a leading physician at several international sporting events, including the 2022 World Aquatics Championships, the 2024 World Athletics Championships, and the 2024 European University Games.

Prof. Szántó’s dedication to advancing sports medicine is evident through his leadership, clinical expertise, and active participation in high-profile sporting events, making him a key figure in the field both nationally and internationally.

Throughout his career, he has held several prominent roles, including
Director of Pharmascience and Regulatory at Bioibérica Pharmaceutical. He has also served as a member of the Evaluation Committee of the National Center for Scientific Research (CNRS) at INSERM and as a member of the Scientific Council of the Lorraine region, where he evaluated various projects and research units in rheumatology and pharmacology. Additionally, he is a member of the Scientific and Directing Councils of the Bioiberica Chair at the Autonomous University of Madrid, focusing on Chronic Inflammation and Cytoprotection (CABICYC).

Prof. Josep Vergés-Milano has authored and co-authored more than 50 publications in leading international scientific journals, contributing to the advancement of knowledge in osteoarthritis research and treatment.

Prof. Welsch is a German board-certified orthopedic and trauma surgeon specializing in sports medicine and musculoskeletal imaging. His clinical expertise focuses on sports-related injuries and regenerative cartilage therapies, including advanced diagnostics and rehabilitation strategies. He is particularly experienced in the treatment and rehabilitation of acute and chronic injuries of the lower extremity, especially those affecting knee, ankle and muscles, with a specific emphasis on return-to-competition protocols for professional athletes.

Prof. Welsch completed his studies and training at the University of Erlangen, the Medical University of Vienna, New York University, and Harvard Medical School.

He is an active member of several leading orthopedic and radiological societies and has published over 130 peer-reviewed articles, 30 book chapters, and received numerous national and international grants and awards in recognition of his contributions to the field.