ORS Spine Section Symposia: Enhancing Spine Research throughMentoring, Diversity and Collaboration

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Abstract The Orthopaedic Research Society (ORS) Spine Section is the premier professional body devoted to basic and translational spine research, and an indispensable scientific forum for investigators at all career stages. While Spine Section Symposia have been held successfully as sub-meetings of the main ORS Annual Meeting for several years, available funds have resulted in significant programmatic limitations. A recent COVID-19 impact survey led by Spine Section members highlighted the challenges faced by spine researchers, particularly by trainees, early investigators and minorities. We are requesting NIH funds to facilitate programmatic expansion of Spine Section Symposia for the next 3 years to specifically support initiatives designed to address these challenges. Specifically, the objectives of these annual, half day symposia will be to leverage and expand the mission of the ORS Spine Section in order to catalyze transformative basic and translational spine research through enhanced mentoring, diversity and collaboration across institutions and countries. Four Specific Aims reflecting these integrated themes are proposed for each of 3 annual half day meetings: 1) Enhancing spine research through precision mentoring; 2) Enhancing spine research by increasing opportunity and participation by individuals from diverse backgrounds at all career stages; 3) Enhancing spine research through multi-institution and international collaborations; and 4) Cutting edge basic and translational spine research to enhance patient outcomes. Specific scientific topics will be selected from recent and future Spine Section membership surveys, and will include: emerging diagnostic strategies for disc degeneration and back pain; innovative drug delivery techniques for the spine; and leveraging developmental and evolutionary biology, genomics and artificial intelligence to advance next generation spine therapeutics. Symposia will be held the day preceding the main ORS Annual Meeting in a hybrid format that will in able full, interactive participation by both in person and virtual attendees.