American Society for Bone and Mineral Research

The American Society for Bone and Mineral Research (ASBMR) is a professional, scientific and medical society established to bring together clinical and experimental scientists involved in the study of bone and mineral metabolism. ASBMR encourages and promotes the study of this expanding field through annual scientific meetings, an official journal ("Journal of Bone and Mineral Research"), the "Primer on the Metabolic Bone Diseases and Disorders of Mineral Metabolism", advocacy and interaction with government agencies and related societies.

ASBMR Mission

The mission of the ASBMR is to be the premier society in the field of bone and mineral metabolism through promoting excellence in bone and mineral research, fostering integration of clinical and basic science, and facilitating the translation of that science to health care and clinical practice.

Key objectives to achieve these goals include the nurturing and development of future generations of basic and clinical scientists, and the dissemination of new knowledge in bone and mineral metabolism. The ASBMR is proactive in shaping research and health policies based on scientific advances in the field.

History

The American Society for Bone and Mineral Research (ASBMR) is the premier professional, scientific and medical society established to promote excellence in bone and mineral research and to facilitate the translation of that research into clinical practice. Today the ASBMR has a membership of nearly 4,000 physicians, basic research scientists, and clinical investigators from over fifty countries. It has come a long way from its early beginnings.

In the 1970s, an increasing number of U.S. scientists began to focus their research on the understanding of basic bone biology and the disease osteoporosis. This small cadre of scientists helped bolster a burgeoning new field—bone and mineral research. The field grew rapidly during the decade and it soon became apparent that an organization was needed that could bring together clinical and experimental scientists involved in the study of bone and mineral metabolism where scientists could discuss and exchange exciting new developments in bone-related research, and young investigators could be nurtured and encouraged to pursue research careers in the field.

In 1974, while attending the annual meeting of the Endocrine Society in Chicago, Illinois, USA, a small number of bone scientists, including Louis Avioli, Claude Arnaud, Norman Bell, William Peck, John Potts and Lawrence Raisz, along with Shirley Hohl, met at the Drake Hotel to discuss the need for such an organization. At this meeting, the group laid the groundwork for the formation of a broad-based, active and identifiable society that would promote the study of the expanding bone and mineral field. Three years later, in November 1977, their idea was realized with the official incorporation of the ASBMR as a nonprofit organization.

The first few years the ASBMR was in existence were tenuous, with the Society kept afloat through the determination and charity of its founders and run from first president Louis Avioli’s office at Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri, USA. In the beginning and for a number of years, Dr. Avioli’s secretary Shirley Hohl performed most of the administrative duties for the organization, including the processing of membership dues, and program and logistics planning for the Annual Meeting.

From its inception, the ASBMR’s Annual Meeting attracted interest from bone and mineral investigators, quickly becoming the place to present and hear the latest and best science in the field. The first ASBMR Annual Meeting was held June 11-12, 1979, at the Disneyland Hotel in Anaheim, California, USA with approximately 150 people in attendance.

During the 1980s the ASBMR Annual Meeting and the Society grew steadily. Several meritorious awards programs to honor excellence in the field were established, including the Fuller Albright, William F. Neuman and Frederic C. Bartter Awards. In 1986, the ASBMR rolled-out its first official publication—the peer-reviewed bi-monthly "Journal of Bone and Mineral Research" ("JBMR") which would later become a monthly publication. In 1984, overwhelming public interest in osteoporosis led several prominent ASBMR researchers to establish The Osteoporosis Foundation—a U.S. nonprofit voluntary health organization solely dedicated to osteoporosis and bone health. One year later the organization was renamed the National Osteoporosis Foundation (NOF). In 1990, the Society published the first edition of the "Primer on the Metabolic Bone Diseases and Disorders of Mineral Metabolism"—a publication intended to introduce medical, dental, graduate students, and fellows to the field of bone and mineral research.

In the 1990s, the field experienced tremendous growth with the rollout of several new treatments and therapies for osteoporosis and other bone diseases, resulting in increased interest and research in bone and mineral metabolism. For the Society, this translated into annual double digit percentage growth in membership and Annual Meeting attendance, as well as an increased diversification and internationalization of the ASBMR membership which just a few years prior had been comprised primarily of U.S.-based researchers. Since its inception, the ASBMR had been dutifully managed by a dedicated cadre of volunteer leaders and Executive Secretary Shirley Hohl, but by the early 1990s, growing by leaps and bounds, the ASBMR was in need of a dedicated full-time staff to service the Society’s expanding membership and programs. In 1991, the leadership hired the association management company Smith, Bucklin & Associates to professionally manage ASBMR with the long-term goals of financial stability and continued growth. SmithBucklin Corporation continues in this role today.

By the mid-1990s the ASBMR was serving a fairly even mix of clinicians and basic scientists, U.S. and international members. With the expansion of its membership, the Society also expanded the scope of its mission—remaining true to its original purpose of promoting bone and mineral research and nurturing young investigators in the field, but now also dedicating itself to fostering integration of clinical and basic science, and facilitating the translation of that science to health care and clinical practice. ASBMR began to play a larger role in professional practice issues, including working with other organizations on clinical guidelines in osteoporosis and approaches to the challenges represented by the proliferation of bone scanning devices with limited databases. The Society also began to play a lead role in advocacy—becoming a founding and primary member of the National Coalition for Osteoporosis and Related Bone Diseases ("Bone Coalition") together with the National Osteoporosis Foundation (NOF), the Paget Foundation and the Osteogenesis Imperfecta Foundation to promote increased funding for bone research at the U.S. federal government level, as well as joining the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology (FASEB) to advocate for increased U.S. government research funding for all of science.

At the dawn of the 21st century, the Society continued to satisfy its mission while reaching out to diverse audiences and juggling and maintaining a variety of ever-growing programs. ASBMR also began self-publication of both the "JBMR" and Primer "on the Metabolic Bone Diseases and Disorders of Mineral Metabolism", and made new education initiatives a priority, including the development of slide sets, new publications geared to improve communication with its membership, career-related sessions at the Annual Meeting, and annual topical meetings. Staying true to its original mission of nurturing young investigators, the ASBMR also launched new awards programs for junior investigators.

With nearly 4,000 members spanning over fifty countries and the success of its publications, the "Journal of Bone and Mineral Research" and the "Primer on Metabolic Bone Disease and Disorders of Mineral Metabolism", ASBMR continues to grow and remains a pioneering leader in the field of bone and mineral metabolism. ASBMR maintains its dedication toward the innovative and inclusive ideals of its founders – promoting young investigator participation, encouraging a truly open Annual Meeting and remaining active and vigilant in discovering new science and retaining the purity of the scientific research.

Membership

The ASBMR membership comprises basic research scientists, and clinical investigators in bone and mineral metabolism and related fields along with physicians and other healthcare practitioners. Current worldwide membership numbers approximately 4,000 with interests in biomechanics, cell biology, molecular biology, dentistry, developmental biology, endocrinology, epidemiology, internal medicine, metabolism, molecular biology, molecular genetics, nephrology, obstetrics-gynecology, orthopaedics, pathology, pharmacology, physiology, rheumatology and other research/clinical areas. Annual Meeting

The most recent meeting of the American Society for Bone and Mineral Research, held in Honolulu, Hawaii, USA, attracted 4,800 attendees from over 60 different countries. The next meeting will be held in Montréal, Quebéc, Canada, September 12-16, 2008.

Awards

ASBMR supports its mission and promotes excellence is by recognition of outstanding members by prestigious awards given annually. All ASBMR members are eligible for the awards, except as restricted by specific award criteria.

Annual Meeting Esteemed Awards—The Fuller Albright Award, The Louis V. Avioli Founders Award, The Frederic C. Bartter Award, The Shirley Hohl Service Award, The William F. Neuman Award, The Gideon A. Rodan Excellence in Mentorship Award, and The ASBMR Early Career Excellence in Teaching Award

Abstract Based Awards—The ASBMR Young Investigator Awards, The ASBMR Award for Outstanding Research in the Pathophysiology of Osteoporosis, The ASBMR President's Award and The ASBMR Most Outstanding Abstract Award

Publication Awards— ASBMR Raisz-Drezner Journal Awards

Funding Awards— ASBMR Bridge Funding Research Grants Program and the ASBMR Career Enhancement Awards

Young Investigator Awards—ASBMR Harold M. Frost Young Investigator Awards and the ASBMR John Haddad Young Investigator Awards More information on these awards is on the ASBMR website at www.asbmr.org/awards.

Journal

The "Journal of Bone and Mineral Research" ("JBMR"), established in 1986, is the official Society journal. "JBMR" is the largest and most cited of the specialized journals dedicated to bone and mineral research, and is the primary source of new developments in all areas of the biology and physiology of bone, the hormones that regulate bone and mineral metabolism, and the pathophysiology and treatment of disorders of bone and mineral metabolism, such as osteoporosis. "JBMR’s" impact factor is a healthy 6.527 and is ranked thirteenth out of 87 journals in the endocrinology and metabolism categories.

An annual subscription to the "Journal" is included in the membership dues to the Society. Individual and institutional subscriptions are also available.

Primer

The "Primer on the Metabolic Bone Diseases and Disorders of Mineral Metabolism" was first published in 1990. The publication intended to introduce medical, dental, graduate students, and fellows to the field of bone and mineral research. This text is an indispensable resource for scientists and students seeking an overview of the bone and mineral field and for clinicians who see patients with disorders of bone and mineral metabolism. A free copy and on-line access to the "Primer" are member benefits. Over 100,000 copies of the "Primer" are in print. Internationally renowned authors and editors have created a format designed for quick reference.

The Seventh Edition of the "Primer" will be released in the summer of 2008.

External links

* [http://www.asbmr.org ASBMR Website]
* [http://www.jbmronline.org Journal Website]
* [http://www.jbmronline.org/loi/prim "Primer" Website]