Five researchers were presented with 'IOF Young Investigator Awards' at the International Osteoporosis Foundation (IOF) Regionals - 2nd Middle East & Africa Osteoporosis Meeting and the 6th Pan Arab Osteoporosis Congress PAOC'6 on September 30, 2012. The Meeting was held at the King Hussein Bin Talal Convention Centre, Dead Sea, Jordan.
IOF is dedicated to advancing scientific knowledge on osteoporosis, and in particular to encouraging young researchers in all parts of the world to engage in bone research. As a sign of this commitment, IOF offers annual Young Investigator Awards at its regional meetings.
The prestigious grants were awarded to the presenting authors (40 years old or younger at the time of the Meeting) of the top five ranking abstracts. Each winner received USD 1,000 and was invited to present his or her work during a special plenary session.
The abstract titles and winning authors at the IOF-PAOS Meeting were:
- Sex difference in the relation between fat mass index and hip bone mineral density in a group of Lebanese adolescents and young adults. Rawad El Hage (Lebanon)
- Effects of low dose X-irradiation on formation, proliferation and activity of osteoblasts and osteoclasts in vitro. Yekun. Deng (China)
- Vitamin D synthesis in Caucasian and South Asian women following ultraviolet radiation. Ohood A. Hakim.(United Kingdom)
- The controversy over initiation, continuing or stopping treatment when osteoporotic fracture occurs. Rami Eid (Syria)
- Utility of Q Fracture Score in Iraqi women suspected to have vertebral fracture.
Ahmad Abdulbari (Iraq)
The prize winners and an additional group of investigators aged 40 years or under were also invited to attend the first "IOF Young IOF Young Investigator Mentoring Programme". The exclusive hands-on course was led by renowned faculty and focused on research, writing publications and delivering presentations.