Message from ASBMR President Laura Calvi, MD – March 14, 2024

Focus on Advocacy

Dear Colleagues,

The Society is currently undertaking numerous activities and initiatives aimed at advocating for policies that address the prevalence and social-economic impact of musculoskeletal (MSK) diseases. It is critical for ASBMR to highlight the chronic underfunding of MSK research, out of proportion to the prevalence and impact of MSK disorders.   

Our activities engage both government agencies and elected representatives with the goal of raising awareness and support for increased funding for the important research our members undertake and for enhancing support for the next generation of MSK researchers and clinicians. Let me share with you some of our recent actions aimed at influencing policies, regulations and funding priorities.

Last November, the Biden Administration announced the White House Initiative on Women's Health Research aimed at promoting and supporting research that addresses the unique health needs of women. In response, the ASBMR worked with our coalition partners on a letter to the White House commending the initiative and urging the administration support Medicare reimbursement for Fracture Liaison Service (FLS) which would have an immediate and large-scale impact on women’s health. Twenty-seven coalition organizations signed on to this letter.

In addition, the Society submitted a second, independent letter to the White House to highlight the prevalence of MSK diseases on women’s health and the urgent need for investment in bone, joint and skeletal muscle research to improve the overall health and quality of life for millions of American women.

The White House last month announced the initiative will be administered through the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H) under the title “Sprint for Women’s Health” which aims to address critical unmet challenges in women’s health across all demographics, geographies, and socioeconomic statuses, championing transformative innovations and tackling health conditions that uniquely or disproportionately affect women from every walk of life.

ARPA-H recently released the Spring for Women’s Health request for solutions which will use two funding tracks to foster transformative research and development efforts: one for early-stage research, or “Spark” solutions, and the other for later-stage development, or “Launchpad” solutions. Full details are on the ARPA-H website. The submission deadline is Friday, April 12.

A large number of ASBMR members receive their research support through the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Last December, I had the pleasure to attend the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS) Forum for Clinical Mentored K Awardees. The K Award program is an important mechanism for US-based early-stage physician scientists and clinical investigators that want to pursue a career in research.

This meeting aims to foster a shared, open discussion of challenges K investigators face in pursuing research independence. The Forum also provides an opportunity for K awardees to network with other participants, including professional organizations such as ASBMR, and interact with NIAMS leadership and staff.

At this meeting, we learned that very few early-stage investigators in our field apply for this program. This is unfortunate, as the success rate for individuals that go through the program and go on to receive NIH R01 independent investigator grant funding is extremely high. Working with NIH to identify how we might work together to raise ASBMR member awareness of this opportunity could be extremely impactful to our field and our membership.

To directly address this and other pressing needs of ASBMR investigators, the Board of Directors (Council) is inviting several NIH directors and institute leaders from key Institutes to an in-person meeting in June in conjunction with our June Board Meeting in Washington, DC, USA.

The goals of this meeting are to 1) begin the practice of holding regular interactions between the ASBMR leadership and NIH directors; and 2) identify areas of mutual interest in which we might work together. Areas of interest identified for this June’s discussion are increasing NIH-led clinical trials in MSK health, developing strategies to improve MSK research areas that cut across the mission of numerous NIH Institutes and improving the pipeline of early-stage investigators in the field, especially physician scientists.

Another future advocacy initiative will involve ASBMR and the Bone Health and Osteoporosis Foundation (BHOF). In a first-time “District Office Advocacy Day” in conjunction with May’s Osteoporosis Awareness Month, we will be asking ASBMR and BHOF members from key congressional districts to visit the district/state offices of their elected representatives to urge them to support sustained federal investments in NIH research funding and share the direct impact that their research has had both locally and globally. Be on the lookout for the sign-up announcement for this important microvolunteering activity in the coming weeks.  

The Society is also supporting international advocacy initiatives through our membership with the International Federation of Musculoskeletal Research (IFMRS). The Federation, in collaboration with the Global Alliance for Musculoskeletal Health (G-MUSC) is holding conversations with the World Health Organization (WHO) this year on the need for greater awareness of the burden of musculoskeletal diseases globally. Our collective aim is to realize a WHO global action plan to guide a global strategy to improve musculoskeletal health.

Let me take this opportunity to recognize and thank key member volunteers that enable this important work, including the members of the ASBMR Advocacy and Science Policy Committee: Drs. Michael Hadjiargyrou (Committee Chair), Kristi Tough DeSapri, Randee Hunter, Frank Ko, Sabrina Noel, Meghan McGee-Lawrence, Katherine Motyl, Orhan Oz, M.D., Ryan Ross, Rodrigo J. Valderrábano, Bettina Willie and Joy Wu (Council Liaison). I would also like to acknowledge ASBMR representatives to the IFMRS Board and Council: Drs. Roland Baron and Roberto Civitelli.

Sincerely,

Laura Calvi, MD

ASBMR President