Speakers

GERARD KARSENTY
Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA

Dr Gerard Karsenty is Professor of Molecular and Human Genetics at Baylor College of Medicine. His research focuses on two main areas. One is transcriptional control of osteoblast differentiation and how it relates to the pathophysiology of human skeletal dysplasias. In this line of research, his laboratory has uncovered the role of the key transcription factor Runx2 in this process. A second line of research focuses on a genetic approach of skeletal physiology with an emphasis on the molecular basis of the spatial restriction of extracellular matrix mineralization to bone and on the control of bone mass by the nervous system. Professor Karsenty’s groundbreaking research has identified and elucidated key mechanisms that control bone formation, providing a number of significant novel insights into bone biology and physiology.

SUNDEEP KHOSLA
Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA

Dr Sundeep Khosla is Professor of Medicine and Research Chair in the Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism, and Nutrition, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine. His research focuses on clinical investigative studies aimed at defining the pathogenesis of age related bone loss in women and in men. In addition, he is also pursuing studies at a more basic level on the mechanisms of sex steroid action on bone. Dr Khosla is a member of the Council of the American Society for Bone and Mineral Research and is also on the Board of Directors of the US National Osteoporosis Foundation.

Invited International Speaker

SERGE FERRARI
University Hospital, Geneva, Switzerland

Dr Ferrari is a Swiss National Science Foundation (SNF) Professor of Medicine in the Division of Bone Diseases, Department of Rehabilitation and Geriatrics at the University Hospital in Geneva, Switzerland. He currently serves as a consultant in genetics for the Framingham Osteoporosis Study, is a member of the Board of Directors of the Centers for Genetics, Nutrition, Exercise & Health from the International Union of Nutritional Sciences (IUNS), a member of the Editorial Board of Osteoporosis International and a consultant for numerous drug companies interested in the development of anti-osteoporosis drugs and molecular markers of osteoporosis risk. His research aims to identify candidate gene polymorphisms for osteoporosis in humans, with a particular interest for their interaction with environmental factors. Dr Ferrari also investigates the regulation of bone mass acquisition and PTH activity in transgenic models.

Invited Satellite Meeting Speaker

FRANK RAUCH
Shores Hospital, Montreal, Canada

Dr Frank Rauch is Assistant Professor at the Department of Paediatrics at McGill University and Assistant Director of Clinical Research at The Shriner’s Hospital for Children in Montreal. Dr Rauch has developed significant expertise in bone histomorphometry in children and in children receiving interventional therapy for metabolic bone disease. His research interests are in skeleton development and metabolic bone disorders in children and he has published extensively in both these fields. His talks at the Paediatric Bone Meeting in Sydney will include “What the heck is bone density?” and “Why are bisphosphonates such useful drugs in osteogenesis imperfecta?”.