German Academy of Bone and Joint Sciences, Berlin
(founded 1997)
c/o Dept. of Medicine, University of Heidelberg, Bergheimerstrasse 58,
69115 Heidelberg, Germany

Phone: (+49/6221) 568605
Fax: (+49/6221) 564101
Email: Markus_Seibel@med.uni-heidelberg.de

General Comments
The German Academy of Bone and Joint Sciences was founded in July 1997 and represents an association of scientists with different academic backgrounds, interested and active in bone and joint research.

The mission of the Academy is the scientific, open and independent exchange amongst qualified basic and clinical researchers, the dissemination of scientific knowledge in the field of bone and joint research, and the teaching of those interested in the area of bone and joint disease.

Membership
Presently, the Academy has 28 full members from Germany, Switzerland and Austria. Their scientific background is as follows: Medicine (Endocrinology, Rheumatology, Gynaecology, Oncology, Clinical Chemistry, Pediatrics, Geriatrics, Radiology), Epidemiology, Social Sciences, Psychology, and Medical Physics. Starting next year, younger and promising scientists, who not yet fulfil the criteria for full membership can apply for a "Young Member Status". In addition there are presently 8 associated members.

Current Officers
PD Dr. Markus J. Seibel, President (2000 2003)
Prof. Dr. Claus C. Glüer, Vice President (2000 2003)
PD Dr. Stefan Scharla, Secretary (2000 2003)
PD Dr. Klaus Engelke, Treasuerer (1997 2000 / 2000- 2003)

Current Members (in alphabetical order, as of 9/2000)
Prof. Dr. Jürgen Braun, Berlin
Prof. Dr. Gerd Burmester, Berlin
PD Dr. Frank Buttgereit, Berlin
Prof. Dr. Ingo Diel, Heidelberg
Prof. Dr. Martina Dören, Berlin
Prof. Dr. Reiner Dreher, Kreuznach
Prof. Dr. Dieter Felsenberg, Berlin (Vice President 1997 2000)
PD Dr. Andreas Grauer, Frankfurt
Prof. Dr. Gert Hein, Jena
Prof. Dr. Michael Heller, Kiel
PD Dr. Franz Jakob, Würzburg
Prof. Dr. Willi Kalender, Erlangen
PD Dr. Peter Kann, Mainz
PD Dr. Marius Kraenzlin, Basel, Switzerland
Dr. Gudrun Leidig-Bruckner, Heidelberg
Prof. Dr. Hemut W. Minne, Pyrmont (President 1997 2000)
PD Dr. Martin Pecherstorfer, Vienna, Austria
Prof. Dr. Johannens Pfeilschifter, Bochum
Prof. Dr. Heiner Raspe, Lübeck
Dr. Martin Rudlaweit, Berlin
Dr. Christa Scheidt-Nave, Heidelberg
Prof. Dr. Heinrich Schmidt-Gayk, Heidelberg
Prof Dr. Eckard Schönau, Köln
Dr. Jutta Semler, Berlin
Dr. Henning Woitge, Heidelberg

Present and Past Activities

Meetings:
The German Academy of Bone and Joint Sciences holds at least two general meetings per year. So far, meetings were held in Berlin (twice), Erlangen (twice), Heidelberg, Bad Pyrmont, Schönau and Würzburg. Meetings were dedicated to various topics, amongst them "Ethics in Medicine of Chronic Diseases", "Medical Networking in Secondary Osteoporosis", "Teaching of Science in Bone and Joint Disease". All of the past meetings could only be attended by full or associated members.

The next two meetings of the German Academy of Bone and Joint Sciences will be open to the scientific and clinical community. The first of these meetings will be held on 16./ 17. March 2001 in Heppenheim as a joint symposium between the German Academy of Bone and Joint Sciences and the Academy for Political Sciences. During this meeting , the "Political, Medical, Social and Economic Burdens of Chronic Disease" will be discussed by internationally renowned experts.

The second open meeting organised under the leadership of the German Academy of Bone and Joint Sciences will be held only 2 weeks later, on 30./31. March 2001 in Heidelberg. The "2^nd Interdisciplinary Symposium on Osteoporosis" will deal with "New Learnings in Osteoporosis" and is designed for basic scientists (Friday, ca. 50 participants expected) and clinicians (Saturday, ca. 600 participants expected).

Publications:
The German Academy of Bone and Joint Sciences is presently editing a textbook on "Metabolic Bone Diseases A Problem Oriented Approach". The book is designed to have 600+ pages and be a reference for clinicians dealing with metabolic bone disease of both primary and secondary nature. The book is expected to be published in 2001.

The German Academy of Bone and Joint Sciences also plans to publish a series of presentations held at the Academys various meetings. However, this project will not be completed before 2004.

Research Proposals:
Members of the German Academy of Bone and Joint Sciences have been active in writing a joint research proposal within the framework of the German Medical Network sponsored by the German government. Although the first attempt of this proposal was not successful, we are presently considering a second approach. Again, we are utilising the multi-disciplinary constituency of the German Academy of Bone and Joint Sciences to approach the task on a broad basis.

Memberships:
The German Academy of Bone and Joint Sciences is a full member of the "Dachverband der Deutschsprachigen Osteologischen Gesellschaften", the umbrella organisation of German speaking bone and mineral societies, and is represented in its board of directors. The German Academy of Bone and Joint Sciences is therefore actively involved in the activities of the Dachverband, including the design and publication of guidelines.

The German Academy of Bone and Joint Sciences is also a member of the International Osteoporosis Foundation and represented in its Board of National Societies.

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