The Meeting of COST Action CA 21110, known by its acronym NetwOArk, is organized by Medical University of Plovdiv, Bulgaria and will be held in Plovdiv on September 4th and 5th, 2023.
COST is an interdisciplinary research network that brings researchers and innovators together to investigate a burning topic for 4 years. NetwOArk is aimed at building an open European Network on OsteoArthritis. Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common form of arthritis and the most common cause of pain and physical disability in older adults. Despite the higher incidence and the vast socio-economic impact, there is a staggering lack of disease-modifying therapies that can bring symptomatic relief and preserve joint function by preventing cartilage and joint destruction and thus delaying OA progression.
The main aim of NetwOArk is to set up the European Society for Osteoarthritis, with three major stakeholder groups: 1) patients, 2) clinicians and 3) researchers, both from academia and industry. A major task is the impetus on interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary research, technological development, and translation of the results to the clinic, with the final goal to improve the quality of life of those affected by OA in Europe.
At present 180 members of four working groups are involved in the action with 25 countries represented in the Management committee.
The meeting in Plovdiv will provide an excellent opportunity for COST participants to exchange ideas, to set collaborations and to work together on the main mission of the action.
More information can be found on the following sites:
for COST program: https://cost.eu/cost-actions/what-are-cost-actions/
for NetwOArk: https://cost.eu/actions/CA21110/
for Medical University of Plovdiv: https://mu-plovdiv.bg/en/