Southampton researchers awarded international prizes
Professor Elaine Dennison has been awarded the IOF Olof Johnell Science Award by the International Osteoporosis Foundation (IOF).
The honour was one of several prizes for Southampton researchers at a prestigious global prizegiving.
The World Congress on Osteoporosis, Osteoarthritis and Musculoskeletal Diseases was followed by thousands online last week.
Dr Nick Fuggle was presented the Pierre Meunier Young Scientist Award.
He was one of four Southampton Early Career Researchers to be recognised on the world stage.
Outstanding Southampton research
The IOF Olof Johnell Award recognises outstanding contributions to the field of osteoporosis in science or policy worldwide.
Elaine Dennison is a Professor of Musculoskeletal Epidemiology, MRC Lifecourse Epidemiology Centre (MRC LEC), University of Southampton, and a key investigator at the NIHR Southampton Biomedical Research Centre (BRC).
She has worked as principal investigator of many research studies, including the Hertfordshire Cohort Study. Across her career, she has published more than 400 original scientific publications.
Professor Dennison said: “I am truly honoured to be recognised in this way. It is testimony to the many colleagues and collaborators I have had the good fortune to work with, and I look forward to continuing our work into musculoskeletal aging in the coming years.”
Professor Cyrus Cooper, Director, MRC LEC, and President of the International Osteoporosis Foundation, said: “I am delighted to present this prestigious award to Elaine Dennison, who has been a valued colleague for over 25 years.
“She is an internationally recognised clinician, researcher, and educator who has been instrumental in driving research in the field of musculoskeletal aging, osteoporosis and metabolic bone diseases. The MRC Lifecourse Epidemiology Centre is privileged to have Professor Dennison on the team.”
Early career excellence
The Pierre Meunier Young Scientist Award is presented by the IOF and the European Society for Clinical and Economic Aspects of Osteoporosis, Osteoarthritis and Musculoskeletal Diseases (ESCEO).
The prize recognises young investigators who have demonstrated outstanding scientific merit early in their careers.
Dr Fuggle is an NIHR Academic Clinical Lecturer in Rheumatology, again from the MRC LEC, Southampton.
He also received an ESCEO-IOF Young Investigator Award alongside NIHR Southampton BRC’s Dr Jean Zhang. Dr Faidra Laskou, also of the BRC, received an ESCEO-AgNovos Healthcare Young Investigator Award with Southampton peer Dr Millie Parsons.
The World Congress on Osteoporosis, Osteoarthritis and Musculoskeletal Diseases is the world’s largest forum for the presentation of clinical research and new advances in the prevention and management of musculoskeletal disorders, including osteoporosis, osteoarthritis, sarcopenia, and frailty.
The virtual event attracted over 7,000 delegates and more than 1,000 abstract submissions, from musculoskeletal researchers from across the globe.
Plenary presentations and meet the expert sessions included contributions by Southampton’s Professor Cyrus Cooper, Professor Nicholas Harvey, Professor Elaine Dennison and Professor Kate Ward.