Winners of IOF-Servier Young Investigator Research Grant

The International Osteoporosis Foundation (IOF) has awarded the IOF-Servier Young Investigator Research Grant to co-winners Dr. Frank DeVries, University of Utrecht, the Netherlands, and Dr. Davide Ruffoni, Institute for Biomechanics, ETH Zurich, Switzerland.

The grant was awarded during the World Congress on Osteoporosis 2010 (IOF WCO-ECCEO10) in Florence, Italy.

This prestigious research grant, valued at 40,000 euro, has been awarded bi-annually since 2000, to young outstanding researchers under the age of 40.

Dr. Frank de Vries' project, 'Absolute risk of fractures in patients with bariatric surgery: a population based cohort study' seeks to estimate the risk of fracture in patients who have undergone bariatric surgery (for example, reduction of stomach size through gastric banding) compared to morbidly obese patients who have not had surgery. In addition, the study aims to estimate the absolute 5-year and 10-year risk of fracture in bariatric surgery patients.

Co-winner Dr. Davide Ruffoni's project is entitled 'Microstructural characterization of peri-implant bone response in an in vivo mouse model'. Its aim is to achieve a better understanding of the mechanisms of implant integration, anchorage and failure in osteoporotic bone, hopefully leading to novel strategies in the management of osteoporotic fractures.

Presenting the Grant, Professor Cyrus Cooper, Chair of the IOF Committee of Scientific Advisors, congratulated the winners while noting that, "This award reflects IOF's commitment to the promotion of original research by young scientists in the bone field."

Dr. Sylvain Gaudron, Director of International Scientific Communications at Servier, stated, "We are proud to support independent and innovative research which not only furthers understanding of this devastating disease but ultimately aims to provide osteoporosis sufferers with the best care possible."