CA21110 - Building an open European Network on OsteoArthritis research (NetwOArk)

Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common form of arthritis and the single most common cause of pain and physical disability in older adults. An estimated 10% to 15% of all adults aged over 60 have some degree of OA, with prevalence being higher among women than men and likely representing underreporting which is common in many disease prevalence studies. Despite the growing OA epidemic and major socio-economic impact, the population is facing a staggering lack of disease-modifying therapies that can bring symptomatic relief and preserve joint function by preventing cartilage- and joint degeneration and thus delaying OA progression. The research specifically aimed at OA management in Europe is scattered and not strategically coordinated, although several networks have OA partly in focus, it minor part of their agenda en lacks the focus and dedicated commitment to coordinate progress. The main aim of EU-netwOArk is to set up the European Society for Osteoarthritis (ESOA), with three major stakeholder groups, 1) patients, 2) clinicians and 3) researchers, both from academia and industry. The COST Action will allow us to start the process of building such a European Society, with the aim of coordinating and stimulating more interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary research, technological development and translation of the results to the clinic, aimed at improving the quality of life of those affected by OA in Europe. The area’s to be addressed in this Action are Primary prevention, Diagnostics, Treatment, Interaction (comorbidities) and Care Management. EU-netwOArk aims to boost new scientific breakthroughs on the five main OA themes.