ORS Tendon Conference 2024: Mechanism to Therapy – Emerging Technologies and Therapeutic Outcomes - PROJECT SUMMARY Tendons are dense connective tissues that are essential for mobility. These tissues are complex and are exposed to different biologic, biochemical, metabolic, and biomechanical environments. Additionally these environments change over the lifespan. Tendons function in high stress conditions and are challenging to maintain healthy homeostasis, regenerate, and repair. Tendons are essential for improved health span which is driven by maintaining movement and mobility for patients. The necessity for improved treatment and diagnosis of tendon disorders and the unmet need for improved understanding of these tissues has resulted in an expanding need for evidenced-based research for understanding connective tissues and for improved therapeutics. This recognition for the robust research and understanding of tendons was the impetus for the development of the Orthopaedic Research Society (ORS) Tendon Section. The group was formed to address the prevalence of tendon disorders and the wide spectrum of clinical challenges in diagnosis and effective treatment. The section recognized that research had been hindered by incomplete understanding of fundamental biology, including basic mechanisms of aging, pathogenesis, and healing. The section is focused on diversity, equity, and inclusion to promote tendon research, facilitate collaborations between clinicians, basic/translation scientist and engineers and development of the next generation of researchers and clinicians. An important mission of the section is to hold satellite meetings on recent advancements, areas of need and focus on the multi-factorial clinical and research arms that are necessary to improve and advance connective tissue health, healing, and regeneration. Previous satellite meetings focused on basic/developmental biology and on translation and animal models. This conference will be focused on clinical needs, clinical research and emerging technologies that are essential to further advance tendon health. The conference will focus on the use of ‘omics’, understanding of pain and mechanism of pain in pathology and healing, clinical research including physical therapy and surgery, and the use of imaging technologies to identify, diagnose and treat tendon disorders. Targeted speakers on the topic areas will drive breakout discussions and the development of consensus and/or guideline papers that will be published in a special issue of the Journal of Orthopaedic Research to direct the field moving forward. The section has a strong interest in promoting equity, inclusion, and diversity, providing opportunities, training, and mentoring for trainees to interact with PIs and clinicians. We anticipate that this meeting will have a strong impact on tendon research and will promote increased rigor and reproducibility, understanding of clinical needs, foster interdisciplinary research, and collaborations.
