Description
The session was introduced by Mark Elliott, welcoming attendees back from lunch and outlining the agenda set forth by the OATech Network. Deborah Mason from Cardiff University took the stage to present an overview of the OATech initiative, a project funded by EPSRC aimed at enhancing osteoarthritis research involving multidisciplinary collaborations among various scientists and clinicians across the UK.
Mason highlighted the significance of osteoarthritis as a debilitating condition affecting millions, emphasizing the challenges in existing research and treatment validation. She elaborated on the OATech Network's goals, including identifying knowledge gaps, fostering collaborations, and developing innovative technologies for osteoarthritis treatment.
The session included discussions about the various projects, research feasibility studies, and events organized under the OATech initiative from 2017 to 2022, which brought together over 150 researchers. Mason paid particular attention to the network’s efforts in training the next generation of osteoarthritis researchers and facilitating interdisciplinary dialogue through various platforms.
In concluding her presentation, Mason expressed gratitude towards all contributors to the OATech Network and emphasized the need to maintain momentum in their collaborative efforts, even after the project's funding period ended.