The ORS Annual Meeting is the leading forum for the presentation of high-quality, innovative and transformative research.

The ORS Program Committee seeks abstracts on all basic science, clinical, and translational research of the musculoskeletal system. Opportunities for presenting your research include podium presentations, spotlight podium sessions, poster teasers, and popular dedicated poster sessions.

Abstract Submission Deadline:  Monday, August 28, 2017

  • First write your abstract in Microsoft Word using Times New roman, 8-point font, 0.75” margins on all sides, following the ORS Formatting Guidelines.  A template is available to create your abstract.
  • Next save the file as a PDF.  PDF documents of accepted abstracts will be used on the ORS online abstract search, on an annual meeting link to abstracts and on the mobile app.
  • Be sure that all text (including title, authors and institutions, disclosures, images and tables fit onto one page.  3 images and/or tables are allowed per abstract.
  • Once you have the one-page abstract, you can complete the online submission by copying and pasting the body of the abstract in the online submission pages.
  • Complete ALL steps of the online submission.
  • Be sure to upload images supporting your abstract.
  • Upload the PDF of your complete abstract, including title, authors, images, references and acknowledgements.
  • There will be a $35.00 non-refundable fee to submit your abstract for the ORS 2018 Annual Meeting.
  • Once you complete all the steps in the online submission and submit payment, you will receive a green message and check mark on the “Review My Work” screen indicating “Your submission is COMPLETE.”
  • Acceptance notices will be sent to authors November 8, 2017.

The themes and sessions in the Annual Meeting program are not prescribed by the ORS Program Committee but directly represent the abstract submissions.  If you would like to see more of a certain topic, please encourage your colleagues in that area to submit to the ORS.

View a list of research topics.

Spotlight Sessions include a featured speaker along with relevant shorter talks from peer-reviewed accepted abstracts.  Spotlight Speakers present the state of the field and set the stage for the talks that follow.

The following Spotlight Speakers have been confirmed:

Tamara Alliston, PhD
Osteocyte Control of Bone Quality Through Perilacunar Remodeling

Joel J. Gagnier, ND, MSc, PhD
Patient Reported Outcome Measures in Orthopaedics

Kurt Hankenson, DVM, PhD
CREative Mouse Models to Dissect the Complex Cell Biology of Bone Regeneration

Catherine K. Kuo, PhD
Embryonically Informed Tendon Tissue Engineering and Regeneration

Sharmila Majumdar, PhD
Morphological and Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging of the Musculoskeletal System

Fergal O’Brien, PhD
Scaffold-based Delivery of Nucleic Acid Therapeutics for Enhanced Bone and Cartilage Repair

Christopher L. Peters, MD
Surgical Management of Young Adults with Hip Pathonanatomy

Geoff Richards, PhD, FBSE, FIOR
Fracture Related Infection

Michael Rudnicki, OC, PhD, FRSC
Molecular Regulation of Muscle Stem Cell Function

Dino Samartzis, DSc
Spinal Phenomics and its Clinical Relevance

Daniel Saris, MD, PhD
The Role of Joint Homeostasis in Biological Joint Reconstruction

Lynn Snyder-Mackler, PT, PhD
Rehab and Knee Arthroplasty – Prevention and Treatment Today and Beyond

*Spotlight Speakers and titles are subject to change

  • The ORS is home to the top experts from around the globe in the field of musculoskeletal research; biologists, engineers, orthopaedic surgeons, and clinicians.
  • The ORS Annual Meeting is the leading forum for the presentation of  high-quality, innovative and transformative research
  • The 2018 ORS Annual Meeting Abstracts will be included as a  supplemental issue of the Journal of Orthopaedic Research (JOR)

ORS provides awards and grants based on high quality abstracts for the early career and established investigator including:

ORS New Investigator Recognition Awards (NIRA)
Force & Motion Foundation/ORS Young Scientist Travel Award
Force & Motion Foundation/ORS Young Scientist Scholarship
ORS/OREF Travel Grant in Orthopaedic Research Translation
ORS William H. Harris, MD Award sponsored by the Harris Club
ORS/Ruth Jackson Orthopaedic Society Travel Grant
ORS/AAOS Women’s Health Issue Advisory Board (WHIAB) Award
ORS Research Section Awards (must be a section member to qualify)

You will automatically be considered for all awards upon submission of your abstract. 

The last day to submit or make edits to your abstract is August 28, 2017.  If the abstract is accepted, authors will have a chance to make additional edits to their abstract.

If you are submitting for someone in your lab or institution, print these pages and have the authors complete them, making it easier for you to submit the information. This file shows each screen of the submission site with notes to help you with your submission. Please note: This file is 26 pages.

Frequently Asked Questions
Submit Your Abstract

Not a member of the ORS? Join our research community today!

Join ORS
ORS Member Directory