In Memoriam: Dr. Margareta Nordin (1945–2025)
A Leader in Spine Research, Rehabilitation and a Global Health Advocate
It is with deep sorrow that we announce the passing of Dr. Margareta Nordin, an internationally acclaimed clinician-scientist, educator and advocate for evidence-based musculoskeletal care. She passed away on 28 May 2025 at the age of 79, leaving behind a remarkable legacy that spanned continents, disciplines and generations.
Read the full obituary by Dino Samartzis and Björn Rydevik here
ISSLS Membership Applications Now Open
We are pleased to announce that applications for ISSLS membership are now being accepted. Don’t miss your chance to join our prestigious community!
Application Deadline: All membership applications must be received at the ISSLS office by September 1 of the current year to be considered.
Notification Date: Applicants will be notified of the Membership Committee’s decision by October 15.
Membership Fees:
Full Member: US $250 for the first year; US $200 per year thereafter
Associate Member: US $75 for the first year; US $60 per year thereafter
Apply today to become part of ISSLS and connect with leading experts in your field!
2025 ISSLS Research Grant Award Winners
Congratulations to David Klyne and Chantal Voskamp-Visser who have won, respectively, the Clinical Science Research Grant (sponsored by Medtronic) and the Basic Science Research Grant. The awards were announced at the ISSLS Fellowship Awards Ceremony, during the conference in Atlanta, USA, May 12-16, 2025.
Learn more about the Basic Science Research Grant here.
Learn more about the Clinical Science Research Grant here.
2025 ISSLS Clinical Travelling Fellowship
Congratulations to Patawut Bovonratwet, MD, winner of the 2025 ISSLS Clinical Travelling Fellowship (sponsored by Nipon Zoki.)
Dr Bovonratwet will visit Dr Junseok Bae and Dr Sang-Ho Lee at Wooridul Spine Hospital (Seoul Korea) to undertake his Fellowship.
Learn more about the Clinical Travelling Fellowship here.
Professors Jiří Dvořák and S. Rajasekaran Honoured with 2025 Wiltse Lifetime Achievement Award
We are delighted to announce that Professor Jiří Dvořák, MD, and Professor S. Rajasekaran, Ph.D., have been named recipients of the esteemed 2025 ISSLS Wiltse Lifetime Achievement Award.
This prestigious honour was presented during the ISSLS Fellowship Awards Ceremony, held as part of the annual conference in Atlanta, Georgia, from May 12–16, 2025.
Learn more about their remarkable contributions to spine research and clinical practice by reading their biographies in the SPINE Journal:
See there presentations in Atlanta here!
2025/26 ISSLS Slate Announcement
We are pleased to confirm the 2025/26 Slate as follows:
Second Vice President: Hans-Joachim Wilke
Secretary Elect: Dino Samartzis
Membership Committee: J Naresh Babu
Fellowship Committee: Raphaël Vialle
Lifetime Achievement Award Committee: Yoshiharu Kawaguchi & David Wong
Scientific Representative: Donna Ohnmeiss
Regional Representative, Canada: Christy Tomkins-Lane
Regional Representative, Europe: Fabio Galbusera
Regional Representative, Japan: Sumihisa Orita
Regional Representative, Central U.S, Ahmad Nassr
Regional Representative, Africa, Ian Vlok
Program Committee: Marc-Antoine Rousseau
Congratulations!
We thank those who are vacating their positions for their wonderful contributions to ISSLS and look forward to welcoming the new Slate.
🎉 Exciting News🎉
Announcing the 2025 ISSLS Prize Winners
We’re thrilled to celebrate the winners of the prestigious 2025 ISSLS Prize! Under the leadership of Professor Helena Brisby (Chair), the ISSLS Prize Committee was truly impressed by the exceptional quality and innovation showcased in this year’s submissions.
The winning papers, alongside other outstanding contributions, will soon be featured in the European Spine Journal—a must-read for the latest advancements in spine research.
✨ Want to see the winning work in action? The prize winners will be presenting their research at this year’s ISSLS Annual Meeting in Atlanta. Don’t miss this incredible opportunity to hear from the best in the field!
Find the full details of this year’s winners and their innovative work here.
Applications for the Basic & Clinical Science Research Grants & the Clinical Travelling Fellowship are now closed.
The ISSLS Basic Science Research Grant and Clinical Science Research Grant (sponsored by Medtronic) are for US$20,000 each. The purpose of these awards are to promote research in the lumbar spine. More details here.
The ISSLS Clinical Travelling Fellowship, sponsored by Nippon Zoki, carries prize money of US$5,000 towards travel and accommodation costs. More details here.
Applications for the 2025 awards are now closed.
ISSLS Social Media
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ISSLS 2024 Milan Photo Gallery
Please click here
Milan 2024: ISSLS 50 Year Symposium
Milan 2024: ISSLS Presidential Address, Kazuhiro Chiba
Milan 2024: ISSLS Presidential Lecture, Giacomo Rizzolatti
Emeritus Professor, Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma
2024 ISSLS Research Grant Award Winners
Congratulations to Clara Ruiz-Fernandez & Jordy Schol and Luca Ambrosio & Jordy Schol who have won, respectively, the Basic Science Research Grant (sponsored by Seikagaku Corporation and Kaken Pharmaceutical) and the Clinical Science Research Grant (sponsored by Medtronic). The awards were announced at the ISSLS Fellowship Awards Ceremony, during the conference in Milan, Italy, May 27-31, 2024.
Learn more about the Basic Science Research Grant here.
Learn more about the Clinical Science Research Grant here.
2024 ISSLS Clinical Travelling Fellowship
Congratulations to Dr Dennis Hey, winner of the 2024 ISSLS Clinical Travelling Fellowship (sponsored by Nippon Zoki)
Dr Hey will visit Dr Richard Guyer and Dr Scott Blumenthal at the Texas Back Institute, USA to undertake his Fellowship
Learn more about the Clinical Travelling Fellowship here.
Professor Björn Rydevik wins 2024 Wiltse Lifetime Achievement Award
Congratulations to Professor Björn Rydevik, who has won the prestigious ISSLS Wiltse Lifetime Achievement Award.
The award was announced at the ISSLS Fellowship Awards Ceremony, during the conference in Milan, Italy, May 27-31, 2024.
Read Professor Rydevik’s bio in Spine Journal here.
A video of his acceptance speech is available:
The city and dates for the 2027 meeting has now been decided
We are pleased to inform you that we will be joining SpineWeek
Date: May 17-21, 2027
City: Montréal, Canada
Venue: Palais Des Congrès De Montréal
The city for the 2028 meeting has now been decided
We are pleased to inform you that we will be going to:
Date: May 2028
City: Berlin, Germany
Venue: Langenbeck-Virchow Haus
2024/25 ISSLS Slate Announcement
We are pleased to confirm the 2024/25 Slate as follows:
Second Vice President: Jeffrey Lotz
Membership Committee: Dennis Hey
Fellowship Committee: Gen Inoue
Lifetime Achievement Award Committee: James D Kang
Scientific Representative: Koichi Sairyo
Regional Representative, Asia/Pacific: Paul Hodges
Regional Representative, Western U.S: Noah Bonnheim
Program Committee: Steve Brown
Regional Representative, UK: Vacant
Congratulations!
We thank those who are vacating their positions for their wonderful contributions to ISSLS and look forward to welcoming the new Slate.
The 31st Annual Meeting of the European Orthopaedic Research Society (EORS)
Recently held in the beautiful city of Porto (Portugal), hosted a special session entirely dedicated to ISSLS members entitled “ISSLS Translational Symposium on Low Back Pain Research”.
Full event summary can be found here
ISSLS Prize Winners 2024
Congratulations to the winners of the 2024 ISSLS Prize. Professor Helena Brisby (Chair) and the members of the ISSLS Prize Committee were once again impressed by the high quality of the submissions this year.
The winning papers will be published in the European Spine Journal, along with the other accepted papers submitted for the 2024 ISSLS Prize.