PHARE group awarded twice at the World Congress on Osteoporosis, Osteoarthritis and Musculoskeletal Diseases

PHARE group awarded twice at the World Congress on Osteoporosis, Osteoarthritis and Musculoskeletal Diseases

The PHARE group (Public Health Aging Research & Epidemiology), led by Prof. Charlotte Beaudart (UNamur, URPC), took part in the 26th WCO-IOF-ESCEO Congress, the world’s leading clinical conference on bone, joint and muscle health, held in Prague from 16 to 19 April 2026.

Sophie Van Heden awarded a Young Investigator Award

Sophie Van Heden is a PhD student in the PHARE group and is supervised by Prof. Charlotte Beaudart and Dr. Dolores Sanchez-Rodriguez (CHU Brugmann, Geriatrics). She is working on the methodology of interventional studies in sarcopenia, an age-related condition characterized by progressive loss of muscle mass and strength. Sarcopenia poses a major risk of frailty and loss of independence in older adults, making it a critical public health issue. At the WCO-IOF-ESCEO congress, she presented a poster entitled “Towards a core outcome set for sarcopenia intervention studies: results from a Delphi study" (abstract book p. 913).

The Young Investigator Awards, presented jointly by the International Osteoporosis Foundation (IOF) and the European Society for Clinical and Economic Aspects of Osteoporosis and Osteoarthritis (ESCEO), recognize the quality and impact of research conducted by promising early-career researchers. This year, 23 young investigators from 16 countries were selected including Sophie Van Heden!

Charlotte Beaudart receives the Pierre Meunier Young Scientist Award

Charlotte Beaudart is Associate Professor of Clinical Research at the UNamur and Senior Advisor to the WHO Collaborating Center for the Epidemiology of Musculoskeletal Health and Aging. She is widely recognized for her pioneering contributions to the field of musculoskeletal health, particularly sarcopenia. She founded the SarcoPhAge cohort and developed SarQoL®, the first questionnaire specifically designed to assess the quality of life in people with sarcopenia. She has also contributed to major international guidelines in the field.

In recognition of her early-career scientific excellence, the ESCEO and IOF have awarded her the 2026 Pierre Meunier Young Scientist Award!

These distinctions highlight the international impact and outstanding contributions of the PHARE group in the field of aging and musculoskeletal research. Congratulations to Sophie, Charlotte and the entire PHARE team on these remarkable achievements!