The International Osteoporosis Foundation (IOF) has awarded the IOF Committee of Scientific Advisors (CSA) Medal of Achievement to Dr Noriko Yoshimura, Professor at the Department of Preventive Medicine for Locomotive Organ Disorders, 22nd Century Medical and Research Center, The University of Tokyo, Japan. The Award was presented on April 16, 2026 at the opening session of the World Congress on Osteoporosis, Osteoarthritis and Musculoskeletal Diseases (WCO-IOF-ESCEO 2026) in Prague, Czech Republic.
The IOF CSA Medal of Achievement honours an individual researcher who has significantly advanced the field of osteoporosis through original and outstanding scientific contributions. It underlines important aspects of IOF’s mission – to increase understanding and awareness of osteoporosis and to promote medical innovation and improved care.
Professor Etienne Cavalier, Vice-Chair of IOF Committee of Scientific Advisors, stated: “This Award is presented in recognition of Professor Yoshimura’s outstanding leadership and pioneering contributions to the epidemiology and prevention of locomotive organ disorders and osteoporosis. As Founding Professor of the Department of Preventive Medicine for Locomotive Organ Disorders at the 22nd Century Medical and Research Center at the University of Tokyo, she has advanced the understanding of musculoskeletal health through innovative, population-based research such as the ROAD Study. As a dedicated member of the IOF Committee of Scientific Advisors since 2008, and as an influential leader within Japan’s musculoskeletal research community, Professor Yoshimura has significantly strengthened international collaboration and scientific progress in the field.”
About Noriko Yoshimura
Professor Noriko Yoshimura is a Founding and current Professor in the Department of Preventive Medicine for Locomotive Organ Disorders at the 22nd Century Medical and Research Center, The University of Tokyo, Japan. Her research focuses on the epidemiology and prevention of locomotive organ disorders and osteoporosis. She is the Founder and Principal Investigator of the ROAD Study (Research on Osteoarthritis/Osteoporosis Against Disability), a multicentre prospective observational study conducted from 2005 to 2025. Professor Yoshimura serves as a member of the Committee of Scientific Advisors of the International Osteoporosis Foundation and as a board member of the Japan Osteoporosis Society. She is also a councillor of the Japanese Society for Bone and Mineral Research and a former councillor of the Japanese Society for Bone Morphometry. Her contributions to the field have been recognized with several honours, including the Scientific Award from the Japanese Society for Bone and Mineral Research (2015), the Academic Award from the Japan Osteoporosis Society (2021), the Best Paper Award from the Journal of Bone and Mineral Metabolism (2022, 2025), and the Special Award from the Sumitomo Mitsui Foundation on its 50th anniversary (2025).
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World Congress on Osteoporosis, Osteoarthritis & Musculoskeletal Diseases (WCO-IOF-ESCEO Prague 2026)
Held jointly by IOF and ESCEO, the Congress takes place in Prague, Czech Republic, April 16-19, 2026. WCO-IOF-ESCEO is the world’s largest annual forum for the presentation of clinical research and new advances in the prevention and management of bone, muscle and joint disorders, including skeletal rare disorders, sarcopenia and frailty. For complete information visit www.wco-iof-esceo.org #OsteoCongress
About IOF
The International Osteoporosis Foundation (IOF) is the world’s largest nongovernmental organization dedicated to the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of osteoporosis and related musculoskeletal diseases. Its members — including committees of leading scientific researchers and 349 patient, medical, and research organizations across 152 countries — work together to make fracture prevention and healthy mobility a global healthcare priority. www.osteoporosis.foundation @iofbonehealth