The prevalence of osteoarthritis is increasing rapidly with the latest estimates suggesting 500 million people around the world are affected. The consequent disability and socioeconomic impact is an enormous. In that context of massive prevalence and disability we are faced with a disease where it’s most pressing presenting symptom, pain, remains largely an unmet need. With that background in mind there are huge opportunities here for advance.

The Dutch Arthritis Society (DAS) has recently launched the moonshot: ‘In 2040 osteoarthritis will be no longer a chronic disease, but an acute disease’.

On this episode of Joint Action, I discussed this project with Joyce Nabuurs and Corné Baatenburg de Jong and to look at research and development opportunities that are relevant to our international audience.

Joyce Nabuurs recently joined the Dutch Arthritis Foundation after co-developing the organisation’s strategy 2020-2040 as a researcher at the Vrije Universiteit in Amsterdam. Being trained as a doctor, bioethicist and in the field of healthcare organisation she has studied health from a variety of perspectives. In her earlier work as a researcher at the Vrije Universiteit she investigated the societal implications of upcoming reproductive technologies, ranging from IVF to artificial gametes and the artificial womb. In her research she explored how these technological developments affect our ideas about child-rearing, what it means to be a family and the relation with our bodies. In her current role at the Dutch Arthritis Foundation she hopes to use this experience to identify and help realize promising opportunities that empower and support the health and wellbeing of people with arthritis. 

Corné Baatenburg de Jong is the Deputy Director and Manager of Operations and Funding at the Dutch Arthritis Foundation.

He now has been working as the Vice President at ReumaNederland (former Reumafonds) for the past 6.5 years. His role focuses on drivers in the field of osteoarthritis, development of new opportunities, creating network solutions and patient-centered development. Corné completed his studies in Business Economics and Social Studies at the University of Utrecht.

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