Prologue: 2009 Joint Meeting of Spondyloarthritis Research and Therapy Network (SPARTAN) and International Genetics of Ankylosing Spondylitis (IGAS)

Abstract

In July 2009, a 3-day conference was held in Houston, Texas, USA, by members of several groups: the Spondyloarthritis Research and Therapy Network (SPARTAN); the International Genetics of Ankylosing Spondylitis (IGAS); and interested members of the Pan American League of Associations of Rheumatology (PANLAR). The purpose of this meeting was to bring together physician scientists, clinicians, and educators from around the world who are working together to improve their understanding of spondyloarthritis (SpA). In addition to the annual educational and Fellows sessions for SPARTAN members, the conference included a one-day international meeting dedicated to the role of HLA-B27, along with a series of sessions that summarized advances among various collaborative groups and defined opportunities for future genetic initiatives. This supplement provides a review of the SPARTAN and IGAS meetings.