International honour awarded to SDU professor

Professor Ewa Roos from the University of Southern Denmark receives the Osteoarthritis Research Society International (OARSI) Lifetime Achievement Award, one of the most prestigious international awards in the field of osteoarthritis. The award is presented to researchers who, over the course of an entire career, have made a decisive contribution to the understanding and treatment of the disease.

Over several decades, Ewa Roos has helped transform both osteoarthritis research and the clinical treatment of patients. She is particularly recognised for her ability to translate research findings into practical tools and treatment programmes used in real-world settings worldwide.

"Professor Roos has not only contributed groundbreaking research – she has also succeeded in translating knowledge into practical solutions that improve the treatment of patients with osteoarthritis in clinical practice."
– from the nomination for the OARSI Lifetime Achievement Award

A tool used worldwide

One of Ewa Roos’ most important contributions is the development of KOOS (Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score). The tool makes it possible to systematically measure how knee problems affect pain, function and quality of life.

Today, KOOS is used in both research and clinical practice around the world and is available in more than 50 languages. This makes it easier to document patients’ symptoms and the effects of treatment.

A Danish programme supporting patients internationally

Ewa Roos is also behind GLA:D® (Good Life with Osteoarthritis in Denmark) – an evidence-based programme that combines patient education with targeted exercise for people with hip and knee osteoarthritis.

Since 2013, more than 10,000 clinicians have been trained, and over 120,000 patients have taken part in the programme across 11 countries and four continents.

Training the next generation of researchers

In addition to her own research, Ewa Roos has played a significant role in developing new researchers. She has supervised a large number of PhD students, several of whom are now professors themselves.

With the OARSI Lifetime Achievement Award, she is recognised for a career that has both advanced the research frontier and improved treatment for people with osteoarthritis.